BMW and E.ON want to bring bidirectional charging into everyday life. With their joint project, the two companies are taking an important step toward smarter energy use and sustainable mobility. The project aims to make electric vehicles an active part of the energy system, unlocking new flexibility options for grid stability. The first commercial Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) offering for private customers in Germany is set to launch in March 2026. This will bring a technology that has so far predominantly been used in pilot projects into the mainstream market. This step marks a shift from the test phase to the practical integration of bidirectional charging processes and represents a key milestone on the path towards a smart, decarbonized energy system.
The principle behind the offering is simple: Using the BMW Wallbox Professional and the V2G tariff developed by E.ON, the BMW iX3’s high-voltage battery can not only absorb electricity, but also feed it back into the grid as needed. This makes the vehicle an active part of the energy system, capable of helping stabilize the power grid in the short term.
The interaction makes the electric car more than just a means of transportation; it becomes a decentralized energy storage system that provides energy flexibly whenever it is needed. Customers also benefit financially: According to BMW and E.ON, drivers who use bidirectional charging can earn a bonus of up to 720 euros per year. That corresponds to around 14,000 kilometers of driving – an attractive incentive to make smart charging a part of everyday life.
BMW emphasizes that the iX3 is just the beginning. Other models in the new class will also be qualified for the V2G tariff in the future. The sixth generation of BMW’s eDrive technology already meets the technical requirements for bidirectional charging, allowing the tariff to be used across an expanding range of models. This paves the way for an entire fleet of vehicles to dynamically exchange energy with the power grid.
With BMW and E.ON entering the vehicle-to-grid era, it is becoming clear just how closely mobility and energy supply will be intertwined in the future. Electric vehicles are no longer seen merely as modes of transportation, but as active elements of the energy transition – acting as mobile storage systems that enhance grid stability and efficiency.
Additionally, recent studies have shown that the widespread adoption of bidirectional charging (V2G) could significantly reduce the need for stationary battery storage systems. A study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institutes ISI and ISE on behalf of Transport & Environment shows that the need for stationary storage capacity in the EU could be reduced by up to 92 percent by 2040 if vehicles are used as distributed storage systems.
The new offering from BMW and E.ON is therefore not an isolated product, but part of a larger trend: an integrated energy system where mobility, storage and grid operation work hand in hand. It represents a milestone that goes far beyond a single vehicle, demonstrating how the energy transition in Germany can be consistently driven forward – with fewer stationary storage systems, greater flexibility and tangible benefits for the environment, the grid and users alike.