V2G & V2L

When Your Car Becomes a Power Plant

Cars are constantly expanding their role. Beyond simply providing propulsion, some vehicles are now becoming full-fledged energy suppliers. This is the entire concept behind V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) technologies, two acronyms we're seeing more and more often in the specifications of modern electric vehicles.

V2L: On-Demand Power, Anywhere, Anytime

V2L is the easiest to understand. It allows a vehicle to return energy to an external device. It's sometimes referred to as a "rolling generator." Essentially, you just plug a device (refrigerator, tools, coffee maker, etc.) into the vehicle's V2L outlet, and it draws power directly from its battery. Some models even offer integrated 220V or 110V outlets, with output capacities that can reach several kilowatts. This is practical for camping, an isolated worksite, or even temporarily powering a house during an outage.

Hyundai (IONIQ 5), Kia (EV6), Ford (F-150 Lightning), and MG have widely integrated this function into their latest models.

V2G: Integrating with the Power Grid

V2G goes a step further. Here, the car communicates with the public grid and can inject electricity into it. The goal is to regulate overall consumption and smooth out demand peaks. When renewable energy production is high and demand is low, the car charges. When demand is high (e.g., evening consumption peak), the vehicle can send some of its charge back to the grid.

Technically, V2G relies on specific bidirectional charging stations, standardized communication protocols (like ISO 15118), and requires agreements with energy operators.

Some countries (Japan, Scandinavia) already have operational pilot projects, but V2G remains marginal in Europe due to regulatory constraints and economic models still needing to be defined. Nevertheless, manufacturers like Nissan (a pioneer with the LEAF), Volkswagen, and Renault are actively advancing in this area.

Growing Interest… But Technical Limitations

On paper, these technologies are very promising. In practice, however, it's not so simple. Multiple charge/discharge cycles can eventually strain batteries and raise durability concerns, even if adaptive algorithms try to limit this effect. Additionally, V2G requires precise regulation of flows to avoid impacting grid stability.

This represents a very different logic from current automotive standards, where cars have historically been purely energy consumers. With V2G/V2L, they become an active element of the energy mix.

A Technological Evolution with Multiple Prospects

With V2G and V2L, the automobile goes beyond its role as transport to become a true energy player. These are technologies we at WOT are closely following, as they are shaping the future of mobility: smarter, more flexible, and more integrated into our daily lives.