GM Energy Announces its V2H Bidirectional Charging Technology
“You’re bringing more power home than you realize, and it's just sitting in your driveway,” notes Derek Sequeira, GM Energy’s Head of Delivery as he spoke with me about the evolution of electrical vehicle technology. "Homeowners can get more value out of their electric vehicle than they realize by using bidirectional charging."
GM Energy announced today the release of its vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging technology that allows homeowners to reverse the charge of their electric vehicle battery to power their home. This comes following the announcement of the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV First-Edition RST, the first vehicle in the lineup equipped with V2H bidirectional charging technology. Other vehicles on the horizon include the Sierra EV Denali, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Cadillac LYRIQ. GM will continue to expand V2H bidirectional charging technology across its retail portfolio of Ultium-based EVs by model year 2026.
Bidirectional charging opens up a new world of energy opportunities for homeowners. It can support in many ways including, but not limited to serving as a backup power source, flowing energy to a home during a power outage, or powering off-grid properties where energy resources were previously limited. For users across the board, it will bring peace of mind in a world challenged by bad storms and electric grid uncertainty.
Reducing Dependency on the Power Grid
This system is optimized exclusively for GM customers. Qualified homeowners and vehicles must first own a bidirectional charger — specifically, the GM Energy Powershift Charger. From there, they can expand their home system to include the GM Energy V2H Enablement Kit. Systems are installed by professionals and connect directly to the home's electrical panel. Once connected, users can control when and how the charging is reversed from the electric vehicle to the home. Through the MyChevrolet app, users can choose exactly where to funnel the power, whether it's to your kitchen to keep your refrigerator and freezer going during the event of a blackout, or to the entire home to save on energy costs from your traditional electricity provider.
Recommendations from the installers are always based on your location, your vehicle, and the size of your home's panel.
Customers who have questions can visit GM Energy Live, where product specialists can help provide more information and showcase GM Energy’s solutions through an immersive digital experience.
Related: Should You Install a Level 2 EV Charger Inside or Outside?
More to Come
The brand's vision of promoting energy independence doesn't stop there. Stationary energy storage and solar panel integration will be available later this year. We'll be keeping a close watch on this company which has projected to triple its EV sales this year, and looking forward to harnessing more renewable enrgy for our own households.
Related: How to Protect Your Home Against Fires Caused By EV Lithium-ion Batteries
