Are you interested in using your electric vehicles battery to power your home? Imagine harnessing your vehicles energy to power your home while reducing your costs and carbon footprint. In this blog, we’ll explore Vehicle-to-Load  (V2L), Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, helping you unlock new ways to maximise your EV’s potential.

V2L

First, lets take a quick look at what Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) is. Essentially, it allows you to use your EV as a massive battery pack to power devices on the go – much like a portable power bank for your phone but on a much larger scale. This means you can run a fridge while camping, operate tools at a job site, or even keep essential appliances running during a blackout.

Many modern EVs already support V2L, with more manufacturers adopting this technology. Some vehicles feature a built-in 10-amp power outlet, similar to what you’d find in your home. More commonly, EVs come with an adapter that connects to the vehicle’s Type 2 charging port, which has a standard plug on the other end.

V2H

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) takes this concept a step further, enabling your EV to function like a home battery. This requires a bidirectional charger, which allows energy to flow both to and from your vehicle. When paired with solar panels, V2H can store excess solar energy during the day and power your home during peak hours, reducing electricity costs.

For added resilience, V2H systems can be installed with grid isolation equipment, allowing your EV to serve as a backup power source during blackouts – keeping essential appliances running and ensuring your home never goes dark.

V2G

The most advanced form of bidirectional charging is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), where an EV not only powers a home but also exports energy directly to the grid. This allows owners to earn feed-in tariffs, similar to solar energy exports, or participate in virtual power plant (VPP) programs that support grid stability by supplying power during peak demand. As this technology continues to evolve, it promises exciting new possibilities, paving the way for a more dynamic and sustainable energy future.

Availability 

To start using V2H and V2G you will need a compatible car, a compatible charger, and a compliant installation.

Up until this point, only a few vehicles using the older CHADEMO charging connector have had V2H and V2G capabilities, and while numerous trials have been done, it hasn’t yet been available to the mass market. However, this is going to rapidly change as more vehicles and chargers are developed using the newer ISO15118-20 bidirectional charging standard.

2025 is looking to be a year of promising rapid development for bidirectional charging. In 2024 new inverter standards were introduced which included bidirectional charging, bringing them in line with existing solar and battery installations. This means that charging hardware can now be cerified and compliant installations can be done. At Ocular Charging, we are working on the next generation of bidrectional products, keep an eye out and stay in touch for future updates.

Bidirectional charging offers you a great way to reduce your carbon emissions, lower your energy costs, and get more value out of your electric vehicles.

Click here for more information on our complete charger range, and we will see you on the road!