Power to the everything: how your car could soon power homes, buildings – even farm technology
From cars to combine harvesters, electric vehicles are becoming portable power stations. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) tech is here, and it’s turning EVs into energy superheroes, powering everything from homes and buildings – even other vehicles.
You may have heard – or even seen first-hand – electric vehicles (EVs) powering homes during a power cut, or pushing energy back to the grid.
But now things are getting even smarter with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X).
V2X is a clever technology that turns your car into a mobile power station – a big battery on wheels – that if it’s not being used as a car, it’s available to charge other things like the electricity we need in our homes... and yes, sometimes even farm equipment.
V2X allows energy stored in an EV battery to flow both ways:
- V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) feeds electricity back to the national grid, for example at times of high demand
- V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) uses the car’s battery to run household appliances
- V2B (Vehicle-to-Building) supports offices or public buildings
- V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) helps top up another EV
Need to charge your e-bike from your car? Easy. Need to help out your friends stranded on the side of the road with a flat battery, caught out of charge in their EV? No problem.
Think of your EV not just as a car, but as a roaming battery pack. When fully charged, it can distribute energy where it’s needed most – helping to smooth grid demand peaks, keep the lights on during blackouts, or support rural areas where having secure supplies of energy really matters.
We’re exploring all this through our innovative V4Grid project, testing smart, bi-directional charging in real-world scenarios across Europe – with the aim of improving energy efficiency, reducing pressure on the grid, and making the most of renewables.
We’ve even partnered with tech start-up GridX to integrate bi-directional charging into the E.ON Home App – giving users more control over their energy.
It’s not just good for grid resilience. It’s great news for EV drivers, who can tap into lower energy bills by charging during off-peak hours and selling energy back when demand – and prices – are higher. Think of it as your car earning its keep while it’s parked.
Powering a new model: Energy as a Service
And V2X becomes even more powerful when paired with Energy as a Service – our subscription-style model for home energy tech. That means no upfront costs for things like solar panels, batteries or heat pumps.
Instead, customers pay one monthly fee for everything – from installation to optimisation, servicing and support. Your energy. Sorted. Just like your mobile phone plan.
Imagine returning home from work, plugging your EV into your house, and the car tops up your evening power use – all while your solar panels recharge it for the next morning. It’s a virtuous circle of clean energy, working for you, with you, and even because of you.