GM Energy is unlocking vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging with its first residential product kits
- GM Energy introduces home charging kits that unlock vehicle-to-home bidirectional power sharing.
- The equipment bundles will allow EV owners to charge their cars, or power parts of their home during a power outage.
- GM Energy eventually plans to allow owners to integrate their charging kit with solar panels.
The rise of electric vehicles gives automakers the opportunity to sell consumers more accessories, and GM wants to get in on the game. Today, it has unveiled its first products for residential homes, which offer customers vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging.
GM Energy, the Detroit automaker’s charging equipment subsidiary, says it will offer a variety of product bundles for private homes. However, the marquee feature will be the kits’ ability to either charge an EV, or use the vehicle to power a home.
Read: BMW’s Production Neue Klasse EVs To Have Bi-Directional Charging
Initially, the technology will help EV owners turn on the lights during a power outage. Eventually, GM Energy wants to allow customers to link their home chargers to clean energy products, such as solar panels. In that scenario, an EV could act as a battery, storing power when the sun is up and pumping it back into the house at night, when the sun has set.
The first vehicle compatible with the new charging equipment will be the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV First-Edition RST. According to GM Energy, the electric Silverado, which has a 200kWh battery, could power a whole house for 21 days, albeit with reduced daily energy usage. From there, GM plans to expand compatibility across its entire lineup of Ultium-based vehicles by the 2026 model year.
Customers will be able to control their home charger using GM brands’ mobile apps, making the process of managing their battery’s state of charge more seamless.
“With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time,” said Wade Sheffer, VP of GM Energy.
GM Energy plans to offer a set of charging bundles that customers can select from online. Company representatives will then help buyers connect with GM’s preferred installer, Qmerit, to handle permits and connect with utilities.
The GM Energy V2H Bundle, which includes a charger and a V2H Enablement Kit costs an estimated $7,299 before installation or taxes. If you don’t need the vehicle charger, the V2H Enablement Kit costs an estimated $5,600 before installation and taxes. GM warns that costs may vary, though.
