Initial situation and problem: Both the expansion of photovoltaic systems and the number of electrically powered vehicles are steadily increasing. More and more people are using electric vehicles both privately and professionally and more and more electric cars can be found on the roads, but most of the time in garages and carports, in public commuter car parks or in company car parks. The possibility of charging and discharging the electric car bidirectionally (and thus using the electric car as an electricity storage device) offers great opportunities here. This can not only reduce or eliminate the undesirable effects of electromobility, but also - if used correctly - create an additional benefit for our energy system that is beneficial to the grid and system and from which everyone - whether private individuals, companies or municipalities - can benefit. The technical feasibility of bidirectional charging was proven in the projects and Car2Flex and its positive effects were demonstrated in prototype form. However, turnkey, applicable solutions are still lacking, as are public awareness and acceptance.

Goals and methods

In order to solve these challenges and thus realise the enormous potential, the following objectives are being pursued in the planned project:

1. Demonstration of technical feasibility as well as practical suitability and scalability: To this end, the project will test 3-5 selected bidirectional charging stations available on the market at highly visible and highly frequented test locations for more than 6 months with different management strategies.
2. Development of user- and application-orientated system solutions: To this end, user- and application-orientated concepts and solutions for the optimal future use of bidirectional charging infrastructure will be developed in co-creation workshops together with various stakeholders such as companies and their employees, interest groups, private individuals, etc. The joint development should lead to a high level of acceptance of the developed solutions.
3.  Increase awareness and acceptance: In order to make electromobility and, above all, bidirectional charging accessible and understandable for people, a bidirectional charging station will be used at highly frequented events in addition to the planned test locations over several months in order to show and demonstrate the potential of bidirectional charging in a comprehensible and understandable way on site using visualisation. The focus here is on rural regions, where private transport will continue to play a major role in the future.
4. Analysing and evaluating the individual and systemic effects of the developed solutions and business models as well as their contribution to SDGs using a combination of experimental and qualitative empirical methods

Expected results

1. Analysis of technical, economic, sustainable and social potential bidirectional charging solutions
2. Tested, turnkey and applicable system solutions for bidirectional charging,
3. scalable, user- and application-orientated business models with a high level of acceptance among companies and the general public
4. Recommendations for action for decision-makers and authorities, taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals

The project ‘Storebility2Market - Evaluation and demonstration of the energy-economic and technical potential of bidirectional charging’ is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund as part of the 6th call for proposals of the ‘Zero Emission Mobility’ programme.