BMW Group and E.ON launch first V2G offer
Just a few days ago, BMW unveiled the iX3, the first model in its revolutionary “Neue Klasse” family. The new iX3 is the first series-production BMW to support bidirectional charging. With ‘vehicle to home’ (V2H), it serves as a mobile power storage unit for the household, which is particularly attractive for those with solar installations on their roofs. With ‘vehicle to grid’ (V2G) functions, the electric car can also feed electricity back into the grid when needed, which helps balance grids in demand and supply surges, allowing them to absorb more renewable energy. The electric SUV can also power other electrical devices (V2L) – BMW demonstrated this at a press event with a popcorn machine. With the iX3 market launch, the Munich-based carmaker is also expanding its charging accessories. At the top of the range is the BMW Wallbox Professional, which enables DC charging of up to 19.2 kW in some markets.
With V2G, customers benefit from bidirectional charging, whereby the high-voltage battery of their new BMW iX3 is flexibly available to the power grid via the BMW Wallbox Professional. Intelligent control is provided in conjunction with E.ON and a specially developed V2G electricity tariff that enables energy to be fed back into the grid. In the long term, the plan is to integrate the product into a holistic energy platform that intelligently connects charging infrastructure, photovoltaics, heat pumps and smart home systems.
In Germany, BMW and E.ON have been cooperating for some time on intelligent charging for electric cars. PV-optimised charging has been available in the first markets since April 2024, and ‘cost-optimised’ charging since October 2024. Bidirectional charging was already brought into play as a long-term prospect at the start of the collaboration in May 2023 but no electric BMW supported this function until now.
The car manufacturer emphasises that the additional discharging processes do not affect the service life of the vehicle battery and that intelligent protection functions ensure that the high-voltage battery is always maintained at an optimum level for its service life. Via the MyBMW app, customers can flexibly set the charging target so that their electric cars are always optimally charged.
‘What our customers need is a reliably charged vehicle – simple, convenient and at an attractive cost. That’s exactly what we offer, and more,’ says Marc Spieker, Chief Customer Officer at E.ON. “This is how we unlock the potential of the vehicle for each individual’s personal energy future. We combine charging convenience with tangible economic benefits. And, as a bonus, every connected vehicle can help lower the overall costs of the energy system—for the benefit of all.”
Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development, adds: “With the Neue Klasse, BMW makes the car an active part of the energy system, creating tangible customer value. Vehicle-to-Grid reduces the mobility costs of the customer through new revenue opportunities – while driving the future of electric mobility.”
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