Dcbel

The puzzle pieces of bidirectional power flow are falling into place. On March 22, dcbel and other energy stakeholders and partners gathered in Oakland, California for the inaugural Vehicle-Grid-Integration ( ) Forum to discuss how to tap into EV energy. One thing is clear: the potential is enormous and on its way to being realized.

More and more EVs are capable of charging. recently announced that its Neue Klasse models slated for 2025 will be vehicle-to-home, vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-load capable.

> https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0440472EN/new-energy-for-neue-klasse:-e-cars-as-energy-storage

Just a few days later, , a bidi pioneer thanks to the Leaf, unveiled an EV-centered business plan that will see 16 new EV models hit the roads within the next three years.

> https://global.nissannews.com/en/releases/240325-02-e

But real VGI requires more than just plugging in your EV. It needs coordination between utilities and consumers, and a plan for how to manage the new two-way flow of energy. And it’s essential that bidirectional charging be part of a smart home energy system that knows exactly when to charge a vehicle and when to send its energy to the home or grid.

That’s what dcbel is focused on doing. In January, the California Energy Commission awarded us a $52M+ grant to subsidize the installation of our Home Energy Station, Ara, in low-income homes across the state. It’s helped us make “early inroads and a big splash,” in the words of Electric Autonomy.

> https://electricautonomy.ca/2024/03/25/v2g-evs-canada-becoming-reality/

And it’s why we attended the VGI Forum in California, which centered discussions around reforming retail rates and demand flexibility programs, technology enablement, and planning. “The opportunity to improve current grid performance and reduce grid buildout spending is at hand with bidirectional use of EVs,” said Dan Fletcher, our Head of Ecosystems, after attending the forum. We're excited to be at the forefront of the EV/grid services market in a state that's leading the charge.

V2G promise of homes, grid powered by EVs becoming reality More EVs equipped with bidirectional charging, growth of equipment makers and some forward-thinking utilities is making V2G happen

Energy-related carbon rose to record levels in 2023, partly because of lower hydroelectric output. But in the US, backlogs are also causing a bottleneck in renewables — grid congestion, in other words. There are smart ways around the problem.

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals that CO2 emissions from energy rose by 1.1% last year. There’s a silver lining: that’s a slower rate of growth than in previous years, thanks entirely to solar and wind energy, nuclear power and electric vehicles.

> https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240301-energy-related-co2-emissions-hit-record-levels-in-2023-iea

The US is experiencing a boom in renewables. Solar panels are popping up everywhere from carports to parking garages; they’re even floating on top of a water treatment plant in New Jersey.

> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-03-05/solar-farms-are-being-installed-where-you-least-expect-them

But utilities are struggling to keep up with all of the new interconnection requests.

> https://wydaily.com/latest-news/2024/03/05/report-virginia-grid-manager-needs-better-interconnection-process/

There are ways around the gridlock. Some operators are physically expanding the grid, but this can be slow and expensive. More efficient use of existing resources is another way forward. But it's becoming increasingly clear that we need a good dose of outside the box thinking in the way we view the evolving energy landscape. The grid is becoming a two-way street — and that’s crucial to its future resilience.

Iowa is currently building its first utility-scale which will make use of a 2.5 megawatt array and 1.5 megawatt-hours of storage to power the small town of Montezuma. That’s a microcosm of what's to come. “We can use this microgrid as a replicable model,” says Zhaoyu Wang, one of the project’s leaders.

> https://www.thegazette.com/energy/first-utility-scale-microgrid-in-iowa-will-make-small-city-more-resilient-sustainable/

More like microgrids could mean more unpredictability for grid operators — but that doesn’t have to be the case. What's needed is a smart energy platform that can analyze, evaluate and anticipate the impact of millions of DERs about to be deployed.

Digital Twin technology provides a way out of the energy congestion we’re currently stuck in >https://www.dcbel.energy/wp-content/uploads/dcbel-Home-Energy-Digital-Twin.pdf

First utility-scale microgrid in Iowa will make rural town more resilient, sustainable The ISU Electric Power Research Center won a $9.5 million federal grant for the project.

As the U.S. Department of Energy's Patricia Hoffman noted during last week, extreme weather events are no longer a “once every other year” occurrence — and to deal with them head-on, we need to modernize grid infrastructure through data and analytics. That’s one of reasons dcbel was awarded this year’s largest REDWDS grant from the California Energy Commission. Here’s what that means.

When Hoffman took the stage, she underscored just how important it will be to shore up the nation’s grid. “We have an opportunity, we have a critical mandate and critical urgency,” she said, announcing $10.5 billion to improve grid flexibility.

> https://www.smart-energy.com/industry-sectors/energy-grid-management/merging-data-streams-for-updated-transmission-planning/

Recent weather news underlines why that’s so important. An enormous wildfire is currently raging in ; it’s already the second-largest in US history and so big you can see it from space.

> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-29/texas-smokehouse-creek-wildfire-is-so-big-you-can-see-it-from-space

, too, is facing yet another bout of extreme weather that is requiring utilities to shore up their infrastructure.

> https://bnnbreaking.com/weather/pge-gears-up-for-severe-california-storm-power-outages-blizzard-conditions-expected

Even a little bit of investment can go a long way. One study suggests that hardening only 1% of total lines can reduce the likelihood of the most destructive damage by five to 20 times. Not a bad start.

> https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-023-01434-1

But grid upgrades are a massive undertaking. And there are other ways to shore up the grid, which is where smart energy systems come into play. As the number of EVs continues to grow, along with demand for electricity, the California Energy Commission is testing next-generation smart-charging through its Responsive, Easy Charging Products with Dynamic Signals ( ) program. Last month, the agency awarded grants to 10 projects.

> https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/ev-charging/evs-will-put-more-stress-on-californias-grid-smart-charging-can-help

The largest grant is going to dcbel: $52 million to accelerate the deployment of the Home Energy Station (HES), the first certified residential bidirectional DC charger in the US, which doubles as a powerful solar and stationary battery inverter. It has all the secure home, cloud and market architecture needed to empower the next generation of prosumers looking to subscribe to energy programs provided by utilities, energy service providers, microgrids and virtual power plants, as well as programs.

> https://www.dcbel.energy/blog/2024/01/15/dcbel-to-receive-52m-courtesy-of-california-energy-commission-v2x-grant/

EVs will put more stress on California's grid. Smart charging can help What's the best way to get millions of EV owners not to charge all at once or sign their cars up as grid backup batteries? A new program will test different approaches.

Will we see you at ? Join us for the highly-anticipated launch of our cutting-edge Digital Twin! Sign up for a demo now: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=U4CUe2HMS0Ovjp3lhvRmqqANkeEMVpdCjwAROza8d6dUNEg3RVlMNFNSOTZHWDQ1UTQ5NlA1Nzc4TC4u

❓ What is dcbel Digital Twin?
A home energy simulator that gives you an accurate picture of your territory’s net load in the years to come.

❓ Why do I need it?
The deployment of millions of intelligent grid-edge devices (DERs such as solar, storage and bidirectional EVs) is inevitable. Traditional feeder and secondary distribution load forecasting models can't be relied upon in the energy prosumer era.

❓ What can I do with it?
Hyper-accurate energy forecasting using a bottom-up approach that leverages actual metered data and/or synthetic load profiles based on energy personas. You'll get real-time or long-term granular DER net load forecasts for grid planning, feeder and asset management, dynamic price modelling and much more.

🤝 dcbel will host demos of Digital Twin starting tomorrow. Space is extremely limited, so act quickly to secure your spot!
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=U4CUe2HMS0Ovjp3lhvRmqqANkeEMVpdCjwAROza8d6dUNEg3RVlMNFNSOTZHWDQ1UTQ5NlA1Nzc4TC4u

You’d think that with a growing population, bigger houses, a glut of data centers and more drawing from the grid, electricity usage would have skyrocketed. Turns out that was a myth. Here’s why.

There have been a lot of headlines lately about EV growth slowing. But a slowdown is not a reversal, and the US actually added a record-breaking number of new EVs in 2023: 1.2 million. That’s a 57% increase over 2022. And it means EVs account for an ever-expanding share of new vehicles hitting the road, up from 1.4% in 2019 to 7.6% last year.

> https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/02/the-us-added-1-2-million-evs-to-the-grid-last-year-electricity-use-went-down/

As automotive researcher Glenn Mercer notes, the US is almost certain to follow in the footsteps of other large markets like China, where EVs now account for 40% of auto sales.

> https://glennmercer.substack.com/p/ev-perspectives?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

These new EVs are part of an increasingly electrified economy that is quickly moving away from fossil fuels. But doesn’t that mean electricity use is surging? Just the opposite. Electricity use is actually down 1% thanks entirely to improved efficiency. Americans use 50% less energy per capita today than in 1980, thanks to improved appliances, better building standards and innovations like LED lights.

Now we can add bidirectional charging to the list of things that will further improve efficiency. When each EV is essentially a reserve of clean energy, they will take even less of a toll on the electrical grid.

And what about the idea that bidirectional charging is bad for your EV’s battery? New research from Germany shows that simply isn’t the case, and bidi charging through a properly configured smart charger can actually reduce battery loss.

> https://www.greencarcongress.com/2024/01/20240131-v2x.html

Another myth busted.

The US Added 1.2 Million EVs To The Grid Last Year, & Electricity Use Went Down - CleanTechnica With over 1 million new EVs plugging into garage outlets, home charging stations, and Superchargers, you’d think our electricity usage would have shot up dramatically. You’d be wrong.

Have we reached the tipping point? Some automakers say yes. As EV sales keep going up, it’s time to embrace their potential not just as modes of transport but as an integral part of the home energy ecosystem.

Last week, BMW Group CFO Walter Mertl told reporters that the German car company has reached the point where its sales growth is being driven by electric vehicles, not those with internal combustion engines. “The current sales plateau for combustion cars will continue and then fall slightly,” he said.

> https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/bmw-cfo-sales-growth-is-mostly-electric-combustion-engine-tipping-point-passes-2024-01-15/

Meanwhile, Cadillac offered a vote of confidence last week when it announced that it is ramping up production of its model thanks to strong demand for luxury EVs and more abundant battery supply.

> https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2024/01/19/cadillac-adds-dealerships-and-is-boosting-lyriq-production-this-year/72274192007/

Many of the EVs driving growth are capable of charging. We’ve been keeping tabs on bidi vehicles and our list now includes 24, thanks to 10 new additions this year.

> https://www.dcbel.energy/blog/2024/01/15/new-year-new-bidirectional-cars-2024-edition/

That’s a game-changing situation, because with bidirectional capability, a car isn’t just a way to get around: it’s a battery on wheels that can keep the lights on at home.

More than that, they’re also a way for homeowners to lower their energy costs by providing reserve power that can be sold back to the grid.

The fact that more and more EVs are bidirectional indicates that the market understands the value of vehicle batteries providing .

Many drivers see a car when they look at an EV. But soon, they will see a revenue source - or even a member of the family.

BMW CFO: sales growth is mostly electric as combustion engine 'tipping point' passes BMW has passed the tipping point for combustion engine vehicle sales and now generates most sales growth from electric cars, its chief financial officer said in a media roundtable.

It’s been a rough winter across much of the US and the power is feeling the strain. Consumers across the country are being asked to conserve energy, which raises the question of whether widespread electrification will only exacerbate the situation. The reality? Just the opposite. Here’s why.

From Southeast to the Pacific Northwest, utilities have warned their customers that extreme weather is testing the limits of the power grid’s reliability.

> https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/power-grid-operators-continue-grapple-with-extreme-weather-conditions

But there’s reason to believe that, in the future, things might actually get better. “Thanks to smart meters, digital controls and an increasingly decentralized grid where electricity can flow both ways, utilities are better able to shape demand and shave off those peaks,” notes CLEER’s Dave Reed.

> https://www.postindependent.com/opinion/can-an-all-renewable-grid-power-an-all-electric-economy/

The key point is that electrification will be gradual, with an emphasis on increased efficiency. And there’s an important opportunity to leverage power flow on top of that. The EIA reported this month that US solar power generation will grow 75 percent by 2025, buoyed by government support and enthusiastic consumers.

> https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/18/us-solar-power-generation-to-grow-by-75-through-2025-says-eia/

You could sense the future at Intersolar North America, which recently wrapped up in San Diego. Global solar companies are ramping up their operations in the US, which will soon add many gigawatts of power to the grid.

> https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/01/u-s-solar-panel-manufacturing-claims-from-intersolar-north-america/

Now think about the potential of all that new renewable energy when it can be harnessed by individual households that are able to store power in their EVs or home batteries — in addition to any energy they produce themselves through rooftop solar. It’s a way to increase the reliability for individual homeowners and the grid as a whole, even in the face of increasingly wild winters.

US solar power generation to grow by 75% through 2025, says EIA The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) says it expects solar generation to grow from 163 billion kWh in 2023 to 286 billion kWh in 2025.

🚗 Our annual list of capable is back and bigger than ever.

We've counted 10 new models following a slew announcements made within the last year.

See the full list on our blog > https://www.dcbel.energy/blog/2024/01/15/new-year-new-bidirectional-cars-2024-edition/

Energy is getting more expensive. And you’re getting less for your money: aging infrastructure means less reliability in the face of increasingly extreme weather. It’s more important than ever to have a plan.

Californians were treated to an unwelcome gift over the holidays: gas and electric prices raised to the tune of 13% per household. That extra money will be invested in improving infrastructure to prevent gas leaks, as well as burying electrical lines to prevent wildfires and service disruptions due to weather.

There’s a lot of work to be done. 70% of transmission lines across the country are more than 25 years old, and many are nearing the end of their lifespan. In response, the federal government has launched the $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) program to shore up the grid.

And that work will take a while. In the meantime, severe weather means more and more outages — and a new court ruling in Texas means big power generators in that state have no responsibility to provide electricity during emergencies.

> https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2023-12-15/texas-power-plants-have-no-responsibility-to-provide-electricity-in-emergencies-judges-rule

That’s alarming news given that more Americans are at risk for severe winter weather this year than last.

> https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2709315/whos-at-risk-for-grid-outages-this-winter-and-beyond/

It’s no wonder that a growing number of households are investing in rooftop . Six gigawatts of home solar were installed in 2022, and the number of homes with rooftop solar is now 4.5 million.

> https://www.powermag.com/rooftop-solar-important-piece-of-fight-against-climate-change/

Solar growth goes hand in hand with the rapidly rising number of . “A lot of folks use solar just to power their home, but we’re powering our home and our cars with the same solar systems,” said one Illinois homeowner.

> https://fortune.com/2023/12/16/solar-rooftops-gain-electric-vehicles-owners-skip-paying-for-electricity-gasoline/

Now factor in the new generation of EVs capable of charging: you have complete energy independence for households who can generate their own power through rooftop solar and store it in their cars for when it’s most needed.

Home solar and bidirectional charging is the ultimate insurance policy for homeowners. But with the right strategy, it could also shore up the entire grid, sparing everyone from a future of increasingly expensive, unreliable power.

Solar rooftops gain traction as electric vehicles owners look to skip paying for electricity or gasoline: ‘Solar just makes sense’ Residential solar is gaining traction in the U.S., with about 4.5 million homes now with solar rooftops.

Before we turn the page on 2023, we’d like to thank those who made this year an incredibly special one for dcbel.

Firstly, to our employees in the USA, Canada and Europe: all for fueling a year of remarkable achievements with your unmatched work ethic, passion and commitment to our mission.

To our loyal online community: all your likes, comments, shares and messages of support have not gone unnoticed. for engaging with us every week!

Finally, a big to those at the cutting edge of clean energy technology who contributed their unique expertise — from the technicians across three US laboratories who worked on the historic certification of the dcbel Home Energy Station, to the partners who recently joined us on our journey, and the diverse energy market participants who worked closely with us throughout the year. You will forever be a part of dcbel's extended family.

dcbel was the first to chart the path that leads to energy without compromise. What began as a winding road few dared to travel is turning into a bustling - a collaborative network of companies including EV makers, utilities, smart appliance manufacturers, aggregators and beyond.

Together, we will advance clean energy.

We will make the grid stronger.

We will turn EVs into valuable energy assets.

We will orchestrate millions of distributed energy resources.

We will power homes sustainably.

Above all, we will allow homeowners to take ownership of their energy.

From all of us at dcbel: Season's greetings and best wishes for a safe and happy new year!

New England was walloped by a powerful storm this week, leaving 600,000 households across the region without power. It’s an example of the increasingly extreme weather caused by winter storms. Combined with rising demand for electricity, experts say it’s a recipe for more and more power failures. But it’s not all winter blues: new technology can reverse the trend.

> https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/new-england-power-outages-storm.html

This year in the US, there have been 25 confirmed weather- or climate-related disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each; the number of such events has been rising over the decades.

> https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) released a new Winter Reliability Assessment that warns the risk of blackouts this winter is greater than before. It says about two-thirds of the US and Canada could face energy shortages this winter if there is a major storm.

> https://www.tpr.org/environment/2023-12-15/energy-officials-warn-of-winter-blackout-risk-in-texas-and-beyond

But there are ways to reduce the risk. More and more homes are adopting clean energy, which could help mitigate the impact of increasingly extreme weather, especially when that energy is stored in an or home .

The faster residential storage is integrated into the grid, the more reliability can be improved without massive investments in grid expansion.

Hawaii understands this: the state is leading the way with a bring-your-own-device program.

It builds on a hugely successful pilot project that gave incentives to homeowners who bought a home battery and allowed their utility to use some of its power at peak hours, creating a 40-megawatt reserve that prevented power outages.

The new project widens the scope of coverage and offers participants three participation options depending on their needs.

> https://energycentral.com/news/hawaiian-electric-start-new-customer-power-supply-program

Now big tech players are getting in on the game. Google has just announced that users of its Nest home thermostats can now use the devices to automatically optimize how their HVAC system consumes energy.

> https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/14/24000407/google-nest-renew-smart-thermostat-renew-home-alphabet

It’s a big step towards widespread Virtual Power Plants ( ) and a dynamic energy — exactly what it will take to buffer more homes against future winter storms.

Power Outages and Flooding Afflict New England After Storm Residents were rescued as communities that flooded this summer were inundated again, and power companies warned that outages could last for days.

Nissan has just dropped a new video that depicts their vision of — and it’s a future where our relationship with energy is transformed by the smart management of clean power. It’s a future that isn’t so far away.

> https://youtu.be/mjQn_4HlFMk?si=0csrXG9RsCdXTSBx

The automaker promises a world in which trading a little EV energy goes a long way, shaving 40% from your electricity bill annually.

Consider the present reality: grid operators are warning that they are struggling to keep up with rising demand for electricity.
> https://energycentral.com/news/electric-grid-operator-warns-risks-rising-power-needs

The energy needed to fill the gap might just be on your roof, or in your driveway, waiting to be unlocked. There’s where decentralized energy resources (DERs) come into the picture.

DERs like solar are booming, with 35% annual growth thanks in part to support from the federal government’s Inflation Reduction Act. In fact, the US now has more than 161 gigawatts of cumulative installed solar electric capacity, enough to power more than 27 million American homes while offsetting more than 169 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

> https://www.seia.org/news/solar-poised-record-setting-2023-while-economic-challenges-mount

EVs are an especially big part of the picture. They have been vital in the transportation sector’s effort to decarbonize, and with the summit in the books, will continue to be for decades to come.

> https://www.just-auto.com/comment/cop28-evs-underscore-automotive-sector-role-in-lowering-co2/

Their batteries are also a form of DER. The next step will be managing DERs like solar and storage in a way that benefits everyone from utilities to individual homeowners.

You’ve heard of the Internet of Things — now there’s what scientists are calling the Internet of Energy. It’s how everything from your rooftop solar panels to the EV in your garage are being integrated through wireless networks and artificial intelligence that can juggle your needs in a way that you could never do manually.

> https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2023/November/Introducing-the-Internet-of-Energy

And when you put it all together, the result is what Nissan explores in its video: big-picture clean energy that makes your life easier.

Far beyond mobility: How Nissan envisions our relationship with energy | #Nissan Imagine trading the things you need for the energy you don't.Electric vehicles have the potential to change how we use and share energy. Today, the energy st...

Will 2024 be the year that the home energy revolution really takes off? All signs point to yes. EV sales are surging, more automakers are embracing bidirectional charging and new solar technology is making it easier than ever to become a prosumer.

Last week, LinkedIn presented its list of 34 big ideas that will change the world next year. Among them: “Electric vehicles will power our houses, and change careers.” And that’s not all. The article also notes the rise of affordable home solar panels that can be installed on a space as small as a balcony, something apartment-dwelling Germans have embraced, with 230,000 balcony power plants already in operation across the country.

> https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/34-big-ideas-change-our-world-2024-linkedin-news-ktl0e/

Together, these two developments might herald the arrival of a new era in home energy, when “EVs are viewed as more than just a mode of transportation but a versatile utility,” as LinkedIn special projects editor Josh Carney noted last week. After all, EVs are just batteries on wheels, perfect for storing excess solar generated by those balcony (or rooftop) panels.

But that raises a question, says Carney: “How will automakers and energy companies meet the need for expansive charging networks and affordable at-home grid connection?”

Things are looking good on that front. As the company with the only certified bidirectional residential DC charger, we at dcbel are very happy with the collaboration we're experiencing with stakeholders across the energy landscape — every company from utilities to automakers wants to unlock the full potential of distributed energy resources.

Consider that EV registrations in the US have surged, with 50.7 percent growth over last year, and market pe*******on is up from 7.3% to 9% — trends that coincide perfectly with inventory rebounds and prices coming down.

> https://electrek.co/2023/12/05/us-ev-sales-pass-1-million-2023/

On top of that, bidirectionality is blossoming, with VW the latest carmaker to announce its support.

> https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/cleverly-manage-your-own-electricity-first-id-models-support-bidirectional-charging-17949

The home energy revolution will make it possible for consumers to become active partners in producing and managing the power they need. And EVs are key to that. They aren’t just a way to get around: they’re incredible resources for the home of tomorrow.

Historic: US EVs skyrocket past 1 million sales, up 50.7% YOY🔥 Year-to-date US EV sales have passed 1 million – the first time EV sales have exceeded that threshold in a single sales year.

Two families face off: who will save the most on their energy bills after a hectic week that saw everything from blackouts to opportunities and skyrocketing rates?

A week in the life of a dcbel home - dcbel It won’t be long before bidirectional charging becomes the norm. A growing number of automakers are adopting the technology, with new and upcoming EVs from GM, Ford, Volvo, Hyundai and Mercedes boasting bidirectional capability. Even Tesla, long resistant to bidirectional charging, confirmed that ...

You can’t solve tomorrow’s problems with yesterday’s thinking. That’s what came to mind when we read Dan Avery’s excellent article on charging in CNET, which makes it clear that the biggest thing standing between us and a new energy landscape is a change in mindset.

> https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/features/what-if-your-ev-could-power-your-home-during-a-blackout/

Here’s the thing: we’re in the midst of a revolution. Traditionally, the grid links producers to consumers of energy. It’s a one-way street inching towards a dead-end considering surging demand and the increased frequency of extreme weather.

But new kinds of assets are being added to the grid and we’re starting to see consumers also become producers. The one-way street is becoming a two-way highway.

> https://www.dcbel.energy/blog/2023/01/20/your-house-is-a-power-plant-the-future-of-home-renewables/

That will eventually lead to more flexibility and resilience for the grid as a whole, but it also means the energy situation is becoming exponentially more complex to manage.

> https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2023/evs-play-surprising-role-in-supporting-grid-resiliency.html

With a shift in mindset about energy assets, cars are for transport, but bidirectional EVs are batteries on wheels that can provide an alternative source for your home or even potential revenue. If a homeowner is producing energy, using it to power their EV but also relying on that EV to store energy for use — or to sell back to the — what they absolutely need is the right platform to manage all of that.

Ty Jagerson, GM's leader for V2X, touches on a critical idea: “The biggest problem at this point,” he told CNET, “is just getting people to understand what the heck you're doing and … that you're not somehow hijacking their car or going to leave them with their vehicle drained, sitting as a doorstop in their driveway.”

That line of thinking makes one thing clear: Homeowners are prone to assume they won’t have control over their energy, and instead of being excited about all the new VGI programs and energy trading opportunities popping up, they feel mistrust.

Enter fully integrated, robust technology that is designed to satisfy any family's energy needs in harmony with real-time grid conditions.

It's a new way to ensure all your goals are met on the exponentially more dynamic two-way street. And one thing is certain: with a dcbel Home Energy Station, you're always in control. Your home, your rules - you decide who comes through the door, and when it's lights out.

What If Your EV Could Power Your Home During a Blackout? Bidirectional charging is shaping up to be a game changer in how we manage our energy use. But first, it needs to show up in more EVs.