Volkswagen readies bidirectional charging for Germany

Volkswagen and Group energy subsidiary Elli will launch a fully integrated Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) offer for private customers in Germany in the fourth quarter of 2026, with pre-registration opening in June. The package bundles a bidirectional DC charger, smart meter, dynamic electricity tariff and digital app control, allowing Volkswagen electric vehicles to feed stored energy back into the grid.

Under the offer, customers receive compensation for making vehicle battery capacity available for energy trading, with payments based on their chosen level of charging flexibility rather than trading performance. Volkswagen cited market estimates suggesting annual savings or revenue potential of €700 to €900 (US$756 to US$972) per customer in best-case scenarios.

Around one million Volkswagen electric vehicles already on European roads are technically prepared for bidirectional charging, built on the modular electric drive (MEB) platform. The upcoming ID. Software 6 update will extend the functionality to additional battery sizes, broadening access to future volume models.

Martin Sander, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said: “Electric mobility can only realize its full potential if it also makes economic sense for our customers. With Vehicle-to-Grid, we are delivering exactly that: significantly lower home charging costs, and, in the long term, nearly cost-free charging. As a pioneer in bidirectional charging, our entire ID. family has been ‘bidi-ready’ since 2023.”

The V2G offer is planned to roll out to further European countries after the German launch.

Source: Volkswagen Group