Volkswagen has announced the rollout of bidirectional charging capabilities for its ID series electric vehicles in Switzerland, with Sun2Wheel designated as the first officially authorized provider of this technology.
Bidirectional charging enables electric vehicle owners to utilize their cars as large mobile batteries. This feature can be particularly advantageous in regions with decentralized power supplies or solar setups that lack adequate energy storage. In such cases, electric vehicles can supply power when solar generation is insufficient.
To facilitate this initiative, Volkswagen will enable bidirectional charging for its ID models, including the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID Buzz, all equipped with batteries of at least 77 kWh. This functionality will be activated through a software update in conjunction with the launch of Sun2Wheel’s new 22 kW wall box charging station, which will be unveiled in Zurich at the Auto Zurich event on November 7.
The charging station is not expected to be available until around June 2025, but pre-orders can be placed at a starting price of approximately 13,000 Swiss Francs (about 13,818 euros). Additionally, the Touring Club Schweiz plans to offer a 500 Franc discount to the first 20 members who purchase the station. The cantons of Zurich, Bern, Thurgau, and Tessin are also providing subsidies to support the installation of bidirectional charging infrastructure.
Karin Schäfer, Head of Sales at Sun2Wheel, stated, “The moment we have been waiting for is here: VW is the first major supplier of electric vehicles to allow bidirectional charging. We have the technology and the necessary expertise and are looking forward to rolling out our bidirectional charging solution for VW models in Switzerland on a broad basis.” It is worth noting that other manufacturers, such as Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, are also exploring similar technologies. In the UK, Octopus Energy has announced a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) tariff set to launch in early 2024.
Volkswagen began integrating bidirectional charging capabilities into its vehicles in the summer of 2023, having been developing the technology since 2021. Marco Piffaretti, co-founder of Sun2Wheel, commented on the progress, saying, “We are proud to be making an important contribution to a sustainable energy future with bidirectional charging. The next, decisive phase of electromobility is now beginning. With our technology, we are the market leader in Switzerland and ready for important growth in the coming years.”
Source: technikblog.ch
