Volkswagon’s ID Car Helps Power Swedish Housing Estate

The automotive giant is working with HagerEnergy to provide a home power station and an integrated energy system via bi-directional charging

German automaker Volkswagen has announced that several car models in its ID range are offering bidirectional charging with the “vehicle to home” (V2H) function. With a home power station and the integrated home energy management system (Hems) from Volkswagen partner HagerEnergy, customers can cover as much of their household consumption as possible with their photovoltaic system, the company claims.

Charging Infrastructure

Both companies have launched a pilot project in Sweden in which an entire housing estate is being supplied with vehicles and the corresponding charging infrastructure. ID models fitted with the 77 kWh battery (net) will be able to use the bidirectional charging function to store electricity at home.

“We are actively shaping the energy transition with products and services centred around the electric car: With the bidirectional charging function that is now available, we have tailored a new service offering to the needs of our customers,” said Imelda Labbé, board member for sales, marketing and after sales, Volkswagen. “Not only can they save energy costs, but they are also making an important contribution to the sustainable use of energy.”

VW reports it will also be able to activate the function for vehicles that have previously been delivered as soon as they have also received the ID software 3.5 via an update. Due to the high storage capacity, VW reports a dwelling can also be supplied with solar power over several cloudy days or in the evening when the sun has set and the photovoltaic system is no longer supplying electricity. This means that customers can decide for themselves when they want to draw energy from the public grid or use the self-generated electricity stored in the vehicle battery as a supplemental power source (vehicle-to-home).

Volkswagen and HagerEnergy have set up a pilot project with residents of the Stenberg housing estate In the Swedish town of Hudiksvall. The estate is sited on a 350-year-old farm that was remodelled as the basis for the new settlement. “The use of electric vehicles as energy storage was considered from the outset,” entrepreneur Klas Boma said. “Stenberg is a once-in-a-lifetime project. When we decided to realise ‘the other 350-year project’, energy and the environment were key. Every decision was made with these aspects in mind. Thankfully, Volkswagen joined the project in April 2021 and we are now ready to go. This will be one of the biggest changes in the energy market.”