What does vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allow electric vehicles to do?

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is a significant advancement in the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, as it enables electric vehicles to not only draw energy from the grid but also to feed energy back into it. When equipped with V2G capabilities, an EV can store energy when demand is low or prices are favorable, and then return that stored energy back to the grid during peak demand periods or when prices are high.

This bidirectional flow of energy benefits both the EV owner and the larger power grid. EV owners can potentially earn money or reduce their energy costs by participating in energy markets. Meanwhile, the grid can enhance its stability, mitigate the impact of intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, and reduce the need for standby generation resources.

While maintaining a charge while parked is a feature of EVs in general, it does not capture the dynamic interaction with the grid that V2G allows. Charging from the grid only pertains to a unidirectional process, and increasing battery capacity deals with the physical aspects of the battery, which does not relate to the energy exchange mechanisms that V2G technology facilitates.