With Valeo’s reversible charger, electrical vehicle is part of the power grid

When electric vehicles connect to a charging station, it’s normally to draw power from it to charge their batteries. Now, thanks to the ground-breaking reversible charger technology that Valeo has created, vehicles will be able to send power back. In Shanghai, the group is demonstrating a reversible charger that enables electric vehicles to send surplus electricity to the grid using Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology. That’s not all: the reverse charger also makes it possible to send electricity to a specific electric device, thanks to Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology.

Visitors at Shangai Auto Show are able to experience it first-hand as an electric vehicle prototype fitted with a reversible charger is on display at the Valeo stand. Connected to a charging station developed jointly with the Chinese company Xcharge, it shows how electricity from the batteries can be reinjected into the grid. Visitors can also enjoy a hot drink heated by the same technology, since the reversible charger will also power up a kettle at the stand’s tea bar.

There is currently no solution to store unused energy, so Valeo’s reversible charger is a major step forward for electricity storage and management. V2G technology will therefore solve the electricity storage problem, provide support to energy utility companies, enable automakers and charging station suppliers to imagine new services.