Everyone is doing it (slowly)

Why Everyone is Going “Bi”

The Electric Vehicle Revolution’s Most Exciting Coming-Out Party

Everyone’s going bi — and it’s about time!

The closet door has been flung wide open, and automakers are finally embracing their bidirectional nature. No more shame, no more hiding — it’s time to celebrate the fact that energy can flow both ways, baby.

The power you put in your car can increasingly be used to switch hit and power your house — if you let it.

For years, the EV industry has been stuck in a unidirectional mindset, a prudish one-way street where electrons only flowed from the grid to your car. But honey, we’re living in more enlightened times now. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality allows EVs to feed energy back into the grid during times of high electricity demand, and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) allows EVs to power a home, reducing energy costs and providing backup during outages. It’s the automotive equivalent of being a switchhitter, and I’m applauding (I started working on this wayyyy back in 2008 in my policy work).

The Early Experimenters: Those Brave Souls Who Came Out First

Let’s give credit where credit is due. The Nissan Leaf was one of the original bi-curious vehicles, openly experimenting with CHAdeMO connections that went both ways. In 2022, Nissan approved a V2G bidirectional charging system for model-year 2013 or newer Leaf models, making it the pioneer of automotive sexual — I mean, electrical — liberation.

Then came Ford with their butch F-150 Lightning, proving that even the most masculine of trucks could embrace their bi side. The F-150 Lightning offers V2H through its Intelligent Backup Power charging system, which can power an average home for up to three days with normal charge, or up to 10 days when rationed. Talk about stamina!

In what might be the most dramatic coming-out announcement of 2024, General Motors announced all of its Ultium-based EVs will support V2H by 2026. That’s right — the Silverado EV, Sierra EV Denali, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, Cadillac Lyriq, and the bougie Escalade IQ are all ready to swing both ways. GM isn’t just dipping a toe in the bi pool; they’re doing a cannonball.

The Europeans Get Kinky with Their Plugs

Meanwhile, across the pond, the Europeans have been getting experimental with their hardware. Two innovative EU companies, InterControl and Ambibox, in Germany, successfully conducted a V2H test with Tesla Model Y and Model 3 using a bidirectional charger without any vehicle modifications. Leave it to the Germans to figure out how to make even the most vanilla Teslas explore their bi-curious side.

Wallbox has been particularly adventurous with their Quasar 2, a compact bidirectional DC charger offering 11.5kW of power that’s designed for home use and includes a blackout mode. The company promises that deliveries are expected for June 2025 for those who pre-ordered — because good things come to those who wait, especially when it comes to bi experiences.

Tesla’s Reluctant Conversion: Even Elon’s Going Bi

For years, Tesla played coy about going bi, with Elon Musk himself expressing skepticism, based on the argument that most people wouldn’t want to power their vehicle with their home because when they use the vehicle as a vehicle you would have to unplug the house. But even the most resistant eventually see the light — it’s great to have options!

Tesla has released Powershare bidirectional charging with the Cybertruck, which includes vehicle-to-load, vehicle-to-home, and vehicle-to-vehicle capabilities. The angular beast can now provide home backup power at up to 11.5 kw through the charge port, or output up to 9.6 kw through a total of five outlets. That’s a lot of juice.

Tesla has still not announced plans for its other vehicles to go bi. Boooooo.

The Asian Invasion: K-Pop Goes K-Watt

The Koreans aren’t shy about their bi tendencies either. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, Kia’s EV6 and EV9, and Genesis GV60 all feature V2L functionality. The Kia EV9 is particularly versatile, offering V2L, V2G, and V2H capabilities — a true pansexual of the EV world.

The Hardware That Makes It All Possible: Getting the Right Equipment

Of course, going bi requires the right equipment. Enphase’s IQ Bidirectional EV Charger enables safe, reliable two-way power flow between the EV, home, and grid, with integrated Black Start technology that delivers uninterrupted backup even during full grid outages. It’s like having a backup generator, except sexy.

Sigenergy has developed a versatile and modular hybrid system that integrates solar, battery storage and bidirectional EV charging into one unit, offering both 12.5kW and 25kW options. Because when it comes to bi experiences, size does matter — but it’s really (of course) about how you use it.

Australia Says “G’day” to Going Both Ways

Down under, they’re embracing their bi side with typical Aussie enthusiasm. In November 2024, the Australian government achieved a major milestone when Standards Australia approved a new standard for vehicle-to-grid charging. Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen declared that this approval paves the way for manufacturers and charging companies to register their products. Even Mitsubishi Motors Australia demonstrated their Outlander PHEV’s ability to export 5kW of power at their Adelaide headquarters.

The Technical Foreplay: Standards and Compatibility

Like any good relationship, going bi requires communication and compatibility. The ISO 15118 international standard for vehicle-to-grid has enabled manufacturers to build fully certified bidirectional DC charger modules. It’s the Tinder profile that lets everyone know you’re DTF — Down To Flow (electricity both ways).

There are two main camps: Team CHAdeMO and Team CCS. CHAdeMO and CCS (Combined Charging System) are the two main standards for DC fast charging globally, and like the eternal top/bottom debate, everyone has their preference.

Here’s the thing about going bi — it’s not just liberating; it’s lucrative. Homeowners can save up to $1,500 per year by storing cheap energy or PV solar surpluses for self-consumption, then powering their home during expensive peaks. Some estimates suggest that with V2G, homeowners could make as much as $15,000 over 10 years by selling power back to the grid.

So here’s to 2025 — the year everyone finally admits they’re bi. Whether you’re Team V2G, Team V2H, or just here for the V2L action, there’s no judgment in this charging station. Love is love, electrons are electrons, and energy wants to be free — to flow in whatever direction feels right.

References and Further Reading

Bidirectional Charger Reviews & Technical Specifications:

• Clean Energy Reviews: Bidirectional EV Chargers Review
• Zecar: Bidirectional (V2H and V2G) EV Chargers Guide (2025)
• Wallbox Quasar 2 Official Page
• Enphase Bidirectional EV Charger

Vehicle Compatibility Lists:

• Zecar: Which Electric Cars Have Bidirectional Charging
• Cars.com: What’s Bidirectional Charging and Which EVs Offer It?
• dcbel: New Year, New Bidirectional Cars: 2024 Edition

Tesla Powershare & Cybertruck:

• Tesla Powershare Official Page
• Tesla Support: Powershare Documentation
• Electrek: Tesla Releases Powershare Bidirectional Charging
• U.S. News: Tesla Models Will Have Bi-Directional Charging by 2025

Technical Standards & Implementation:

• InsideEVs: Bidirectional Charging V2L, V2G Explained
• gridX: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)

Regional Developments:

• Mitsubishi Motors Australia: Bi-Directional Charging in Australia

Industry Analysis:

• Green Car Reports: Powershare in Tesla Cybertruck
• Electrek: Tesla Cars Can Now Do V2H with Powerwall Competitor

[Claude 4.0 assisted in writing this essay]