Tesla’s Investor Day event yesterday was filled with interesting topics, one of which was bi-directional charging. Tesla vehicles currently don’t have this functionality, but Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering Drew Baglino revealed during the Q&A session that followed the presentation that it will be available in about two years. Baglino explained that it wasn’t a conscious decision to not do it, but rather it just wasn’t a priority at the time. He also noted that the company is in the middle of retooling its power electronics and this will bring bi-directionality while reducing the cost of power electronics in the vehicle.
Elon Musk chimed in and said he didn’t expect widespread use of the feature by owners, as unplugging the car would cause the house to go dark. He did note, however, that if a customer has a Powerwall installed, then the car can be used as a supplementary energy source. Baglino agreed with Musk, saying that most of the value comes from charging the car at the right time, not sending energy the other way.
Bi-directional charging has several types, including vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-home (V2H), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G). It remains to be seen whether Tesla will implement this technology on its vehicles by 2025 as Baglino said, given the company’s reluctance to do so until now and Elon Musk’s comments. Bi-directional charging could be a great supplemental energy source for those Tesla owners who have a Powerwall installed at home.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
