Volvo invests in bidirectional EV charging startup

On Wednesday, Volvo Vehicles revealed a brand new funding in bidirectional EV charging startup dcbel. The corporate’s “r16” House Power Station is a full-fledged renewable power ecosystem that includes solar energy, bidirectional charging capabilities for backup energy, and a wise residence power administration system.

After being the primary main premium automobile model to decide to a full hybrid or EV lineup for all its fashions, Volvo goals to promote a million electrified automobiles by 2025.

Volvo’s first totally electrical automobile, the XC40 Recharge, was launched in 2019, adopted by the C40 Recharge, a smaller and lighter crossover model, in March 2021. Between the 2 fashions, Volvo noticed totally electrical gross sales rise 157% within the first three months of 2023, reaching 18% of whole automobile gross sales.

The Swedish EV maker plans to launch no less than one new electrical automobile annually till mid-decade, together with the upcoming EX90 and its smallest SUV but, the EX30, set for its international debut on June 7 to proceed increasing into new segments.

With no less than half of Volvo’s gross sales anticipated to be totally electrical by 2025, the corporate goals to boost the possession expertise. Its newest funding in bidirectional EV charging startup dcbel will give patrons a whole residence power administration resolution.

Bidirectional EV charging coming to Volvo fashions

By means of its enterprise capital agency Volvo Vehicles Tech Fund, Volvo announced it could assist dcbel’s analysis and improvement (R&D) and go-to-market endeavors for its residence power system.

The system automates residence power administration by changing solar energy from rooftop photovoltaics and storing it in stationary battery storage.

House owners may also leverage the bidirectional charging to ship power from a Volvo EV again to their houses to avoid wasting on utility prices throughout peak hours (vehicle-to-home) or be compensated for promoting it again to the grid (vehicle-to-grid). It additionally helps charging two EVs concurrently.

The dcbel r16 House Power Station is a whole resolution, changing the next gear:

• Quick DC bidirectional EV charger
• Degree 2 EV charger
• Photo voltaic Inverter
• Stationary battery charger
• Sensible residence power supervisor

Alexander Petrofski, CEO of Volvo Vehicles Tech Fund, explains how “House Power Administration Techniques will play a significant function as we transfer in the direction of bi-directionality of electrical automobiles,” saying:

Rising power costs coupled with frequent blackouts are challenges confronted by customers in the present day and our funding in dcbel and their expertise may help alleviate these challenges for our prospects.

Prospects who buy dcbel’s residence power system can have the choice to customise and purchase their automobile and renewable power in a single bundle on-line. As soon as energetic, owners can view and management their power by way of the smartphone app, with it updating each 5 minutes to calculate the perfect methods to make use of, retailer, or promote their residence power.

Volvo already stated its upcoming EX90 can be the model’s first electrical automobile with bidirectional EV charging capabilities.