2024款雪佛蘭Silverado EV First-Edition RST2將成為首輛搭載這項技術(shù)的車型。
汽車行業(yè)仍在不斷探索并推出電動汽車的新技術(shù)。通用汽車子公司GM Energy推出的全新雙向充電技術(shù)正是其中的一項最新技術(shù)。
在電動車保有量不斷攀升的趨勢中，GM Energy推出了車輛到家庭（V2H）雙向充電解決方案。該方案的掛壁式充電箱和配套app將首先應(yīng)用于2024款雪佛蘭Silverado EV First-Edition RST2上，未來還將與通用汽車旗下的其它車型兼容。
GM Energy表示其產(chǎn)品的軟、硬件配套可根據(jù)客戶的需求和預(yù)算定制。公司的門戶網(wǎng)站可指導(dǎo)客戶選擇合適的方案，并幫助其了解這項技術(shù)的潛在效益。
GM Energy目前推出的是掛壁式充電箱，在正確安裝后能夠利用一輛與其兼容的電動車為住宅供電。未來，公司還計劃推出電池儲能方案和集成光伏裝置。
GM Energy目前正與電動車充電站安裝公司Qmerit達(dá)成合作，共同解決產(chǎn)品的安裝和本地許可等問題。該產(chǎn)品將率先在以下五個州推出：加利福尼亞州、佛羅里達(dá)州、密歇根州、紐約州和德克薩斯州。
GM Energy致力于將傳統(tǒng)上較為復(fù)雜的技術(shù)進(jìn)行簡化，使其對用戶更友好。公司副總裁Wade Sheffer在接受SAE采訪時表示：“從購買到使用期間，我們始終為客戶提供周到的一站式服務(wù)，”雖然這項技術(shù)最初僅適用于Silverado EV，但公司明確表示2024年以下4種車型最終也將兼容該技術(shù)，包括：Sierra EV Denali、Chevrolet Blazer EV、Chevrolet Equinox EV和Cadillac Lyriq。要使其它車型兼容這項技術(shù)就需要升級軟件或硬件，也可能兩者都需要升級。從2026年車型開始，通用汽車旗下的所有電動汽車都將支持雙向充電技術(shù)。
對于那些家里還有其他品牌的電動車的用戶，Scheffer表示該技術(shù)未來也有可能適用于這些車。他表示：“雖然一開始只適用于通用汽車的車型，但當(dāng)市場成熟后，我們肯定會應(yīng)市場需求拓展業(yè)務(wù)。”
這一技術(shù)的推出意味著GM Energy正式步入了一個傳統(tǒng)上不屬于汽車制造商業(yè)務(wù)范疇的領(lǐng)域。除了本田開發(fā)了數(shù)十年的發(fā)電機，以及特斯拉自主研發(fā)的Powerwall家用儲能電池外，家用能源管理對汽車OEM而言還是一個相對較新的領(lǐng)域。
現(xiàn)在，通用汽車也加入了福特和起亞的隊伍，成為了又一家推出V2H服務(wù)的OEM。福特針對F-150 Lightning純電動皮卡推出了自主研發(fā)的V2H方案，而起亞則是與第三方充電站公司W(wǎng)allbox合作研發(fā)了針對EV9的雙向充電方案。該技術(shù)不僅將為這些車型的車主帶來好處，還將為電網(wǎng)提供削峰填谷解決方案。
利用停在車道或車庫中的車輛為住宅供電是汽車電氣化進(jìn)程中較為有趣的一項創(chuàng)新。雙向充電或V2H技術(shù)為電動車的車主帶來了額外的福利，使其能夠利用車載電池組為其住宅供電。這對于經(jīng)常停電的地區(qū)而言無疑是一個重大福音。
此外，搭載V2H系統(tǒng)的車輛及其兼容的掛壁式充電器還有望減少車主家中的電費，因為它們可在電價較低的夜間充電（或在白天利用光伏充電），并在用電高峰時段向家中供電——至少在電力設(shè)施支持該功能的地區(qū)。該技術(shù)還能惠及電力設(shè)施，尤其是在用電高峰時段。如果能夠利用電動車為住宅供電并減少成百上千戶住宅對電網(wǎng)的依賴，那么輪流停電的現(xiàn)象也會減少，從而保護(hù)電網(wǎng)。
諷刺的是，反對電動車的一個主要論點正是電動車會影響電網(wǎng)。而事實上，電動車能在削峰填谷方面發(fā)揮巨大作用。
隨著V2H技術(shù)的不斷推廣，還將產(chǎn)生大量專業(yè)電工的就業(yè)機遇。與所有產(chǎn)品相同，只要V2H系統(tǒng)受到客戶認(rèn)可，產(chǎn)量就會迅速攀升。Sheffer表示：“我們目前在五個關(guān)鍵州率先推出該系統(tǒng)，之后會擇機擴大業(yè)務(wù)。”
GM Energy的V2H產(chǎn)品網(wǎng)站將為客戶提供分步指南，幫助其選擇最適合其住宅的V2H系統(tǒng)。
The benefits of EVs are still being explored and introduced to the world. The latest is GM Energy's new bidirectional charging system.
With a host of EVs on the market and more on the way, GM Energy unveiled its Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) bidirectional charging solution. The wall box and companion apps will initially be available on the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV First-Edition RST2. Compatibility with other vehicles under the GM umbrella will be supported in the future.
The company says that its product suite of bundled hardware and software can be tailored to customer needs and budgets. GM Energy's online portal will guide them through the options and help educate potential customers about the technology and its benefits.
Currently, GM Energy is offering a wall unit that, when properly installed, will supply a home with power from a compatible EV. It also plans to introduce a battery storage solution and integrated solar installations.
GM Energy is partnering with Qmerit, an EV charging station installation company, to handle installations and local permitting issues. At launch, the system will be available in five states: California, Florida, Michigan, New York, and Texas.
The company is determined to take something that's been traditionally complex and make it easy for customers. "We are a one-stop shop, white-glove service from beginning to end, and through the duration of use," Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy, told SAE MedWhile the initial vehicle will be the Silverado EV, GM did say that it anticipates the following 2024 MY vehicles will eventually be compatible: Sierra EV Denali, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, and Cadillac Lyriq. Sheffer told SAE Media that bringing other vehicles into the mix will require either a software or hardware update, potentially both. Starting with model year 2026, all GM EVs will support bidirectional charging.
If you happen to live in a mixed EV household, Sheffer sees a future where GM Energy's devices work on EVs beyond the GM lineup. "Our initial rollout is with for GM vehicles only. When possible, when the technology is there and it's available? Absolutely, it would make sense for us to look at the wider market," Sheffer said.
With the news, GM Energy is entering a space that's not traditionally part of an automaker's business. Outside of Honda with its decades-old lineup of generators and Tesla with its Powerwall, home energy management is relatively new to automotive OEMs.
GM is now joining Ford which has its own V2H solution for the F-150 Lightning and Kia which is partnering with third-party charging-station company Wallbox to bring bidirectional charging to the EV9. Not only does this bode well for the owners of these vehicles, but it's also a solution for balancing the grid during peak usage.
One of the more interesting aspects of the transition to EVs is the potential to use the vehicle in your driveway or garage to power your home. Bi-directional charging or V2H is an additional benefit of EV ownership. With it, owners can use the battery pack in their vehicles to run their home. A huge benefit in areas where blackouts are a regular occurrence.
These vehicles and their compatible wall chargers also have the potential to reduce a home's electric bill by charging at night when rates are cheaper (or via solar during the day) and discharging into the home during peak-rate times, at least in areas where there is support from the electric utility for this feature. When it works, an EV could be a benefit to a utility, especially during times of high electricity demand. If EVs can be put into service to pull hundreds or even thousands of houses off the grid, it would reduce the need for rolling blackouts to protect the grid.
One irony of all this is that one of the main arguments against EVs is that they will bring down the electrical grid. In reality, they could be incredibly beneficial to balancing the grid during peak usage.
As V2H continues to roll out, there will be employment opportunities for highly trained electricians to install these systems. As with any product, if it catches on with customers, manufacturing could also ramp up. "We are launching in five critical and key states. And as we launch, we'll look at opportunities where it's necessary," Sheffer said.
GM Energy's V2H product site is live with step-by-step guidance to determine the best system for your home.
通用汽車V2H充電裝置的首輛兼容車型為2024款雪佛蘭Silverado EV First-Edition RST2。（通用汽車）
通用汽車的 V2H 家用充電器包括一根 25 英尺（7.6 米）長的電線，最大充電輸出功率為 19.2 千瓦。（通用汽車）