Volkswagen and Elli to Launch Vehicle-to-Grid Charging Package in Germany

Volkswagen Group’s energy subsidiary, Elli, has announced the launch of a comprehensive Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging package for the German market, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. This initiative allows eligible electric vehicle owners to feed stored battery power back into the public grid, helping to balance renewable energy supply and demand. The move represents a significant step in integrating electric vehicles into the broader digital energy system, offering economic incentives for drivers while supporting grid stability.

The new bidirectional charging solution integrates a compatible electric vehicle with the Elli BiDi Charger, the Volkswagen Naturstrom V2G Flow electricity tariff, and a dedicated mobile app. Initially available to drivers of Volkswagen, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and CUPRA models, the service requires vehicles to run ID. Software 3.5 with at least a 77 kWh battery or the newer ID. Software 6. Volkswagen estimates that approximately 360,000 MEB-based vehicles in Germany are already technically prepared for this service, providing a massive installed base for scaling V2G technology across its brands.

To encourage participation, Volkswagen is offering a plug-in bonus of up to €720 during the first contract year, provided customers keep their vehicles connected for at least 250 hours per month with sessions lasting three hours or more. The hardware at the center of this program is the Elli BiDi Charger, an 800-volt DC wallbox developed in partnership with The Mobility House Energy, EcoG, and EV-Tech. This charger delivers up to 11 kW of bidirectional power, allowing the vehicle to function as a mobile storage unit that can earn rewards for the owner while parked.

Elli will manage the energy-market operations by using The Mobility House Energy’s FlexEngine platform to aggregate connected EV batteries into a virtual power plant. This system absorbs excess renewable energy during high-supply periods and returns it to the grid when demand peaks, though homes with existing solar PV systems are currently excluded due to regulatory hurdles. While the initial rollout is focused on Germany, Volkswagen has identified France and the UK as potential future markets, positioning itself against competitors like BMW, Ford, and Renault who are also developing bidirectional charging services.