Not a UK story, but a sign of things to come for the UK?
BMW and E.ON are now selling Germany’s first commercial vehicle-to-grid package. Plug in your iX3, earn money while you sleep.
The deal bundles a bidirectional wallbox, smart meter, and dedicated electricity tariff for private customers.
Drivers earn 0.24 euros per hour just for keeping the car connected. That’s up to 720 euros a year — enough to cover 14,000 kilometres of motoring.
Energy discharged back to the grid pays an extra 0.40 euros per kilowatt hour on top.
A jointly developed algorithm handles everything automatically. The My BMW app tracks bonuses and lets owners set charging limits in real time.
Battery health isn’t compromised. Built-in safeguards keep the cells within their optimal operating range throughout every cycle.
The first 100 sign-ups get a 700-euro voucher towards the 11 kW wallbox. That offer runs until the end of 2026 or until stock runs dry.
Why does it matter? EV batteries become distributed energy storage. They soak up surplus renewables and release power when demand spikes.
That eases pressure on the grid and accelerates the shift away from fossil generation.
BMW has also launched a separate cost-optimised charging feature for all electric and plug-in hybrid BMW and MINI models.
It automatically charges when electricity prices dip lowest, factoring in departure times and desired charge levels.
The partnership was announced at IAA Mobility last September. E.ON is showcasing the technology at E-World in Essen this week.
With regulatory tailwinds building across Europe, this collaboration could become the blueprint for V2G rollouts elsewhere on the continent.
Source: BMW
