Bidirectional charging may be required on EVs soon due to new CA law
It’s an exciting week for grid resiliency-lovers in California, as Governor Gavin Newsom followed up his earlier smart grid law and signed another law this week which may require bidirectional charging on EVs in the future – though the law has no hard timeline attached, so it may be a while before we see this happen.
Bidirectional charging refers to the capability of electric vehicles to not just take electricity from the grid to charge, but to output electricity in various forms, whether this be vehicle-to-load (plugging in devices, like the 1.8kW capability on the Kia Niro EV), vehicle-to-home (like Ford’s “Intelligent Backup Power” system), or vehicle-to-grid (like the Nissan Leaf is capable of).
While these applications may seem like a party trick, widespread use of bidirectional charging could lead to huge benefits for efficiency, grid resiliency, and enable much greater penetration of renewable electricity generation.
Most electric grids don’t really have trouble meeting the regular everyday needs of electricity consumers, it’s when big spikes happen that things get difficult. Either on a hot day when everyone is using air conditioning, or a day when electricity generation is curtailed for some reason or another, that’s when things get difficult.
And as climate change makes temperatures hotter, California’s grid is often overtaxed on the hottest summer days, which are becoming more numerous. Even worse, methane-burning fossil gas peaker plants are the highest-polluting form of electricity California consumes, and these are currently used at peak times in order to deal with high demand.
One solution to this problem is adding energy storage to the grid which can be dispatched when needed, and which can fill up when the grid is oversupplying electricity. This helps to balance out supply and demand of electricity and make everything a little more predictable.
This is why there has been a push for grid-based storage like Tesla megapacks, which represent a large source of rapidly-dispatchable energy storage.
But there’s another source of grid-connected batteries out there which was right under our nose the whole time: electric cars.
EVs, which are mostly connected to the internet anyway, could be used as a distributed energy storage device, and even called upon to help provide electricity when the grid needs it. We already see this happening with Virtual Power Plants based on stationary storage, but if cars had V2G, theoretically cars could contribute in a similar way – both saving the grid, and perhaps making their owners some money along the way via arbitrage (buying electricity when its cheap and selling it when its expensive).
The problem is, not many automakers have included V2G capabilities in their cars, and in the cars that do have it, not many manufacturers have made V2G-capable equipment, and the ones who have built it haven’t seen that many customers who are interested in spending the extra money to upgrade their electrical systems with V2G-capable equipment.
So there needs to be something to jumpstart all of that, and California thinks it might just have the thing.
New CA law might require bidirectional charging… eventually.
The idea started in 2023 when state Senator Nancy Skinner introduced a bill which would require EVs to have bidirectional charging by 2027.
As this bill made its way through the legislative process, it got watered down from that ambitious timeline. So the current form of the bill, which is now called SB 59, took away that timeline and instead gave the California Energy Commission (CEC) the go-ahead to issue a requirement whenever they see it fit.
The bill directs the CEC, the California Air Resources Board, and the California Public Utilities Commission to examine the use cases of bidirectional charging and give them the power to require specific weight classes of EVs to be bidirectional-capable if a compelling use case exists.
The state already estimates that integrating EVs into the grid could save $1 billion in costs annually, so there’s definitely a use case there, but the question is the cost and immediacy of building those vehicles into the grid.
The reason this can’t be done immediately is that cars take time to design, and while adding bidirectional charging to an EV isn’t the most difficult process, it also only really becomes useful with a whole ecosystem of services around the vehicle.
Even Tesla, which for years has touted itself a tech/energy company and sold powerwalls, inverters, solar panels and so on, is still only gradually trickling its bidirectional Powershare feature out onto its vehicles.
And that ecosystem has been a bit of a hard sell so far. It’s all well and good to tell someone they can make $500/year by selling energy to the grid, but then you have to convince them to buy a more expensive charging unit and keep their car plugged in all the time, with someone else managing its energy storage. Some consumers might push back against that, so part of CEC’s job is to wait to pull the trigger until it becomes apparent that people are actually interested in the end-user use case for V2G – otherwise, no sense in requiring a feature that nobody is going to use.
Electrek’s Take
Given all of these influences, we wouldn’t expect CA to require bidirectional charging any time soon. But it still gives the state a powerful trigger to pull if other efforts, like the recently-signed smart grid law, turn out not to be enough as California works to, grow, clean up, and make its grid more affordable all at the same time.
But having the force of law behind it could turn V2G into less of a parlor trick and more into something that actually makes a difference the way us EV nerds have been dreaming of for decades now (true story: Electrek once turned down Margot Robbie for an interview and instead talked to some engineers about V2G for an hour).
So, telling manufacturers that California may start mandating bidirectional charging soon means that those manufacturers will perhaps start taking V2G more seriously, particularly given the size and influence of CA’s car market. Even if the CEC doesn’t make it a requirement, the threat of it eventually becoming one means that EV-makers will probably start getting ready for it regardless.
There’s no real point to a single person discharging their car into the grid, but when millions of cars are involved, you could work to flatten out the famous “duck curve,” which describes the imbalance between electricity supply and demand. We hear a lot about “intermittency” as the problem with wind and solar, and grid storage as the solution to that, so being able to immediately switch on gigawatt-hours worth of installed storage capacity would certainly help to solve that problem. And we hope this law helps us get just a little closer to that potential future.
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![The Kia EV2 is real: Here's our first look at the low-cost EV on the road [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/Kia-EV2-4.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Kia is gearing up to launch its smallest, most affordable EV yet. Despite its small size, Kia promises the EV2 has “a big personality” with its latest tech, features, and sleek new design. Here’s our first look at the Kia EV2 after it was spotted in public testing for the first time.
Kia EV2 spotted testing in Korea for the first time
The EV2 is Kia’s upcoming entry-level electric SUV, slated to sit below the EV3. We got our first look at it last month after Kia unveiled the EV2 concept, a preview of the upcoming production model.
It was showcased alongside the EV4 and PV5 as part of Kia’s rapidly expanding EV lineup. Kia wants to offer “EVs for all,” with prices ranging from under $30,000 to upwards of $80,000.
According to Kia, the EV2 is designed to make “electric vehicles truly accessible for everyone.” It features the brand’s updated styling, including its signature vertical daytime running lights (DRLs) and Star Map lightning.
Although it’s Kia’s smallest electric SUV, the EV2s upright stance, wide wheel arches, and rugged bumpers give it a more premium feel, almost like the three-row EV9.
Kia didn’t stop here. With folding second-row seats, you can slide the front seat back as far as possible, providing a comfortable space when parked. Kia says it’s enough to stretch your legs or even “sit on the vehicle’s flat floor to enjoy a meal.”
The entry-level electric SUV will be loaded with advanced software, connectivity, and other tech, including vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities to power up electronics or home appliances. With OTA updates, the EV2 will only get smarter and more functional over time.
Ahead of its official launch, the compact electric SUV was spotted in Korea on the road testing for the first time. The video from HealerTV gives us our closest look at the EV2 as it nears production.
Like its other EV concepts, the EV2 will look almost identical to the concept when it arrives in production form. From the side, it almost looks like the Kia Soul with a boxy silhouette. Despite the camouflage, the rear gives the same impression with similar proportions to the concept.
The EV2 will also likely include Kia’s new ccNC infotainment system, which features dual 12.3″ driver display and navigation screens.
Kia plans to launch the EV2 in Europe “and other regions” in 2026. Although prices and specs will be revealed closer to launch, the electric SUV, based on Hyundai’s E-GMP platform, is expected to feature at least 300 miles (605 km) WLTP range.
Kia’s CEO told Autocar it aims to launch the EV2 at around £25,000 ($32,000) in the UK. However, that was in 2023. With battery advancements and more, prices could be even lower now.
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Environment
Magna Steyr is finalizing deals with XPeng and GAC Motor to build Chinese EVs in Austria
A new report states that Austria-based contract manufacturer Magna Steyr is on the cusp of securing two new customers in XPeng Motors and GAC Motor Co. As a result of the reported deal, those Chinese automakers would have an avenue around additional tariffs on imports imposed by the EU, while Magna Steyr gains some much-needed EV manufacturing on its Austrian assembly lines.
Magna Steyr is an automotive contract manufacturer based in Graz, Austria that operates as a subsidiary of Magna International. The business across the pond is known for manufacturing the G-Class for Mercedes-Benz and the Jaguar I-Pace and briefly built the Fisker Ocean SUVs before the American automaker halted production following a filing in Austria equivalent to bankruptcy.
After losing Fisker and Jaguar as clients, Magna adjusted its annual output targets and has been looking to fill those vacated assembly lines since. In 2023, we reported that Magna Steyr signed on to design and build off-road EVs for INEOS, but not until 2026.
As we pointed out last year, another viable option would be to take on the builds for Chinese EV automakers, especially as local production practices can help avoid tariffs imposed by the European Union following a probe last year.
In May 2024, we reported comments from Magna Steyr’s president confirming that all Chinese automakers selling EVs in Europe had been in touch with the contract manufacturer and that those local production discussions were ongoing.
Magna Steyr now appears close to finalizing contracts with at least two Chinese EV automakers – XPeng Motors and GAC Motor Group to build their respective models in Austria for EU customers.
Magna may confirm Chinese EV contracts as early as June
According to a report from Graz-based media outlet Kleine Zeitung last week, Magna Steyr is close to finalizing agreements with both XPeng and GAC to build Chinese EVs in Austria. The report states that the manufacturing process will include a Semi-Knocked-Down (SKD) process, in which pre-fabricated components will be imported from China into Austria before being assembled locally.
While this is welcomed news for Magna Steyr, the contracts from the Chinese EV automakers may not necessarily be a saving grace to get its Graz plant humming at full capacity. The new clients only intend to invest a minimal amount in a small number of initial EV assemblies to test markets in Europe.
Simultaneously, contracting EV assembly to Austria offers the Chinese companies a break from some additional tariffs imposed by the EU last October. This follows a probe that determined several of those marques received unfair subsidies from the Chinese government to expand their global footprints. In the case of XPeng and GAC Motor, they would be looking at additional tariffs of 20.7% if they exported their vehicles directly from China into the EU.
Through this strategy, XPeng already has a market presence in several regions of Europe, hence why it is likely exploring more cost-savvy logistical options while it continues to try to carve its own piece of the market with European consumers.
According to the report, the contracts with the Chinese automakers could be finalized as early as June, although Magna Steyr has not confirmed such talks publicly yet.
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Honda and Acura have confirmed that their electric vehicle owners in North America will gain access to Tesla Superchargers in June.
In January, Honda indicated it was working with Tesla to onboard its EVs on the Supercharger network soon.
Today, the Japanese automaker confirmed that its EV owners, more specifically, Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX owners, will gain access to “more than 20,000 selected Tesla Superchargers across the United States starting in June 2025.”
That’s a more precise timeline than previously announced.
Honda also confirmed that it will offer its own ” Honda-approved NACS-CCS DC fast-charging adapter”, which will be available to purchase close to June at Honda an Acura dealerships.
Ryan Harty, assistant vice president of Sustainability & Business Development at American Honda Motor, commented on the news:
“Adding Tesla Supercharger network access to the charging networks already available to our EV customers means industry-leading fast-charging access for Honda and Acura EV drivers. By the end of this decade, we strive to provide Honda and Acura EV drivers with the most convenient and easy charging at more than 100,000 charge points nationwide, helping people choose to purchase an EV for the many benefits of driving one.”
Tesla’s Supercharger network consistently ranks at the most reliable fast-charging network in North America – on top of being the most extensive.
The automaker started to open up the network to other automakers after the Biden administration announced billions of dollars in funding for charging stations if they were available to electric vehicles from one or more automakers.
Here’s a list of automakers that have access to the Supercharger network:
- Ford
- Rivian
- General Motors (GM)
- Volvo
- Polestar
- Nissan
- Lucid
- Mercedes-Benz
Tesla also has a list of “coming soon”:
- BMW
- Genesis
- Hyundai
- JLR
- Kia
Now, we can add Honda and Acura to the list.
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