Volvo Cars' new headquarters features bidirectional EV charging system

Volvo Cars' new headquarters in Torslanda, Sweden, is set to house one of Europe's largest bidirectional charging systems in its accompanying parking garage. Approximately 180 electric vehicles will be able to both charge their batteries and feed electricity back into the grid, a system designed to optimize resource use.

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A way to use resources smarter

"A way to use resources smarter," stated Joel Ambré, CEO of Investor-owned Vectura Fastigheter, the property owner. The new building, part of the Näst Innovation Destination Torslanda center, represents a 1.5 billion kronor investment. The parking facility is envisioned not just as a parking space but as an active resource, with parked cars contributing to the building's power supply.

The facility incorporates rooftop solar panels generating 280,000 kilowatt-hours annually and stationary batteries equivalent to ten cars. These energy solutions have already cut the building's peak power demand by 40%. Buddy Energy provides the software managing the energy flow between vehicles, batteries, and solar panels. "With the car batteries as energy storage, we can avoid peak loads and sell electricity when it is advantageous," explained Per-Henrik Persson, CEO of Buddy Energy. "This saves money for those paying for electricity and helps balance the load on the power system."

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Property owners normally see parking as a necessary evil. Now it becomes a resource, and the parked cars help contribute to the power supply.

Volvo Cars' new EV models, including the EX60, EX90, and ES90, are equipped for this vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. "For us, it's a way to show how an electric car can play a completely different role in society than a combustion engine car," said Erik Severinson. "It puts the electrification of the vehicle fleet in a new perspective. Electric cars represent enormous potential and can be the reserve that avoids starting the oil-fired Karlshamn power plant on a cold February day."

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With the car batteries as energy storage, we can avoid peak loads and sell electricity when it is advantageous. This saves money for those paying for electricity and helps balance the load on the power system.

While the exact business model for drivers is still being finalized, potential incentives like charging discounts are being considered. Drivers can set a minimum battery level to ensure their car is ready when needed. Both Vectura Fastigheter and Buddy Energy hope to see more such bidirectional charging systems implemented, recognizing the potential for numerous parking garages to function as large-scale batteries.

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For us, it's a way to show how an electric car can play a completely different role in society than a combustion engine car. It puts the electrification of the vehicle fleet in a new perspective. Electric cars represent enormous potential and can be the reserve that avoids starting the oil-fired Karlshamn power plant on a cold February day.