At the IAA Mobility 2025, Volkswagen Group subsidiary Elli announced the launch of a groundbreaking pilot project for bidirectional (“Bidi”) charging in private households, marking a major step toward energy self-sufficiency for EV owners.
The project centers on a legally compliant 11 kW bidirectional charger, developed with partner CUBOS, that allows electric vehicles to function as home energy storage units. Combined with solar systems, the solution enables households to cover their energy needs more independently and cut charging costs by up to 75 percent, according to Volkswagen’s internal simulations.
From today, Volkswagen customers in Germany — along with those of solar provider OTOVO — can apply to join the initiative, which officially launches in December 2025. The pilot is compatible with Volkswagen Group EVs built on the MEB platform, including models from Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, and CUPRA, provided they run ID. Software 3.5 or higher and feature 77 kWh batteries.
Elli also outlined its vision of scaling the technology Europe-wide. Through its Managed Battery Network (MBN) — a virtual power plant linked to the European Power Exchange (EPEX) — Elli will integrate EV batteries and large-scale storage systems into energy trading markets. A follow-up project in 2026 will connect several hundred decentralized EVs to the network, trading their flexibility on the EPEX intraday market.
In parallel, Elli is preparing to commission its first PowerCenter in Salzgitter this December. The 20 MW/40 MWh storage facility, using PowerCo’s LFP batteries, will provide grid services and support wholesale energy trading.
“Bidirectional charging is the enabler of energy self-sufficiency at home,” said Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli. “With the rollout of our Managed Battery Network, we are elevating vehicle batteries to the level of critical energy resources — bridging the gap between mobility and energy.”
By the end of the decade, Elli aims to orchestrate hundreds of thousands of EV batteries across Europe, accelerating the integration of renewable energy into the grid while reducing household dependence on conventional electricity.
