Assessing Public Opinions of and Interest in Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging Technologies: A U.S. Perspective

Abstract

An increasing number of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) have bidirectional charging technology that provides new benefits to motorists, homeowners, and power grid operators. A web-based survey investigates the willingness of over 300 Americans to pay for added bidirectional charging features, namely, vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies, along with their expected use frequency. Summary statistics suggest that Americans are willing to pay (WTP) an average of $280 and $776 on top of the price of a new car for V2L and V2H, respectively. About 51.3% would let their power company discharge their vehicle via V2G during grid emergencies if compensated and guaranteed a minimum battery level. Interval regression and ordered probit equations explain how demographics, travel patterns, and attitudinal variables affect the response variables, including WTP for bidirectional charging features and expected reliance on technology. The statistically and practically significant relationships suggest that adults over 34 have lower WTP values for V2L and V2H, and those in households with more vehicles plan on more bi-directional charging, as expected. The findings have implications for policymakers, manufacturers, and stakeholders involved in the BEV ecosystem, informing their decision-making processes related to integrating and commercializing bidirectional charging technologies. These models may even help power grid planners understand who is likely to adopt V2G technology, enabling them to aggregate and shift BEV loads to help manage the grid in parallel and isolation.