Electric vehicle technology keeps evolving, and Honda has introduced another innovation in the EV field. At RE+ 25 — North America's premier clean energy event — Honda announced a robust energy management system that enables EVs to function as generators to power other sources, such as a home. The technology will debut on the Acura RSX, with plans to expand availability to more vehicles in time.
About Honda's New Energy Management System
Honda highlights the system's ability to enable bidirectional energy transfer from an EV to a residence as its primary benefit. This functionality, referred to as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H), allows Honda's vehicles to operate as “virtual” power plants, so owners can keep energy in their cars or send extra power to their homes when needed. The platform also supports selective charging and power deployment. While the new system will first appear in the Acura RSX, Honda anticipates the technology extending to more of its electric vehicles in the future. According to Honda, future Honda and Acura EVs will be capable of self-charging during lower-cost periods of the day, retaining enough energy for driving and exporting any extra to the home or grid. The aim is to help reduce household electricity expenses and provide emergency backup power if the grid goes down.
Where Will the Technology Appear?
At present, one utility is running a trial of the system. Southern California Edison (SCE) has agreed to test Honda's V2H and V2G solution so the automaker and the utility can evaluate performance and make refinements. Honda's ChargeScape initiative has support from other major automakers, including Ford, Nissan, and BMW. Honda has not yet said whether vehicles outside the Honda and Acura families will be compatible with ChargeScape. More details will follow after the initial SCE pilot. In time, participants may be able to choose additional home power options, such as solar panels, backup batteries, and home energy monitors.
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