Indra, a British smart energy technology business, plans to conduct the world’s largest vehicle-to-home (V2H) trial later this year.

Based in the UK, the R&D project will involve more than 500 participants and could strengthen Indra’s position as a pioneer ofdomestic bi-directional electric vehicle (EV) charging.

The pilot data indicate that V2H technology can generate average savings of up to £200 per month on a household energy bill, with higher energy users able to save more; the trial will collate real-world data for a minimum of 12 months.

As a privately funded trial, participants will be asked to contribute towards the cost of the unit and installation, with these payments offset by reduced energy costs during the trial period itself.

“Since launching the world’s first domestic V2G charger in 2018, Indra has been involved in several leading trials to develop bi-directional charging technology and broaden its capabilities,” said Mike Schooling, Indra’s CTO. “Connecting the vehicle to the grid is an intelligent use of energy but the ability to draw surplus power from an electric vehicle via V2H technology and use it in the home is a game-changer, and where the biggest savings can be achieved in today’s energy market. These trials will give us meaningful real-world data of user behaviour, cost savings, energy performance and scheduling optimisation. It also supports Indra’s bi-directional technology development, giving consumers truly intelligent smart charging that supports a sustainable energy future.”

Indra’s V2H charger is designed to use surplus energy stored in an electric car or van to help power the home, resulting in lower energy bills and reducing energy demand on the grid at peak times. The vehicle is charged when electricity is at its cheapest and energy can then be sent back from the vehicle to the home at peak times.

The battery in the vehicle effectively becomes a battery for the home, supplying power for general use in the same way as the grid. The V2H charger is also solar compatible, allowing for those with domestic solar panels to incorporate and exploit this energy source, increasing the potential for self-sufficient energy consumption.

A 4kW household solar panel system typically produces up to 3000kWh of electricity annually, which is enough energy to charge fully the battery of a 59kWh Nissan Leaf just over fifty times. The contribution from incorporating solar power alone into the V2H setup would be sufficient to save around £840 a year on electricity, depending on the exact price per kWh of a specific tariff.

As well as reducing home energy bills, it has the potential to reduce a household’s carbon footprint by increasing the use of renewable energy during off-peak times.

Indra was founded in 2013 to create the smartest way to power EVs. It has designed a range of smart EV chargers that offer convenient, reliable, cheaper and sustainable EV charging. The company has also developed a viable bi-directional V2G charger which allows power to flow both ways, enabling users to control the flow of energy to where it is needed.