GM V2H tech rolled out as Escalade IQ arrives

AS CADILLAC prepares to launch its Escalade IQ in North America this week, comes news from General Motors (GM) that its complete range of Ultium-based electric vehicles will offer V2H (vehicle-to-home) bidirectional charging technology by 2026.

Initially, MY24 versions of the Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Cadillac Lyriq will receive the technology, with the newly released Cadillac Escalade IQ to offer V2H charging from launch.

GM says the technology rollout forms part of its plan to “deliver a growing suite of energy management products and services”, and the V2H capabilities “unlock additional value for customers who will be able to transfer energy from the vehicles to a properly equipped home when required”.

As has been demonstrated by other vehicle manufacturers, including Ford, Hyundai and Mitsubishi, V2G, V2L and V2H technology will allow GM users to transfer energy between applicable and connected assets.

The American company has a range of Ultium Home offerings which are cloud controlled, and which may be operated from a GM vehicle when mains supply is interrupted.

GoAuto understands the technology may be offered by GM importer, General Motors Special Vehicles (GMSV) when it launches the Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric Cadillac range Down Under in the near future.

“GM Energy’s growing ecosystem of energy management solutions will help accelerate GM’s vision of an all-electric future by further expanding access to even more benefits that EVs can offer,” explained GM Energy vice president, Wade Sheffer.

“By integrating V2H across our entire Ultium-based portfolio, we are making this ground-breaking technology available to more consumers, with benefits that extend well beyond the vehicle itself, and at broader scale than ever before.”

Mr Sheffer did not outline pricing details but said vehicles equipped with the technology will be priced only modestly higher than standard variants of the same power level.

GM is one of the last North American manufacturers to come to the party with V2H technology. Ford already offers a similar system with its F-150 electric pick-up while Tesla has announced that its vehicles will be capable of bidirectional charging by 2025 – the same year it plans to extend its network to charge General Motors’ vehicles.

Speaking to US publication Automotive News this week, GM’s vice president of charging and energy, Hoss Hassani, said the technology will appeal to buyers in some regions more than others, but will become part of a greater EV ecosystem.

“Our approach is very much an ecosystem approach,” he said.

“While the EV is at the centre of the universe, it alone is not where all the value comes from, not for us as a business and not for the customer as an experience.

“Our push on education is going to be national, but we are going to expect some states to be early adopters in this versus others.”

Mr Hassani said that once electricity providers scale managed charging programs, which would allow consumers to schedule charging for off-peak times, consumers could save money by charging their vehicles when electricity prices are at their lowest.

He said that in the longer-term, consumers may even profit by unloading energy from their vehicles to the grid.