Germany’s First Vehicle-to-Grid Charging Offer from BMW and E.ON

BMW Group and E.ON introduce Germany’s first commercial V2G charging offer, enabling bidirectional charging and grid feed-in for BMW iX3 owners.

BMW Group and E.ON have launched Germany’s first commercial Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) offering for private customers, bringing bidirectional charging into everyday use and positioning electric vehicles as active participants in the energy system.

The new V2G solution marks the next step in the development of BMW’s Neue Klasse. The first model to support the service is the new BMW iX3, equipped with the sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology. Customers can order a complete product package consisting of the BMW Wallbox Professional, the E.ON ÖkoStrom Home & Drive V2G electricity tariff with an additional V2G Plus feed-in contract, and an intelligent metering system if one is not already installed.

At the core of the offer is a jointly developed BMW and E.ON algorithm that automatically manages charging and discharging processes. The system allows the vehicle’s high-voltage battery to feed energy back into the grid when required, while drivers retain full control over current and target charge levels via the My BMW App. The app also provides transparent, real-time access to the customer’s bonus status.

The financial model combines a fixed electricity tariff with a bonus mechanism based on connection time. Customers receive a bonus for every hour their vehicle is connected to the bidirectional wallbox with V2G activated, amounting to up to 720 euros per year. According to BMW and E.ON, this can cover the energy needed for up to 14,000 kilometres of driving annually. In addition, each kilowatt-hour of electricity fed back into the grid is compensated separately.

Early adopters are offered an additional incentive. The first BMW iX3 customers who opt for the E.ON V2G tariff receive a 700-euro discount on the BMW Wallbox Professional. With a charging capacity of up to 11 kW, it is among the first series-production wallboxes designed for full bidirectional operation.

Beyond individual cost savings, BMW and E.ON highlight the broader energy-system benefits of V2G. By using vehicle batteries as distributed storage units, the technology can help stabilise the grid during periods of surplus generation or increased demand and support the integration of renewable energy. Research cited in the broader discussion around V2G indicates that such flexibility can reduce overall system costs over time.

Alongside the V2G launch, BMW Group is also introducing a simpler entry point into energy-market integration. A cost-optimised charging function is now available to all electric and plug-in hybrid BMW and MINI models in Germany. The system automatically charges vehicles when electricity prices are particularly low, taking planned departure times and target charge levels into account. Combined with a compatible E.ON tariff, this option enables customers to lower home-charging costs without participating directly in V2G.

The introduction of Germany’s first commercial V2G offer for private customers reflects a broader shift in the role of electric vehicles. As regulatory frameworks, smart-metering infrastructure and bidirectional charging standards continue to develop, electric cars are increasingly positioned not only as means of transport, but as integral components of a future, more flexible energy ecosystem.