Two-way charging is more than just a technical innovation – it is the key to intelligently linking the mobility transition with the expansion of renewable energy, thereby shaping a sustainable energy future.This is precisely where the InterBDL research project comes into play.
InterBDL stands for Interoperable Management for Bi-Directional Charging for optimised, resilient power grid operation with innovative business models.
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In the coalition agreement, the German government has set the goal of enabling bidirectional charging. The increasing share of renewable energy, which often comes from volatile sources, makes local storage solutions necessary. A swarm of e-vehicles could serve as such storage in future by absorbing surplus energy and feeding it back when needed. For this to work, batteries and the power grid must be connected in an end-to-end supply chain, data flows must be efficiently controlled and overarching business models must be developed that involve all stakeholders.
Achieving this goal will require close cooperation between the automotive industry, ICT service providers, energy suppliers, grid operators and vehicle users. Economically viable business models, technological and IT developments, regulatory requirements and the definition of standards and norms play a central role in this. Social acceptance is just as important in order to fully exploit the potential of bidirectional charging and the associated benefits for users.
At present, the technical potential of bidirectional charging remains untapped. Neither the electricity grid operation nor the users of e-vehicles have benefited from these possibilities to date.
| Project acronym | InterBDL |
|---|---|
| Project title | Interoperable management for bi-directional charging for optimized, resilient power grid operation with innovative business models |
| Funding measure | Guideline for a joint funding initiative to promote research and development in the field of electromobility of the BMWK and the BMUV of 22.02.2021 |
| Project period | 07/2023 - 06/2026 (36 months) |
| Planned project costs | €7,032,202 (planned funding volume: €5,037,696, planned funding rate: 71.64%) |
| Project partners | 11 project partners (9 full partners + 2 associated partners) Since 01.05.2025: 10 project partners (8 full partners + 2 associated partners) |
| Consortium leader | Technical University of Ulm Institute for Energy Technology and Energy Economics Smart Grids Research Group |
The InterBDL project brings together stakeholders from various sectors to integrate the storage potential of bidirectional electric vehicles into the transformation of the energy system - including the charging infrastructure and automotive industry, ICT service providers, energy suppliers, grid operators, experts in energy meteorology and users of electric vehicles. The core objectives of the project are
While InterBDL works on the entire supply chain, the focus is on interoperability and open standards at the respective interfaces.
In order to integrate the newly introduced bidirectional infrastructure efficiently and safely into the electricity grid, the interoperability of all components and interfaces involved must be guaranteed along the entire supply chain. This is the only way that future applications of bidirectional charging (BDL) can be integrated into the existing energy supply system in a technically, economically and regulatory sense.
The InterBDL project is also investigating solutions for bidirectional AC charging infrastructures, which are seen as a valuable addition to existing technologies. The aim is to enable the open-technology, barrier-free and non-discriminatory use of charging and discharging processes - combined with the optimization of grid-friendly and energy market-oriented charging and discharging.
Practical test environments and extensive field tests with all project partners are used to test the technical implementation of all interfaces in a continuous end-to-end chain - from measurement data to control signals along the entire process chain.
The results from these tests and from accompanying economic, regulatory and socio-cultural analyses are translated into concrete recommendations for action. These are aimed at decision-makers in politics, regulation, standardization as well as industry and research - both in the automotive and energy sectors.
From May 18 to 21, 2026, our project partner DLR (German Aerospace Center) will present research results from the InterBDL project at the Transport Research Arena 2026 (TRA2026). The TRA is considered the largest European conference in the field of transport research and will be held in 2026 under the motto "ReGeneration".
Participation in TRA2026 underlines the project's ambition to provide impetus not only at national level, but also in the European research area. We are delighted to be able to present the project results in an international setting and to intensify the exchange with colleagues from all over Europe.
Further information and the TRA2026 program: TRA2026 ReGeneration in transport