Electric vehicle technology is continually improving, and Honda recently announced a significant advancement in the EV arena. At RE+ 25 — the largest clean energy event in North America — Honda revealed an all-new energy management system that lets electric vehicles operate as generators to power other sources, such as homes. The first application of this technology will be on the Acura RSX, and Honda intends to expand it to additional models later.
About Honda's New Energy Management System
Honda describes the main attraction of this system as its bidirectional energy capability, allowing power to flow from a vehicle back into a home. These features, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H), effectively turn Honda's vehicles into “virtual” power plants, enabling owners to store electricity in their cars or transfer excess energy to their residences on demand. The system also supports selective charging and power usage. 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. Honda says that future Honda and Acura EVs will be able to self-charge opportunistically when electricity demand and prices are lower, storing enough energy for driving and sending any surplus back to the home or grid. The intention is to lower homeowners' electricity costs and offer a backup power source during outages.
Where Will the Technology Appear?
Right now, one utility is testing the system. Southern California Edison (SCE) has agreed to pilot Honda's V2H and V2G technology, letting both the utility and Honda measure their performance and make improvements. Honda's ChargeScape program has also gained backing from automakers like Ford, Nissan, and BMW. Honda has not yet confirmed whether non-Honda/Acura vehicles will be able to use ChargeScape. Further information will be released after the initial SCE trial. Eventually, participants could pair the system with solar panels, backup batteries, and home energy monitoring tools.
Contact us to learn more today.
