Volkswagen joins “Task 53” bidirectional charging initiative

The international “Task 53” initiative — part of the Electric Vehicle Technology Collaboration Program of the International Energy Agency (IEA) — aims improvement of interoperability in the field of bidirectional charging (V2G / Vehicle-to-Grid). A key focus is ensuring seamless interaction between EVs, charging infrastructure, as well as the power grid.

Until now, 15 countries have supported the program. Volkswagen has now become the first major automaker to officially join Task 53 as a partner. According to the company, it is pursuing several projects around bidirectional charging and regards the collaboration as an opportunity to overcome existing technical hurdles — particularly communication and control issues that have hindered interoperability and scalability so far.

Renault and telecom provider A1 have launched a pilot project in Austria to supply emergency power to a cell tower using V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) — directly from an EV’s battery. Together with the municipality of Raasdorf, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric and Renault 4 E-Tech Electric are being tested as mobile power sources.

The goal is to ensure that, in the event of a blackout, these vehicles are capable of supplying critical infrastructure such as cell towers with energy — not just for short periods, but over extended durations. According to A1, it is technically feasible to use an EV like a large power bank in an emergency, maintaining communication services even when the grid is down. The partners emphasize that the approach is flexible, low-emission, and independent of the local utility.

Chinese EV manufacturer Li Auto has established a 50/50 joint venture with SEVB, a subsidiary of Sunwoda. Previously, Li Auto collaborated with CATL, primarily in research and development. The new venture with SEVB, however, will focus on supplying complete battery packs designed in-house by Li Auto.

Under the project name IBIS (Integrated Battery & Inverter System), Stellantis, Saft (a TotalEnergies subsidiary), and other partners have been developing a battery system with built-in charging and inverter functionality for several years. After a phase of stationary demo units, the technology will now be tested in real life for the first time — specifically, a Peugeot E-3008 based on the STLA Medium platform.

The integrated approach is designed to allow the battery to receive both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) while simultaneously supplying power to the motor, 12V system, and vehicle auxiliary units.

Porsche subsidiary Moon Power is moving into production preparation for its modular RE:LIFE energy storage system, which uses repurposed batteries from MEB-platform vehicles. Following successful prototype testing, a restricted production run is now planned, with installations at selected pilot sites within Volkswagen Group.

The system will be capable of providing 411 kWh of gross energy capacity by utilizing 60 NMC traction batteries from MEB vehicles. Its combined inverters will deliver 176 kVA of AC power, with energy management handled by the OptiMOON system. The solution is designed to improve self-consumption, support peak shaving, and enable intermediate storage of solar power.

Swedish logistics startup Einride has achieved a milestone by crossing a national border with a fully autonomous, cabinless electric vehicle — there was no driver on board. The crossing took place at the Ørje border checkpoint between Norway and Sweden.

Such cross-border operations are technically and legally complex, requiring adaptation to different traffic laws, border and customs procedures, and signage standards. For this trip, the vehicle was connected to Norway’s digital customs system (Digitoll), allowing all cargo documentation and formalities to be processed electronically in advance.