A massive power bank on wheels: Bidirectional charging with an electric truck

German commercial vehicle manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus has successfully demonstrated bidirectional charging technology on one of its electric trucks, marking a first for European commercial vehicle makers. The trial involved the eTGX heavy-duty battery-electric truck, equipped with a substantial 480 kWh battery pack. This capability allows the vehicle not only to draw power from the grid but also to supply electricity back to various endpoints, including company sites, other vehicles, and the wider power grid. Bidirectional charging opens up several practical applications for electric trucks. In vehicle-to-site (V2S) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) scenarios, trucks can provide power to their own facilities or other electric vehicles, helping to manage peak electricity demand and optimise the use of onsite renewable energy such as solar PV. The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) function enables trucks to act as mobile energy storage units, feeding electricity back into the grid to support stability and potentially generate additional revenue during periods of high demand or elevated electricity prices. Georg Grüneißl, MAN’s head of product strategy, highlighted the transformative potential of this technology, describing the trucks as “power banks on wheels” that can reduce energy costs and contribute to a more resilient energy system. MAN estimates that companies could save between 10 and 20 per cent on electricity expenses by utilising V2S or V2V charging modes, which would significantly improve the total cost of ownership compared to diesel trucks. The V2G application, in particular, could create a new income stream for operators while supporting grid infrastructure. The demonstration was conducted as part of the Spirit-E project, a research initiative launched in 2024 and funded by the German government. Led by the Technical University of Munich, the project involves multiple partners including MAN Truck & Bus, the Research Centre for Energy Economics, and the Fraunhofer Institute. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in integrating electric commercial vehicles into broader energy systems, potentially reshaping the role of trucks in future energy and transport networks.