Data security a priority for Polestar before it rolls out bidirectional V2G charging tech

Five years after Polestar announced it was working on bidirectional charging for its electric cars, the EV brand says it’s almost here.

Polestar Australia managing director Scott Maynard says privacy and data security are priorities for the brand, as it works to enable vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging technology on Australian models.

“We don't yet know [the timeframe], but we know that we're very close," he said.

“I was able to host meetings with engineering teams in Sweden just a few weeks ago, and speak with them directly about vehicle-to-grid,” he told CarExpert.

“Polestar 3 has vehicle-to-grid capability living inside it; it simply needs to be switched on. So, we're close to being able to do vehicle trials, both overseas and here in Australia, with a view to being able to then introduce it as quickly as possible.”

One advantage of EVs (and plug-in hybrid vehicles, or PHEVs) is V2G capability, which allows vehicle batteries to feed power back into the electricity grid with a compatible charger, while vehicle-to-load (V2L) means the car itself can power electrical appliances.

There’s also vehicle-to-home (V2H), which supplies power to a home directly when the grid is overloaded, expensive, or if there’s a blackout.

“We continue to make certain that we fully understand how the technology will be used in the car, and to be able to ensure that there is no degradation of battery life as it's introduced,” Mr Maynard explained.

“There is also a security component to this, and ensuring that there is an agreed standard on the handshake when the vehicle is connected to grid, and to ensure that there is no data transfer there that could compromise vehicle data, customer data, or privacy [which] is also an important consideration as we step through this.

“We expect all of those things to be resolved. And I know that there's a standard 'Dash 20' that's being introduced that will see that done, and then we'd be able to proceed. So, we're very close.”

Dash 20 refers to the second generation of bidirectional standards, which dictates the protocols for electricity transfer across all eligible makes and models.

So far only a handful of auto brands offer V2G tech in their vehicles Down Under (but only in some states, territories or networks), including Nissan with its discontinued Leaf, and Mitsubishi's Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs, while others preparing for V2G and/or undertaking trials include Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr.

Overseas, Polestar offers a smartphone app called Polestar Energy, which allows owners to schedule vehicle recharging during off-peak periods, with integration to home solar systems – though Mr Maynard says there are no plans to introduce it here just yet.

“However, we are now starting to see interest from our head office colleagues in whether that product could be rolled out, but we don't have any plans at this stage to introduce it, and we don't have a timeline for it.”

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