Ultium Home and Commercial will offer products and services that enable bi-directional charging, allowing an EV to draw power from an electrical service or send excess power back to utilities and perhaps receive compensation.
“If you’re a customer and allow GM Energy to access, say, 10 percent of your battery on an as-needed basis we can move that energy around,” Hester said.
In addition, GM Energy will provide solar and stationary energy storage products, and will be compatible with fuel cells. The hardware is supported by software and management tools that are part of GM’s Energy Services Cloud, according to GM.
The company says it has already enrolled EV customers in charging programs through its Energy Services Cloud, the result of work with multiple utility companies in four U.S. states. Several firms already have been working with GM Energy or agreed to work with the business unit.
Solar technology and energy provider SunPower is one of them. The two companies have agreed to offer customers home energy systems that consist of integrated EV and batteries, solar panels and home energy storage. SunPower will be a preferred installer of the home energy system. The home energy system will be available alongside the retail launch of the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV, GM said.
