Mitsubishi Motors is integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into people's lives by working with a Dutch business partner on the V2X project.
Mitsubishi Motors is integrating plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into people's lives by working with a Dutch business partner on the V2X project. photoed by RANJANA WANGVIPULA
Under the give-and-take concept, V2X equipment installed at homes lets Outlander PHEV owners "charge and discharge" their cars, taking or giving electric power as needed, said Taku Kawai, manager of Mitsubishi Motors' EV solutions department.
V2X stands for vehicle to X, with the X referring to the variable left unknown, depending on what the car will supply electricity to, including homes, work offices or even tents during camping trips.
According to Mr Kawai, V2X is used as a bidirectional charger, able to charge a car at up to 3.5 kilowatts and discharge power at 1.5kW for electrical appliances that require a smaller amount of electricity.
The idea is to "stabilise the grid", for instance during short blackouts, said Sander Ouwerkerk, business development director of Amsterdam-based NewMotion Co, which is working with Mitsubishi on V2X.
Mr Ouwerkerk said that while V2X is not the most essential aspect of PHEVs, it offers smarter use of electricity as a bonus.
NewMotion, a firm specialising in charging facility solutions, plans to roll out about 200 V2X units later this year.
Toshinaga Kato, vice executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors' Asean division, said he would be among the prospective customers because his house already uses electricity from solar panels.
V2X, which can store electricity, is a "possible [technology] for my house" and can help secure electricity supply, Mr Kato said.
