Solar + EV integration

V2G vehicle-to-grid payback estimator

Exporting power back to the grid has real equipment costs to recover first. Add your equipment cost and utility program terms for a genuine payback period.

Your V2G equipment and program terms

1 Project details Optional
2 Equipment and install cost
Bidirectional charger and grid-interactive hardware.
Confirm current eligibility on irs.gov. Enter 0 if not applicable.
A one-time signup incentive some utility V2G programs offer. Enter 0 if none.
3 Utility program terms
A flat fee some programs pay just for being enrolled and available. Enter 0 if not offered.
Some programs pause during extreme summer or winter months.
What the utility pays per kWh exported during a grid event.
Check your specific utility program's typical event frequency.
A conservative estimate for added battery degradation. Leave at 0.04 if unsure.

How it works

Three steps to your V2G payback estimate

Step 1

Check what your utility actually offers first

V2G export programs are still limited in availability. Contact your utility directly to see whether a program exists in your area before budgeting equipment costs.

Step 2

Enter the program's real payment terms

Get the specific participation payment, export rate, and expected event frequency directly from your utility's program documentation, not an estimate.

Step 3

Compare against V2H if grid programs aren't available

If no V2G program exists locally, the V2H payback calculator covers the home-backup and peak-shaving use case, which works independent of any utility program.

Understanding V2G payback

V2G programs are still emerging, not yet mainstream

Unlike V2H backup power, which works with any bidirectional charger regardless of utility participation, V2G specifically requires a formal grid export program from your local utility. As of this writing, these programs remain limited to specific pilot regions and utilities, so the first real step for anyone considering V2G is confirming a program actually exists and is accepting new participants in their area.

Two revenue streams, and they behave differently

Utility V2G programs typically combine a flat monthly participation payment, paid simply for being enrolled and available to respond, with a separate per-kWh export rate paid only when the vehicle actually discharges power during a grid event. The participation payment provides steady, predictable income, while export revenue depends heavily on how often the utility calls events and how much energy the household is willing to export each time.

Why export revenue usually drives the payback math

A program paying only a modest monthly participation fee without meaningful export revenue often stretches payback beyond 20 years, since the equipment cost, checked with the cash purchase vs financed payback comparison, is substantial relative to a small flat monthly payment. Programs that pay a real per-kWh export rate during frequent grid events bring payback down into a more reasonable 10 to 12 year range, though this still depends on battery wear assumptions and how many events the utility actually calls.

Battery wear from exporting is a real, ongoing cost

Every kWh discharged back to the grid is an additional cycle beyond what normal driving would put on the battery, and this calculator applies a conservative per-kWh wear estimate to reflect that added degradation. Actual wear varies by battery chemistry and vehicle manufacturer warranty terms, so check your specific vehicle's V2G-related warranty language if available before committing to frequent participation.

Using this figure next

If a local V2G program doesn't exist or the payback looks weak, the V2H payback calculator covers home backup and peak shaving instead, which doesn't depend on utility program availability. Either way, the EV vs home battery degradation comparison helps weigh bidirectional EV use against a dedicated home battery. Related, and worth checking: the avoided cost rate calculator.

Questions

Frequently asked

With an active utility export program paying both a monthly participation fee and a per-kWh export rate, payback often lands around 10 to 12 years on typical equipment and install costs. Programs offering participation payments alone, without export revenue, usually stretch payback well beyond 20 years.

No, V2G export programs that pay for grid services are still limited to specific utility pilot programs and regions as of this writing, unlike V2H backup power which works independent of any utility program. Check with your local utility directly to see what, if anything, is currently offered.

Yes, every kWh exported is an additional charge cycle on the battery beyond normal driving use, and manufacturers typically apply a wear cost estimate to account for the added degradation. This calculator subtracts that cost from export revenue so the payback figure reflects the real net benefit.

No, V2H, vehicle-to-home, powers your own house during an outage or peak rate period, while V2G, vehicle-to-grid, exports power back to the utility grid as part of a formal program. The bidirectional charging V2H payback calculator covers the home-backup use case specifically.

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