H.R. 6129: Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging Act of 2025

This bill, called the Bidirectional Electric Vehicle Charging Act of 2025, aims to promote and standardize bidirectional charging for electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States. Here are the key components of the bill:

National Electric Vehicle Bidirectional Charging Roadmap

The Secretary of Energy is tasked with developing a National Electric Vehicle Bidirectional Charging Roadmap. This roadmap will include:

• A timeline and strategy for enhancing bidirectional charging technology.
• A list of strategies and challenges related to the increased development and adoption of bidirectional charging.
• Key actions Congress might consider regarding bidirectional charging.
• Estimated costs for developing and using bidirectional charging, including evaluations of slow, moderate, and fast implementation rates.

The roadmap must be submitted to Congress and made public within 12 months after the bill is enacted.

Technical Standards for Bidirectional Charging

Within two years of the bill's enactment, regulations will be established by the Secretary of Energy to:

• Set technical standards for manufacturers to standardize bidirectional charging technology.
• Require that all new electric vehicles manufactured starting in model year 2029 be equipped for bidirectional charging, unless exempted by the Secretary of Energy.

Civil Penalties for Noncompliance

The bill outlines civil penalties for companies that fail to comply with the established regulations. Penalties can reach up to $21,000 for each violation, with a cap of $105 million for a series of related violations. The Secretary has the authority to negotiate penalties based on various factors, including the severity of the violation, the number of vehicles affected, and the financial context of the violating business.

Disaster Recovery Plans

The bill also requires that hazard mitigation plans submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) incorporate capabilities for bidirectional charging. This aims at enhancing resilience in disaster recovery scenarios.

Definitions

For the purposes of this bill, the following definitions are provided:

• Bidirectional charging: This refers to the ability of an electric vehicle to both receive energy from a charging station and provide energy back to an external load.
• Electric vehicle: Defined as a vehicle designed to operate solely on electricity stored in rechargeable batteries.

Overall Objectives

The overall objective of this legislation is to increase the adoption of bidirectional electric vehicle charging technology, establish necessary regulations and standards, and ensure readiness for future energy needs while promoting resilience against disasters.

Relevant Companies

• TSLA (Tesla, Inc.): As a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, Tesla could be significantly impacted by requirements to adapt its EVs with bidirectional charging capabilities and may influence the development of associated technologies.
• F (Ford Motor Company): Ford will need to comply with the new requirements for bidirectional charging in its electric vehicle lineup starting from model year 2029, affecting its production plans.
• GM (General Motors Company): Similar to Ford, GM will need to ensure that its electric vehicles are equipped for bidirectional charging, impacting design and manufacturing processes.
• NIO (NIO Inc.): As an electric vehicle manufacturer, NIO may be affected by standards and regulations surrounding bidirectional charging technology and compliance issues.