Although not quite a flying car from The Jetsons, KITT from the 1980s TV series Knight Rider was a vehicle ahead of its time. The modified Pontiac Trans Am was an AI supercomputer on wheels: autonomous driving, intelligent voice communication, remote access to data and the ability to control external electronic devices. And that’s just a sampling of the extensive list of features that wowed audiences just four decades ago.   

KITT may have been a work of Hollywood fiction, but many of its features are now an automotive reality thanks to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. Recent years have introduced the first generation of V2X-capable vehicles, starting with the VW Golf 8 in 2019. Vehicles like the Golf 8 and others since are equipped with an array of sensors and antennas to better communicate with the world around them — laying the groundwork for eventual autonomy. 

But even more recently, a new type of V2-connectivity has emerged, founded on electric vehicle (EV) bidirectional charging. Signal connectivity via V2X is now accompanied by power connectivity through vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities.  

How do these new technologies combine to shape the EV of the future? 

V2X is often referred to as “the IoT on wheels” and is a broad classification made up of an abundance of communication subcategories such as vehicle-to-device (V2D), vehicle-to-network (V2N), vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V). The wireless infrastructure to support V2X, which exists both inside and outside the vehicle, has enabled new safety and convenience features like collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control and parking assistance while providing a framework for autonomous driving. But what makes this infrastructure possible?

The Molex report — Predicting the Connectivity of Tomorrow: The Innovations Driving the Connected World — explores the past, present and future of vehicle antennas. In it, Florian Scherbel, Global Product Manager at Molex, explains how vehicles have transitioned from having one AM/FM rod antenna to what is the next generation of connected vehicles with almost 30 antennas. Each serving unique purposes from 4G/5G network connectivity and V2X functionality to Bluetooth compatibility and – eventually – communication with Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and 5G/6G mmWave elements.  

Many of these antennas are designed to support and enable connectivity for V2X applications, such as satellites, cell towers, sensors, smartphones and even other vehicles. But the abundance of antennas poses both aesthetic and performance challenges to engineers, ultimately leading to the following foundational question: 

How do I incorporate more antennas in a way that neither disrupts the vehicle’s appearance nor performance of the antenna?  

To maintain and improve appearance and performance, innovative non-conductive materials and design approaches are enabling antennas to be hidden throughout the vehicle and used in conjunction with shark fin antennas, enhancing signal reliability while ensuring the cabin and body of the vehicle can be streamlined. 

While V2X technologies enable signal connectivity, a new era of V2 functionality for EVs is made possible with bidirectional charging.  

Traditional EV charging is considered unidirectional in that an EV draws power from the charger — it’s a one-way connection. The future of EV power connectivity, though, may be in bidirectional charging where a vehicle can take from and feed power to a connected system. While the process may sound simple, bidirectional charging places significant emphasis on power quality and integrity to ensure the transmitted energy meets requirements. 

Although there are slight variations in name, three technologies are driving bidirectional charging forward: vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-load (V2L). 

What is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)?

V2G is a technology that enables EVs to send energy back to the power grid and to utility providers from their batteries — transforming a vehicle into a mobile battery energy storage system (BESS). This helps to save money for the vehicle owner and establishes a new means of resiliency for the grid. 

V2G Reduces Charging Costs

Allowing EVs to feed energy back to the grid opens an interesting door to potential cost savings — or even profit — for the vehicle owner. The costs associated with charging a vehicle vary depending on demand on the grid, but they are often cheaper in the early hours of the morning. With V2G technology, an EV could charge during less expensive times and sell back to the grid during peak demand. 

V2G Adds Grid Resiliency

Although experts believe V2G is years away from being fully realized, tests are underway to determine the viability of V2G technology as a means of adding redundancy to the grid. In fact, a recent test is being undertaken in a New York school district where electric school buses are sending energy back to the grid during off-periods, such as over the weekend and during summer months when demand may be up but school is not in session. 

Some locations are eying V2G even more intently. A bill in California has recently been introduced, requiring new EVs to offer V2G options by 2027 in order to help mitigate California’s power grid shortcomings.

What is Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)?

V2H technologies enable the energy stored in an EV to serve as a home power source, such as in cases where a blackout takes down the power. When used more broadly than just residential structures, for example in a small office building, the technology is referred to as vehicle-to-building (V2B).

V2H Provides Homeowners with Energy Flexibility

V2H offers significant benefits for EV owners, both as an emergency source of energy and as part of an overall home energy management approach. During power outages caused by storms, grid failures or any other incident resulting in power loss, an EV battery can serve as an emergency battery backup system. In addition, V2H could provide EV owners the option to shift energy consumption from the grid to receiving power from a vehicle’s battery, such as during peak grid demand hours when prices are at a premium.

V2H is Still a Developing Application

V2H is still in its infancy but is beginning to see more rapid adoption from automakers. Although GM has announced a V2H initiative, questions still surround pricing for the equipment associated with making V2H possible with its vehicles. Automakers will have to decide if they want to sell these systems themselves or rely on a third-party OEM partner (as is the case with the Ford F-150 Lightning and Sunrun). 

What is Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)? 

While V2G and V2H technologies focus on vehicles powering larger systems, V2L enables an EV to power a specific device, such as an outdoor light at a worksite. 

V2L Gives EV Users Power on the Go

Charging a smartphone with a vehicle is now an everyday activity, but V2L enables significantly greater flexibility in powering external devices. For emergency use, V2L can be an excellent option in disaster relief efforts, allowing a vehicle to act similarly as a gasoline-powered generator. For recreational use, V2L EVs can power electric grills and televisions at outdoor events like picnics, camping trips and tailgating events. For professional use, construction workers can charge their tools using V2L technology. The possibilities are endless.

V2L Faces Several Hurdles to Adoption

Although the concept of V2L is simple, it has some limitations in its current form. For instance, using an EV battery for V2L applications can contribute to increased battery wear and degradation, which can diminish range potential and shorten the lifespan of the battery. Additionally, V2L standards for connectors, power levels and communication protocols have yet to be established. As a result, different EV models can have interoperability challenges.  

Whether it’s signal or power connectivity for a vehicle, quality and reliability are requirements for consistent, trusted performance. Molex is a leading provider of interconnect solutions for the automotive applications of today and tomorrow, including cutting-edge antennas for V2X communication and high-quality power connections for bidirectional charging. To learn more about how Molex is helping advance the future of connectivity, visit The Future of Connectivity and download our report.