Smart home energy company Dcbel has secured a strategic investment from Volvo Cars. The Swedish car manufacturer has chosen to support Dcbel’s R&D and go-to-market endeavors through its corporate venture capital arm, the Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
“Home energy management systems will play a vital role as we move toward bi-directionality of electric vehicles,” said Alexander Petrofski, CEO of Volvo Cars Tech Fund. “Rising energy prices coupled with frequent blackouts are challenges faced by consumers today and our investment in Dcbel and their technology can help alleviate those challenges for our customers.”
The Dcbel r16 Home Energy Station is a multifunction residential bidirectional EV charger that is capable of converting the electricity generated from rooftop photovoltaics and stored inside home batteries and automating the management of next-generation whole-home energy, the company says. Software built into the Home Energy Station uses these alternative energy sources to reduce environmental and financial costs for homeowners and also the environmental impact of energy usage generally, Dcbel says.
Once installed, the Home Energy Station will automate all energy management decisions involving the EV, including automated charging to eliminate range anxiety, vehicle-to-home (V2H) peak shaving when utility rates are high, blackout protection immediately following a power outage, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) export optimized based on demand, and protection against battery degradation, the company says.
