Wuhan Launches V2G Reform: Private EV Chargers Can Now Sell Power for Profit

Wuhan, Hubei Province has officially implemented a reform of its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pricing mechanism, allowing new energy vehicle (NEV) owners to discharge electricity back to the grid through private charging piles and earn revenue. This marks the first time in Central China that V2G participation has been expanded from designated public pilot stations to ordinary private charging piles. Previously, vehicle owners could only discharge electricity at charging stations specifically designated by power supply companies or NEV enterprises, resulting in low participation due to high entry barriers and inconvenient locations. Under the current time-of-use electricity pricing mechanism, owners can charge their vehicles during off-peak hours (e.g., late at night) at approximately RMB 0.43 per kWh and sell electricity back to the grid during evening peak hours at nearly RMB 1.00 per kWh, yielding a net profit of about RMB 0.50 per kWh per charge-discharge cycle. In large-scale V2G projects, discharge prices during the 4 p.m. to midnight peak period can reach as high as RMB 3.00 per kWh. Participation in this mechanism requires two conditions: first, using a charging pile that supports V2G functionality; second, connecting to Wuhan’s regulatory platform for NEV charging infrastructure. The policy operates on a voluntary basis, and all private charging pile owners are eligible to apply. During the pilot phase, discharge prices are set at 1.2 times Hubei Province’s benchmark coal-fired power generation price, adjusted according to the time-of-use pricing fluctuation ratio corresponding to the discharge period, reflecting real-time electricity supply-demand dynamics. To protect vehicle battery health, the policy imposes limits on discharge depth to prevent excessive degradation. This initiative enables NEVs to function as distributed energy storage units, allowing owners to profit from electricity price arbitrage—charging low and discharging high—while parked. It also helps the power grid balance load by shaving peaks and filling valleys, thereby alleviating pressure during periods of high electricity demand.