EVSE manufacturer Wallbox has completed the first US residential installations of its Quasar 2 bidirectional EV charger. Six Quasar 2 units were deployed in Menifee, California, through a collaboration with Kia America and the University of California, Irvine.
Bidirectional charging enables vehicle-to-home (V2H) applications, which offer several benefits for homeowners. Energy stored in an EV’s battery can be used to power a home during a utility outage. Homeowners whose local utility offers time-of-use (TOU) pricing can lower electricity bills by charging their EV’s battery during off-peak times and discharging it during peak demand periods.
V2H is a coming attraction. Wallbox’s recent deployment is intended to gather data and learn how customers interact with the new technology. As far as we know, Wallbox has only demonstrated the feature with the Kia EV9, and when it becomes available, it will be part of the Kia Connect subscription-based suite of services.
“This is more than a technology milestone. It is a glimpse of a future where every EV is an energy asset,” said Douglas Alfaro, Chief Business Development Officer at Wallbox. “Quasar 2 puts homeowners in control of their energy, helping them achieve resilience, independence and sustainability in their daily lives.”
“As we continue to expand our lineup of electric vehicles, projects like this help us showcase how EVs can deliver value beyond mobility, playing a central role in energy management and sustainability at home,” said Sujith Somasekharan, Director, Connected Car & Mobility at Kia America. Â
Source: Wallbox
