Kia drivers can soon purchase a new type of EV charger with “bidirectional” power flow, meaning it can send electricity in two directions: Into the car to charge the battery and into the house in the case of a power outage.Kia partnered with Barcelona-based Wallbox to make the Quasar 2 charger. It debuts this summer (hopefully before hurricane season) and is compatible with Kia’s latest electric car, the 7-seat EV9. Kia EV sales hit a record high last month, according to Electrek, in part due to EV9 sales.
Quasar 2 on display at Electrify Expo (Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)
The Quasar 2 will cost “a couple thousand dollars,” Kia tells PCMag. That’s pricier than most EV chargers, which typically cost a few hundred dollars (not including installation), but the bidirectional charging capability may sweeten the deal for customers who live in areas with frequent grid disruptions.“I’m from Texas, and the grid system is problematic,” says Brad Mays, director of brand experience at Kia. “Florida is the same way.”“We’ve talked to our dealers in Florida and they’re like, ‘Please tell me when this is happening,’” adds Russel Wager, VP of marketing at Kia.
Kia EV9 (Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)
Assuming it’s at full capacity, the Kia EV9’s battery can “power a typical household energy consumption for up to four days,” Wallbox says, as its large pack has “over 5x the amount of energy of a standard 13.5kWh home storage system.” You can also prioritize where the power goes through a zone system in the app, or just turn off circuit breaker switches and unplug products you may not want to charge.When the power goes out, the Quasar 2 automatically starts powering the house. When it comes back on, it switches back to charging the vehicle. “This type of backup service is becoming not only increasingly important but crucial, given the sheer volume and duration of power outages in the US,” Wallbox says. Though the Kia team mentioned Texas and Florida, many states suffer from recurring power outages; EV-rich California has the most, followed by Texas, according to WorldPopulationReview.com. Kia’s offering joins a similar one from General Motors, which is also building bidirectional compatibility into its newest EVs. They hook into GM’s bidirectional charging systems under its Ultium Home brand. Ford offers its Intelligent Backup Power system for the F-150 Lightning electric pickup.
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“It’s interesting what EVs offer you besides regular car benefits, and this is one of those things,” says Christopher Vournakis, model line business manager at Kia.Beyond power outages, these types of products could help people who want to take a more active role in their home’s power supply. Homes that run on solar energy with power can now supplement that supply with their EV. They can also make money by selling excess power stored in the vehicle’s battery back to the grid during times of peak demand.”I’m calling it personal energy management,” says Steve Kosowski, manager of long-range planning and strategy at Kia.EV9 owners can explore more casual ways to utilize the battery as a generator through plugs sprinkled throughout the vehicle. Kia offers an adapter that converts the exterior charge port into a household outlet. The EV9 also has a power outlet in the trunk, but the exterior option could prove convenient if it’s raining or there are other reasons the windows must be closed while a device is plugged in.
An adapter converts the charge port into a household outlet. (Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)
The adapter plugs into the vehicle’s CCS port on one side, converting it to a household outlet on the other. (Credit: Emily Dreibelbis)
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