Wallbox, a leading electric vehicle (EV) charging technology company, has announced the expansion of its bidirectional EV charger program in the United States. Following a successful residential pilot in California last week featuring six Quasar 2 bidirectional chargers, the company is scaling up the initiative to 180 homes across California and Connecticut in partnership with Bidirectional Energy.
Turning EVs into Home Energy Assets
The program enables Kia EV9 owners to use Wallbox’s Quasar 2 bidirectional charger alongside Bidirectional Energy’s virtual power plant (VPP) platform. This combination allows EVs to not only charge efficiently but also power homes during outages and feed energy back to the grid, supporting both homeowners and broader energy resilience initiatives.
Participants in the pilot program can receive state incentives covering charger and installation costs—up to $8,800 in California and $10,800 in Connecticut. Homeowners can save up to $1,500 annually on energy bills and earn an additional $1,350 through grid participation, making EVs a financial and energy asset.
Quasar 2 Charger: Technical Highlights
The Quasar 2 is a 12.48-kilowatt bidirectional charger capable of:
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Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Powers homes during outages, acting as a backup generator.
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Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Sends energy back to the grid during peak demand, earning incentives.
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Power Recovery: Paired with Wallbox’s Power Recovery Unit, it can keep homes powered for several days during blackouts.
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App Integration: Allows users to set charging preferences, manage grid participation, and monitor energy and earnings.
Eligibility and Enrollment
To participate, homeowners must:
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Own or lease a Kia EV9.
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Live in a single-family or small multi-family home (four units or fewer).
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Be customers of participating utilities in California or Connecticut.
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Agree to share charging data and enroll in time-of-use or demand response programs.
Priority enrollment will be given to underserved communities, ensuring equitable access to EV energy programs. Applicants can check eligibility and apply through Bidirectional Energy’s website, after which installation, rebate processing, and utility connections are handled by the program.
Driving the Future of Sustainable Energy
Douglas Alfaro, Chief Business Development Officer at Wallbox, stated:
“Bidirectional charging holds the potential to transform how people use and manage energy at home. By partnering with Bidirectional Energy, we’re empowering EV owners to turn their vehicles into energy assets, earning money while supporting a more resilient grid.”
This initiative marks a significant step in integrating EVs into the energy ecosystem, offering homeowners cost savings, backup power, and grid support, while advancing the United States’ transition toward clean, sustainable energy.
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