Kia Develops Its First Bidirectional Charger
EV9 owners will soon be able to use their SUVs’ “Vehicle to Home” power backup capabilities. The automaker will release its bidirectional charger, the Wallbox Quasar 2, in June.
Bidirectional chargers are all the rage among EV pickup truck owners, but few other electric vehicles can power homes in outages. Now, the EV9 will join the ranks of the bidirectionally charged, meaning it will be able to provide home backup power.
The Wallbox Quasar 2 EV charger is now available for preorder for EV9 owners and lessees. It will be coming to dealerships in June. Before putting up that used Kia Soul for sale and making the switch, drivers should learn what to expect from the EV9’s new home charger.
How the Quasar 2 Works
The Wallbox Quasar 2 can feed power to the EV9 and draw from it to keep a home’s basic utilities running during blackouts.
Drivers who want to take advantage of the feature will also need a special Power Recovery Unit, which interfaces with their homes’ electrical panels and allows the home generator features to function.
The new bidirectional charger and Power Recovery Unit will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. However, current EV9 owners will get first dibs. They’ll just need to register with Wallbox to preorder the items.
Can All Homes Support the Power Generation System?
Not every home in the US can support bidirectional charging. Homeowners need to have at least 200-amp service. In some cases, they’ll also need permission from their utility companies or municipalities to use the features fully.
The Quasar 2 doesn’t just support bidirectional power generation during outages. It also supports solar panels and includes software to manage energy flow to the car’s battery, a connected home, and the general power grid.
In an ideal situation, Kia EV9 owners will soon be able to charge their vehicles using solar energy. Some may prefer to charge them off the grid during off-peak hours to save money and then sell the excess power generated by the panels back to the utility company.
Only homeowners who live in areas that support grid-tied solar systems will have the option of selling power from their EV9s’ solar arrays back to the utility provider. Not all providers support this service.
Is It Worth Purchasing an EV9 Now?
Drivers on the fence about buying a Kia Soul for sale or the new EV9 with a bidirectional charger must consider several factors. The first is the upfront cost.
The technology is still relatively new, and pricing will decrease over time. Right now, investing in an EV9 with a bidirectional charger is more expensive than buying a gas-powered Kia Soul. This comparison is just one example, of course. Kia also offers other gas-burning cars and EVs at various price points.
For drivers who can afford to invest in an EV9 and bidirectional charger, the question is whether it will be helpful in a blackout. Homeowners in areas prone to power outages have more incentive than renters living in places with relatively stable power supply.
Where to Get More Information
Drivers who already own EV9s can contact their local Kia dealers for information about how to preorder the Wallbox Quasar 2 and Power Recovery Unit. Those interested in the new technology can also reach out to discover more about the EV9.
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