Wallbox, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, announced the successful completion of the first U.S. residential installations of its Quasar 2 bidirectional charger. American households can power their homes directly from their Kia EV9, turning the car in the driveway into a reliable and sustainable source of energy.
Six Quasar 2 units were deployed in Menifee, California, through a collaboration with Kia America and the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The project brought vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology into real residential settings, showing how EVs can deliver benefits far beyond mobility by powering homes, reducing costs, and strengthening the grid.
Quasar 2 enables compatible electric vehicles not only to charge but also to discharge energy back into the home. This allows homeowners to lower electricity bills by using stored energy when rates are highest and contribute to grid stability during peak demand.
“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.”
The project is part of a broader effort to explore how EVs, homes, and smart energy systems can work together to create more sustainable, resilient communities. Set in a newly built all-electric neighborhood, it demonstrates how integrated clean energy technologies can support both individual homeowners and the wider grid.
As part of Kia’s commitment to delivering smart, intuitive mobility solutions, V2H is a part of the Kia Connect1 suite of services and will soon be available for eligible EV9 vehicles. “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. “Partnering with Wallbox and UCI allows us to show how our vehicles can power homes, reduce costs, and create meaningful environmental impact for families.” “This initiative illustrates the importance of collaboration between research institutions and industry,” said Professor Scott Samuelsen, project director and founding director of the UCI Advanced Power and Energy Program. “Real-world deployment of bidirectional charging is essential for gathering the data, and the technical and customer adaptation insights needed to scale V2H deployment across the grid.”
Quasar 2 represents a breakthrough in redefining the role of the electric vehicle. With these first installations now live, Wallbox is preparing for broader U.S. availability. The company’s goal is to enable drivers to unlock the full potential of the energy in their EVs and support a cleaner, more resilient grid.
