Wallbox unveils bidirectional EV charger at CES, can power homes when the grid goes down
Bidirectional charging of electric vehicles (EVs) that enables EV batteries to power homes in a pinch (or service the grid) is the next home energy frontier. Wallbox is the latest EV charging and energy management provider to debut such capabilities with Quasar 2. Wallbox can now give EV drivers the ability to isolate their home from the grid and use their EV for backup power during a blackout. SunPower is the official solar installer of Wallbox products.
“Bidirectional charging opens up numerous opportunities for smarter energy management in the home,” said Enric Asunción, co-founder and CEO of Wallbox. “Quasar 2 represents a breakthrough in the evolution of home energy management. Not only does it allow us to rethink the way we produce, store and use energy on a day-to-day basis, but has the potential to give users the added power and comfort of being able to power their homes for over three days during a power outage.”
Providing up to 11.5kW/48Amp of power for charging and discharging, it is even more powerful than its predecessor. Quasar 2 offers CCS compatibility and connects to the myWallbox app through Wifi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, or 4G.
Introducing Blackout Mode
With Blackout Mode, users are able to use their EV battery to power their home in the event of a power outage, even those caused by natural disasters.
“The average American experienced more than eight hours of power interruption in 2020,” said Douglas Alfaro, General Manager of Wallbox North America. “Whether it’s caused by an earthquake, hurricane, wildfire or simply related to an overload on the power grid, a power outage can have a detrimental impact on homeowners that can last for hours or even days. With blackout mode, we are able to offer EV owners some relief by helping mitigate the impact of a major energy disruption in the home.”
Through the use of an accessory, users can unlock Quasar 2’s additional functionality that allows users to isolate their homes from the grid and power a critical load to their home with energy from their EV. On average, an EV can power a critical load for a home in the U.S. for at least three days.
Cost savings?
Quasar 2 allows EV owners to save on home energy costs through vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality. In states where power rates are related to demand, users can schedule charging sessions at times when rates are low and discharge their car to power their home when rates are high. Users who have solar panel installations can also store excess energy in their EV during low usage periods and then harness this energy at another time, including peak periods, to reduce their reliance on the grid.
Wallbox will demo Quasar 2 at CES Unveiled (Table #507) and during the Expo in the West Hall 6627 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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