Wallbox completes first U.S. home installations of Quasar 2 bidirectional EV charger
In partnership with Kia America and UC Irvine, Wallbox demonstrates vehicle-to-home tech as the Spain-based brand preps wider U.S. rollout
In a California neighborhood built for an all-electric future, six homes are quietly running on power pulled not from the grid—but from the car in the driveway.
Wallbox has completed the first U.S. residential installations of its Quasar 2 bidirectional EV charger, a system that allows drivers to both charge their electric vehicles and discharge that stored energy back into their homes. The milestone, achieved through a collaboration with Kia America and the University of California, Irvine (UCI), showcases how electric vehicles can double as backup power sources and energy management tools.
The first six Quasar 2 units were deployed in Menifee, California, where homeowners can now power essential loads directly from their Kia EV9s, effectively turning their vehicles into mobile batteries.
“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.”
EVs as home batteries
The Quasar 2 enables vehicle-to-home (V2H) power flow—letting compatible EVs send electricity back into the house during outages or periods of high utility rates. When paired with Wallbox’s Power Recovery Unit, the system can supply up to three days of backup power, based on an average home’s daily consumption. Wallbox and Kia formed their partnership back in 2023.
“As we continue to expand our lineup of electric vehicles, projects like this help us showcase how EVs can deliver value beyond mobility,” said Sujith Somasekharan, Director of 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.”
The Wallbox Quasar 2 charger delivers up to 12 kW of power for both charging and discharging and can also integrate with solar systems through the company’s Power Meter for Energy Management Solutions, allowing customers to recharge their EVs directly from on-site solar generation.
A living lab for grid-smart neighborhoods
The demonstration is part of a broader pilot led by UCI’s Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP), which studies how electric vehicles, smart homes, and distributed energy systems can coordinate to enhance grid stability.
“Real-world deployment of bidirectional charging is essential for gathering the data and technical insights needed to scale V2H deployment across the grid,” said Professor Scott Samuelsen, APEP’s founding director.
By operating in a residential setting, the Menifee project gives researchers a direct look at how homeowners interact with V2H systems—how often they use backup power, how it impacts energy costs, and how EVs can be managed as grid resources.
The word on Wallbox
Wallbox says broader U.S. availability for the Quasar 2 is next. Back in March, the Wallbox team announced pre-ordering availability for the Quasar 2 and Power Recovery Unit initially limited to California, Texas, Florida, New York, Washington, New Jersey, or Illinois, with a nationwide rollout to follow.
Founded in 2015, Wallbox has become one of the most active innovators in EV charging and energy management, offering solutions across more than 100 countries. Its growing partnership with Generac Power Systems—which made a minority investment in the company in 2023—will expand distribution of Wallbox products through Generac’s dealer network and integrate bidirectional EV charging into its broader home energy ecosystem.
