Kia is bringing home backup power to your driveway with the EV9’s bidirectional charging. Thanks to the Wallbox Quasar 2, this electric SUV can power your home for days or even send electricity back to the grid. Kia has now opened pre-orders for the system, priced at $6,440.
Bidirectional Charging Unlocks New Possibilities
Kia confirmed in late 2023 that the Quasar 2 would be the first charger to enable full bidirectional charging with the EV9. This means the SUV can:
- Power an entire home during an outage
- Charge during off-peak hours to save on electricity bills
- Feed energy back into the grid (where allowed by local utilities)
The system includes the 12kW Quasar 2 charger and a power recovery unit grid disconnect switch. Kia states that the EV9’s battery can provide up to 100kWh of energy, enough to power a typical home for up to four days. That’s over five times the capacity of a Tesla Powerwall.
Availability and Pricing
For now, Kia is offering the Quasar 2 system in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington. Those who pre-order will get priority when shipments begin, but Kia has not confirmed when the system will be available nationwide.
At $6,440, the EV9’s home power solution is competitively priced. It’s similar to Ford’s $6,000 home backup system for the F-150 Lightning and far cheaper than GM’s $12,700 home energy kits. Installation costs will vary depending on the home’s electrical setup.
The Future of Energy Independence?
More automakers are embracing bidirectional charging. Nissan already offers a similar vehicle-to-home solution for the Leaf, and Ford, GM, and Tesla are also developing home power integration.
For EV9 owners, this tech means lower energy bills, emergency power, and a step toward energy independence. As vehicle-to-grid technology grows, could EVs replace traditional home batteries?
