I think I’ve done my research, but damn if I can find what I’m looking for in the US. Even talked to my installer, who had nothing.
From what I can tell, my sole option for V2H, using the vehicle’s batteries to back up the house, is the Ford Lightning. Maybe the Mach-E?
In fact, what I’d actually like is a CAR. Not a crossover, not a SUV. An actual CAR.
- The Lightning is WAAAY too much “car” for me.
- Best I can tell, Polestar is only “testing” V2anything.
- Kia/Hyundai only has V2L.
- Volkswagen ID4? I’m unclear.
- Mini has nothing.
- Leaf has something, but leaf is too little for being useful in terms of KwH.
Again, I’m in the US. And I already have an Enphase solar install, so I can’t totally switch to some other sort of turnkey soup to nuts solution. I don’t have batteries for the house, and want a vehicle that can be that as well as a mode of transport.
I’m also not an electrical engineer, so what that guy in this forum who built his own rack of components to make V2H work with his Ioniq is not something I can do.
Any help?
V2H unfortunately isn’t broadly available as a concept in the US yet.
For what it’s worth, most of the Kia/Hyundai V2L plugged into your house shenanigans aren’t as convoluted as they might seem. Basically there’s something called a Transfer Switch that you can get installed into your house’s circuit breaker. It tells your house to stop pulling power from the grid, and start pulling it from whatever you have plugged into the switch. It’s technology that’s been around for ages for gas generators. You can hire an electrician to install it. The big issue with the current Kia/Hyundai V2L and transfer switch setup is 1) the car’s doesn’t put out enough voltage to power an HVAC system in certain power outage situations, and 2) You don’t any of the novel back and forth charging where your house / the grid can use your car like a cheap reserve. Folks have used Ioniq 5s to keep a fridge and some lights going for days though.
At this point your options are be a Lightening early adopter, wait, or buy whichever electric car you’d like now and maybe look into a generator.
Why so emphatic on the V2H? Why not just get house batteries? Even a small system (say a Jackery instead of a Powerwall) would be suitable for anything from brief outages to many hours. But without knowing WHY you want V2H I can’t really suggest alternatives. (If you even want any.)
Because batteries are as expensive as a car. Or at least a good percentage.
As far as I can tell, the leaf is the only V2H CAR available in the U.S. I believe that includes expected 2026 models.
If it were me, Volvo EX90. I too have a strong hatred for SUVs, but I hear Volvo SUVs have a dreamy ride.
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And would, as I said, require something beyond my capabilities.
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