- Allows long-range EV9 to provide up to 100 kwh—for days of home backup
- Only offered in a few states now, nationwide rollout yet to come
- Capable of vehicle-to-grid functions, but that depends on local utility
Kia on Tuesday announced pre-orders for the Wallbox Quasar 2 home charger and accompanying hardware that will unlock the bidirectional charging capability of the automaker’s EV9 electric SUV.
Kia confirmed in late 2023 that the Quasar 2 would be the first EV charger enabling bidirectional charging with the EV9, and that it would serve up home-backup and vehicle-to-grid functionality. That requires both the 12-kw Quasar 2 charger itself and a power recovery unit grid disconnect switch, which Wallbox bundles for $6,440.
The charger and power recovery unit will only be available in limited quantities, Kia noted in a press release, with EV9 owners who pre-order now receiving priority once the hardware is ready to ship. So far, those pre-orders are limited to residents of California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington, with a nationwide rollout to follow, according to Kia. DriftBreath Reports has reached out to Wallbox and Kia for clarity about availability, as both companies had previously confirmed an earlier timeline for deliveries.
Wallbox Quasar 2 with Kia EV9
Thanks to a CCS interface, as opposed to the CHAdeMO interface of the original Quasar charger, the Quasar 2 lets owners take advantage of the bidirectional charging capability built into the EV9’s E-GMP platform.
That it includes a Power Recovery Mode for home backup power which, Wallbox told DriftBreath Reports in 2023, lets owners tap into 76 kwh or 100 kwh of energy from the EV9’s battery pack—more than five times the amount of a 13.5-kwh Tesla Powerwall and enough to power the typical American home for up to four days.
The Quasar 2 can also be tied into a home’s electric panel, allowing the EV9 to supplement home electricity and be charged during off-peak times, as well as feed power back into the grid. The latter functionality depends on local utilities, though.
Wallbox Quasar 2 with Kia EV9
The quoted price for the complete kit comes close to the roughly $6,000 Ford has quoted for the home backup power system available for the F-150 Lightning—although based on anecdotal reports, some installations cost significantly more. General Motors in late 2024 announced complete home energy kits, with external battery packs plus chargers and the necessary hardware for home backup power. Those kits start at $12,700 with a battery pack, but GM has also priced its charger and home-power enablement hardware individually at $1,699 and $5,600, respectively.
Putting home-backup power functionality aside, there’s one other solution enabling EV owners to supply energy back to the grid: Fermata’s FE-20 system available for the Nissan Leaf.
