Kia unveils vehicle-to-home charging tech for EV9

MANILA: Kia has unveiled its vehicle-to-home charging technology at the ongoing 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The first electric vehicle (EV) to support the said feature is the EV9.

Per the South Korean carmaker, the said vehicle-to-home solution could offer the transformative potential to unlock bidirectional charging for properly equipped houses. It will work by connecting a compatible Kia vehicle to a wallbox and provide the residence with power.

Expected applications would be in the event of a power outage or any untoward scenarios that might cause power loss.

According to Kia, the EV9 sport utility vehicle can be connected to the Wallbox Quasar 2 (to be launched in the future), which is an innovative, 11.5-kilowatt direct current charger that is expected to facilitate bidirectional charging.

The said setup will make use of the Kia EV9’s battery — which ranges from 76.1 to 99.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) — to potentially sustain a typical household’s energy consumption for up to several days.

The Kia EV9’s battery, the firm pointed out, surpasses a standard home energy storage system (13.5 kWh) five times over.

Kia’s vehicle-to-home charging showcase at CES 2024 is part of its Connected Home presentation. The Hyundai-owned brand said that Connected Home is a testament to the power of living with an EV.

On a smaller scale, the Kia EV6, which is available here in the Philippines, offers vehicle-to-load functionalities. The said feature can supply up to 1,900 watts of power to certain electrical appliances, devices, tools, or recreational equipment.

“Our presence at CES is an opportunity to inform and inspire consumers about the transformative advantages of incorporating electrification into their home lives, powered by Kia vehicles. Kia’s Plan S commitment to advancing sustainable mobility takes shape at CES through demonstrations of versatile applications of V2H (vehicle-to-home) technology,” explained Kia America Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Steven Center.

In addition, Kia has presented two concept EVs at the tech expo. They are the Concept EV3 and Concept EV4.

The Concept EV3 is a compact crossover that offers the technology, practicality, and design of Kia’s flagship SUV, the EV9.

Meanwhile, the Concept EV4 is a sedan that offers a blend of geometric diagonal character lines and rich yet technical surfaces. Its dramatic proportions are reminiscent of sports and racing cars and showcase Kia’s determination to push design boundaries.

Photos from Kia

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