Your electric car has a massive battery sitting in the garage. A typical EV battery holds 60 to 100 kWh of energy. The average American home uses about 30 kWh per day. So in theory, a fully charged EV could power your house for two to three days without any other energy source.
That is the basic idea behind vehicle-to-home, or V2H. Instead of electricity only flowing from the grid into your car, it can also flow from your car back into your house.
It sounds simple, but the technology and infrastructure required to make it work safely are more involved than you might expect.
How V2H Actually Works
Standard EV charging is a one-way street. AC power from your home gets converted to DC power and stored in your car battery. V2H reverses that process. The car battery sends DC power through a bidirectional charger (sometimes called a bidirectional inverter), which converts it back to AC power that your home electrical panel can distribute.
The key piece of hardware is that bidirectional charger.
Not all EV chargers can do this. You need a charger specifically designed for two-way power flow, and it needs to communicate with both the car and your home electrical system to manage the transfer safely.
There is also an automatic transfer switch involved. This is a safety device that disconnects your home from the grid when it is being powered by the car. Without it, you could send power back into the grid during an outage, which is extremely dangerous for utility workers repairing power lines.
Which EVs Support V2H
Not every electric car can send power back to your home.
The vehicle itself needs bidirectional charging capability built into its onboard charger. As of 2026, here are the notable options.
The Ford F-150 Lightning was one of the first mainstream EVs to offer V2H through its Intelligent Backup Power system. With the extended range battery (131 kWh), it can power an average home for about three days. Ford partnered with Sunrun to offer the Ford Charge Station Pro, which handles the bidirectional charging.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 both support vehicle-to-load (V2L) through a standard outlet built into the car, and V2H through compatible bidirectional chargers. Hyundai 800-volt architecture makes the power transfer efficient.
The Nissan Leaf has supported bidirectional charging in Japan for years through the CHAdeMO standard. Availability in North America has been more limited, but newer Nissan models are expanding V2H support.
GM has been rolling out V2H capability across its Ultium platform, including the Chevy Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq.
Their implementation uses a home integration kit that works with the vehicle bidirectional charging hardware.
The Equipment You Need
Getting V2H set up at your house requires a few things beyond just having a compatible car.
First, you need a bidirectional EVSE (electric vehicle supply equipment). This replaces or supplements your standard home charger. Prices range from $4,000 to $7,000 for the unit itself, depending on the brand and power output.
Second, you need a transfer switch installed in your electrical panel.
A qualified electrician needs to do this work, and it typically costs $1,000 to $2,500 depending on your panel and local codes.
Third, you may need a permit from your local utility. Some utilities require notification or approval before you install bidirectional charging equipment. This is both for safety and for billing purposes, since V2H can affect how your electricity usage is metered.
Total installation cost for a complete V2H setup typically runs $6,000 to $12,000, including equipment and labor.
Federal tax credits and state incentives can offset some of this cost.
Use Cases Beyond Backup Power
Power outage backup gets the most attention, but V2H has other practical uses.
Time-of-use rate arbitrage is a big one. Many utilities charge higher rates during peak hours (usually late afternoon and evening) and lower rates overnight. With V2H, you can charge your car overnight at cheap rates and then power your home from the car during expensive peak hours.
Depending on your rate plan, this can save $50 to $150 per month.
Solar integration is another strong use case. If you have solar panels, you can charge your EV during the day when production is high and then use that stored solar energy to power your home after sunset. This reduces your reliance on the grid and maximizes the value of your solar investment.
Grid services are emerging in some areas too. Utilities are starting to offer programs where they can draw small amounts of power from your car during peak grid demand in exchange for credits on your bill.
This is technically vehicle-to-grid (V2G), but it uses the same bidirectional hardware.
Concerns and Limitations
Battery degradation is the most common concern. Every charge and discharge cycle puts some wear on the battery. However, modern EV batteries are designed for thousands of cycles, and the additional cycling from V2H use adds relatively modest wear compared to daily driving.
Most manufacturers warranty their batteries for 8 years or 100,000 miles, and some are extending those warranties.
Studies on V2H usage patterns suggest it adds 5 to 10 percent additional degradation over the vehicle lifetime, which most owners consider acceptable given the financial benefits.
Power output is another limitation. Most V2H setups deliver 9.6 kW to 11.5 kW, which is enough for essential loads (lights, fridge, internet, some HVAC) but may not power everything in a large home simultaneously.
Is V2H Worth It
If you live in an area with frequent power outages, V2H is a compelling alternative to a traditional backup generator or a dedicated home battery like the Tesla Powerwall.
Your EV battery is much larger than most home batteries, and you already own it.
If you are on a time-of-use rate plan, the monthly savings can make the installation costs pay for themselves within a few years. Combined with solar panels, V2H can dramatically reduce your electricity bills.
The technology is still maturing, and more automakers are adding bidirectional capability with each model year.
If your current EV does not support V2H, your next one very likely will. It is quickly becoming a standard feature rather than a premium add-on.