Your EV is also a battery

Your electric vehicle can
power your home. Here's
what that actually means.

A handful of EVs in 2026 can discharge energy back to your home during an outage — or back to the grid during peak demand. Here's what works today, what's coming, and what it costs to set up.

V2HPower your home from your EV battery
V2GSell energy back to the grid during peak demand
~$0.10-0.15Typical per-kWh earning rate in active V2G programs

V2H and V2G require a compatible EV, a bidirectional charger, and in most cases homeowner access to your electrical panel. Renters in apartments should see Sol Country's balcony solar and community solar options instead. Renter energy options →

The basics

Two different things.
Both use your EV's battery.

Your EV has a large battery — often 60-100+ kWh, far bigger than most dedicated home batteries. Bidirectional charging technology lets that battery send power out as well as receive it. Two distinct applications exist, with different requirements and different payoffs.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)
What it does
Your EV powers your home when the grid goes down. Your car becomes a backup generator — but one that runs silently, emits nothing, and can run your home for days rather than hours.
Typical EV battery size
60-100+ kWh — enough to run an average home for 1-4 days depending on usage.
Requires
A bidirectional charger (not a standard Level 2 charger), a compatible EV (see below), and a transfer switch or smart panel.
Status: available today on qualifying vehicles
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)
What it does
Your EV sends energy back to the utility grid during peak demand events — the same concept as a home battery in a VPP program. You earn a payment for each kWh discharged to the grid.
Typical earnings
$0.10-0.15 per kWh in active programs. Annual earnings depend on how many dispatch events occur and your local program.
Requires
A bidirectional charger, a compatible EV, and a utility with an active V2G program in your area (still limited in 2026).
Status: very limited in 2026 — Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and a handful of other utilities have active pilots. Most US households cannot access V2G today.
The short list

Most EVs cannot do this.
Here are the ones that can.

Bidirectional capability requires specific hardware in both the vehicle and the charging system. As of mid-2026, a relatively small number of production vehicles support V2H or V2G. This list is expanding — but slowly.

V2H capable — confirmed 2026

Ford F-150 Lightning
Bidirectional via Ford's Intelligent Backup Power system. Requires the Ford Home Integration System ($1,300+). Powers the home through a 240V connection. One of the most practical V2H setups available today.
Battery: up to 131 kWh (extended range)
V2H: Yes · V2G: No (currently)
Ford Transit / E-Series Van
Commercial variant with the same Intelligent Backup Power capability. Same Ford Home Integration System requirement.
V2H: Yes · V2G: No
Nissan Leaf (2013-present, CHAdeMO equipped)
The original bidirectional EV. Requires a CHAdeMO connector and a compatible bidirectional charger. CHAdeMO is being phased out — this option is narrowing as charger availability declines.
V2H: Yes (via CHAdeMO) · V2G: Limited pilots only
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6
V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) is standard — it can power devices through a built-in outlet. Full V2H requires additional equipment that is not yet widely available in the US.
V2H: Partial (V2L only) · V2G: No

Coming soon — announced, not yet available at scale

Chevrolet Silverado EV and Equinox EV
GM has announced bidirectional charging capability. Full V2H and V2G support is planned but not yet widely deployed.
Announced — not yet available at scale
Tesla (all models)
Powerwall 3 integration enables home backup through the home battery — not direct V2H from the car itself. Native vehicle-to-home without a Powerwall is not yet supported. Tesla has announced bidirectional charging for future vehicles.
Announced — not yet available
Rivian R1T and R1S
Camp and adventure-focused V2L is available today. Full V2H is planned.
V2L today · V2H planned
Verify before purchasing: This list reflects confirmed 2026 capability. V2H and V2G support is evolving rapidly — verify current bidirectional capability directly with the manufacturer before purchasing any vehicle specifically for V2H or V2G. Sol Country updates this page as new vehicles and programs are confirmed.
The home setup

Three things you need that
most EV owners don't have yet.

A bidirectional charger (not a standard Level 2)
A standard home EV charger only moves electricity one direction — from the grid to your car. A bidirectional charger moves it both ways, and costs significantly more ($1,000-3,500 installed vs $500-1,500 for a standard Level 2). Ford's Home Integration System is the most complete option currently available for F-150 Lightning owners at roughly $1,300 plus installation. Third-party bidirectional chargers are emerging — verify compatibility with your specific vehicle before purchasing.
A transfer switch or smart panel
To power your home from your EV, you need a way to safely disconnect from the grid and route your car's power to your home circuits. A transfer switch ($500-1,500 installed) handles this. A smart panel (SPAN, Lumin, Schneider) handles it more elegantly and adds circuit-level control. Without this equipment, you cannot safely route your EV's power to your home — even if your car supports V2H.
Smart panel guide →
Professional installation
V2H and V2G setups involve your home's electrical panel, a bidirectional charger, and potentially a transfer switch or smart panel — all of which require a licensed electrician. This is not a DIY installation. Total installed cost for a complete V2H setup runs $3,000-8,000 depending on what equipment you already have. Factor that into the V2H/V2G financial case when comparing to a dedicated home battery.
Find a Sol Country installer →
The honest numbers

V2G earnings are real
but limited in 2026.

V2G programs that pay homeowners to discharge their EV to the grid exist — but as of mid-2026 they are concentrated in a small number of utility territories, primarily in California.

Active V2G programs — 2026

PG&E Electric Vehicle GridLink (California)

PG&E's pilot V2G program for qualifying EVs and bidirectional chargers. Earnings run roughly $0.10-0.15 per kWh discharged during grid events. Actual annual earnings depend on how many dispatch events are called. Enrollment is limited — verify current availability with PG&E. This is a California pilot; it is not available nationwide.

Nissan Leaf programs (limited)

Legacy CHAdeMO-based V2G pilots exist in some utility territories but are narrowing as CHAdeMO infrastructure declines.

The V2H financial case

V2H doesn't pay you a check — it saves you money by avoiding a generator purchase, fuel costs, and service contracts. A $3,500 portable generator costs $200-400 a year in fuel and maintenance. A V2H setup replaces that cost while also being cleaner and quieter. The financial case for V2H is strongest in areas with frequent outages.

V2H vs a dedicated home batteryHome battery (e.g. Powerwall): $11,000-15,000 installed before incentives. Qualifies for the 30% federal ITC. Can enroll in VPP programs paying $500-1,500/year. Always available regardless of whether your car is home.

V2H setup (bidirectional charger + transfer switch): $3,000-8,000 installed. Uses your existing EV battery. The car must be home and plugged in to provide backup. V2G earnings are limited to areas with active programs.

Best choice: if you already own a compatible EV and want backup power, V2H is typically the lower-cost path. If backup power and VPP earnings are both priorities and your car isn't always home, a dedicated home battery may be the stronger choice. VPP program earnings by state →
The next 2-3 years

V2G is about to expand significantly.

The limiting factors in 2026 are charger availability, utility program availability, and vehicle compatibility — all of which are expanding. The Department of Energy's IRA-funded distributed resources program is accelerating new V2G program launches. GM, Tesla, and Rivian have all announced native bidirectional capability for upcoming models.

Chevy Silverado EV and Equinox EV
GM's announced bidirectional charging rollout — watch for confirmed V2H availability and compatible charger announcements in late 2026 and 2027.
More utility V2G programs
The DOE tracks active V2G projects nationally and funds new pilots. Utilities in PJM territory (Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey) are particularly likely candidates given the data center load growth driving capacity market pressure.
SAE J3400 / NACS standard
The North American Charging Standard becoming the universal US standard simplifies bidirectional charging hardware — expect more compatible chargers at lower prices as the standard consolidates.

Already have an EV — or planning to get one?

Sol Country's EV content covers charging costs, federal credits, and how your EV fits into your complete home energy picture.

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Only confirmed 2026 programsHonest about what's not yet availableUpdated as new vehicles launch
By The Sol Country Team·Last reviewed: August 2026·Editorial standards
Sources

Primary sources for this article

Sol Country reviews these sources on a rolling basis. See our editorial standards for how we source and update data.