Wallbox Brings Bidirectional EV Chargers to U.S. Homes, Unlocking Energy Independence for Drivers

Irvine, California, Wallbox (NYSE: WBX), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, today announced the successful completion of the first U.S. residential installations of its Quasar 2 bidirectional charger. American households can power their homes directly from their Kia EV9, turning the car in the driveway into a reliable and sustainable source of energy.

Six Quasar 2 units were deployed in Menifee, California, through a collaboration with Kia America and the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The project brought vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology into real residential settings, showing how EVs can deliver benefits far beyond mobility by powering homes, reducing costs, and strengthening the grid.

Quasar 2 enables compatible electric vehicles not only to charge but also to discharge energy back into the home. This allows homeowners to lower electricity bills by using stored energy when rates are highest and contribute to grid stability during peak demand.

"This is more than a technology milestone. It is a glimpse of a future where every EV is an energy asset," said Douglas Alfaro, Chief Business Development Officer at Wallbox. "Quasar 2 puts homeowners in control of their energy, helping them achieve resilience, independence, and sustainability in their daily lives."

The project is part of a broader effort to explore how EVs, homes, and smart energy systems can work together to create more sustainable, resilient communities. Set in a newly built all-electric neighbourhood, it demonstrates how integrated clean energy technologies can support both individual homeowners and the wider grid.

As part of Kia's commitment to delivering smart, intuitive mobility solutions, V2H is a part of the Kia Connect1 suite of services and will soon be available for eligible EV9 vehicles. "As we continue to expand our lineup of electric vehicles, projects like this help us showcase how EVs can deliver value beyond mobility, playing a central role in energy management and sustainability at home." said Sujith Somasekharan, Director, Connected Car & Mobility at Kia America. "Partnering with Wallbox and UCI allows us to show how our vehicles can power homes, reduce costs, and create meaningful environmental impact for families."

"This initiative illustrates the importance of collaboration between research institutions and industry," said Professor Scott Samuelsen, project director and founding director of the UCI Advanced Power and Energy Program. "Real-world deployment of bidirectional charging is essential for gathering the data, and the technical and customer adaptation insights needed to scale V2H deployment across the grid."

Quasar 2 represents a breakthrough in redefining the role of the electric vehicle. With these first installations now live, Wallbox is preparing for broader U.S. availability. The company's goal is to enable drivers to unlock the full potential of the energy in their EVs and support a cleaner, more resilient grid.

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For more information on UCI, visit www.apep.uci.edu

About University of California, Irvine

Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

About About The Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP)

Established in 2000, APEP engages over 120 graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, research staff, and visiting scientists to address the broad utilization of energy resources and the emerging connection of electric power generation, infrastructure, transportation, water resources, and the environment. With a broad expertise in smart grid and microgrid technology, APEP addresses the paradigm shift of the grid to renewable electric power generation, the electrification of buildings and vehicles, and the evolving merging of mobility with the grid. APEP seeks to develop, promote, and deploy increasingly efficient and environmentally sustainable power production and energy conversion worldwide, with a focus on the creation and sharing of new knowledge through fundamental and applied research, education, and outreach.