V2H Solar: Power Your Home From Your EV at Night

An EV battery is far larger than most home batteries, so it is natural to ask whether the car can run the house. Some can, with the right charger and backup hardware. This guide covers which GM, Ford and Tesla vehicles offer it, what each maker says it needs, and how it compares with a stationary battery. All vehicle facts come from the makers’ own pages.

Last updated: November 2026.

What is vehicle-to-home (V2H)?

V2H is one way of using bidirectional charging. A bidirectional EV can take power in from a charger and also give power out to a load, when it is paired with a charger that can do both. That is the wording of the U.S. Department of Energy. A normal home charger only moves power one way, into the car.

GM puts the V2H idea this way: the car can send energy back to your home when the grid is down. With solar, the car can charge from your panels during the day and feed the house later.

The terms V2L, V2B (vehicle-to-building) and V2G come from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. It says a building setup needs a disconnect switch and a safety-certified bidirectional charger, so power is never fed back into the grid by mistake. For V2G it adds that you must work closely with the local utility and may need a net meter.

Which EVs support V2H?

It depends on the maker and the model year. These are the makers’ own statements, read in October 2026.

Notes from the makers:

• GM: some 2024 vehicles need a dealer or over-the-air update to turn on bidirectional charging. GM says not to power medical devices with this system.
• Ford: Ford says the Charge Station Pro, needed for automatic home backup, is no longer for sale. A standard-range Lightning needs a one-time USD 500 software activation. Ford’s three-day figure assumes the extended-range battery and 30 kWh of use a day. Ford also lists another option for essential circuits: a GenerLink transfer switch with the truck’s Pro Power Onboard feature.
• Tesla: Tesla says some Model 3 and Model Y vehicles built before 1 October 2026 can also use Powershare. You can check it on the car screen. Tesla’s three-day figure is its own estimate at 30 kWh of use a day. Its Model 3 and Model Y note covers vehicles ordered in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
• Wallbox: the charger can charge any CCS1 vehicle. It says only some makes and models are allowed to send power out. Kia and Wallbox name the EV9.

Check the exact model year on the maker’s page before you quote. Lists change often.

What does the home equipment do?

A V2H system needs a charger that works both ways and hardware that keeps the house off the grid during an outage. The Wallbox Quasar 2 is an example of a charger. Wallbox says it gives up to 12 kW for charging and 12.48 kW for discharging (DC), with a CCS1 connector.

Tesla says its Powershare hardware detects an outage and lets the car power the home. Tesla and Ford both say the car must be plugged in for home backup to work.

The Department of Energy says to use a safety-certified bidirectional charger and a disconnect switch. Local electrical rules apply. Your installer and your utility set the exact steps.

How V2H works with solar

1. Day: your panels power the house. Extra solar can charge the car.
2. Evening or outage: the car feeds the house through the charger and backup hardware.
3. Next day: solar refills the car.

For this to work, the solar system must make enough power for the house and the car. To compare how solar and batteries connect, read DC vs AC coupling for solar storage. For charging basics, see solar EV charging integration.

How long will it run my house?

Divide the usable energy in the battery by your average load. This is the same maths for any battery.

Example with made-up numbers, not a product spec: a car with 80 kWh of usable energy and a house that uses 30 kWh a day will run for about 2.7 days (80 divided by 30). Real results change with your use and the car’s charge. Both Tesla and Ford base their “three days” claims on 30 kWh of use a day.

V2H vs a home battery

Add up Tesla’s typical numbers: 1,950 + 2,000 = USD 3,950 and 1,950 + 4,000 = USD 5,950. That is Tesla’s typical range for the Powershare hardware and install without a Powerwall. GM and Wallbox prices are not listed here, so ask for a quote.

Our view: V2H makes sense if you already own a compatible car and you are usually home during outages. A home battery makes sense if you need power when the car is away. To compare stationary batteries, see Pylontech vs Huawei and the hybrid inverter guide.

What installers should check

• Is the car on the maker’s V2H list for its model and year?
• Which charger and backup hardware does the maker name?
• Does the charger meet the safety standards your area needs?
• Is the house on a service size the maker allows? Wallbox says a limit of 200 A for its backup function.
• How will the solar inverter behave in an outage? Ask the inverter maker.

For a deeper design guide, read vehicle-to-home V2H solar design. For help choosing a charger, see the bidirectional EV charger selection guide.

Plan the solar side with SurgePV

SurgePV supports roof modeling, array layout, energy-yield modeling, financial modeling and proposals for solar. It does not model V2H. See solar design software, or book a demo to size the solar side of a V2H home.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Energy, Bidirectional Charging and Electric Vehicles for Mobile Storage
• U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, Flipping the Switch on Electric School Buses, Module 2
• GM Energy, frequently asked questions
• GM Energy, PowerShift Charger
• Ford, What is Ford Home Backup Power?
• Tesla, Powershare
• Wallbox, Quasar 2 (US)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is V2H solar?

V2H means vehicle-to-home. A car sends power from its battery to your house. With solar, the car can charge from your panels by day and feed the house later. It needs a car that allows it, a bidirectional charger and home backup hardware.

Which cars support V2H?

It depends on the maker and model year. GM lists many Chevrolet, GMC and Cadillac EVs, such as the Silverado EV, Equinox EV and Cadillac LYRIQ. Ford lists the 2022 to 2025 F-150 Lightning. Tesla lists the Cybertruck, and new Model 3 and Model Y ordered on or after 1 October 2026 for use with Powerwall 3. Check your exact model with the maker.

Does V2H void the EV warranty?

This page does not state warranty terms. GM, Ford and Tesla each sell V2H equipment for their own vehicles. Ask the maker for the warranty terms in writing before you install V2H.

What equipment do I need for V2H?

You need a car that allows V2H, a bidirectional charger, and home backup hardware that switches the house away from the grid. The U.S. Department of Energy says this kind of setup needs a disconnect switch and a safety-certified bidirectional charger, so power is never sent back into the grid by mistake. Each maker names its own kit.

Can a V2H car power my whole house?

Makers say it can in some cases. Tesla says a Cybertruck can power a home for over three days at 30 kWh of use a day, with up to 11.5 kW of power. Ford says a fully charged F-150 Lightning can power a home for up to three days. Results depend on your use and the car’s charge.

Is V2H cheaper than a home battery?

It can be if you already own a compatible car, because you do not buy the battery. You still pay for the charger, the backup hardware and the install. Tesla says its Powershare hardware typically costs USD 1,950 and install typically costs USD 2,000 to 4,000 without a Powerwall. A car can also be away from home, and a home battery cannot.

Is V2H the same as V2G or V2L?

No. V2H feeds your home. V2L, vehicle-to-load, powers a single device from the car. V2G, vehicle-to-grid, sends power to the grid, and it needs close work with the local utility.