Bidirectional charging, the ability for your EV to send power back to your home or the grid, has been ‘just around the corner’ for years. In 2026, it’s finally here in the UK, but only if you buy the right combination of car and charger. Get it wrong and you’ve got expensive equipment that can’t talk to each other.
Here’s what actually works right now, what it costs, and whether it’s worth doing.
The EVs That Can Do It
Not many, is the short answer. Most EVs can only charge in one direction, taking power from the grid. To send power back, you need a car with vehicle-to-home (V2H) or vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability, which is essentially a large battery on wheels that your home can borrow from.
The Nissan Leaf has had this capability since 2018, making it the granddad of bidirectional charging in the UK. The newer Nissan Ariya continues this, as does the Maxus E Deliver 3 van, which uses the same CHAdeMO connector.
More recently, several models using the CCS connector have joined: the Genesis GV60, Genesis Electrified GV70, Kia EV6 (2024 model year onwards), Kia EV9, Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2024 onwards), Hyundai Ioniq 6 (certain variants), MG 5 (2025 model year), and the Renault 5. Ford’s F-150 Lightning technically supports it, though you’ll need deep pockets and a wide driveway.
\p>The crucial detail: your specific trim level and model year matter. Not every Ioniq 5 can do bidirectional charging, only those built from 2024 with the right specification. Check with the dealer and get it in writing.
The Chargers That Work
This is where it gets expensive and complicated. A standard home charger like the Pod Point Solo won’t cut it. You need a bidirectional charger, and there aren’t many certified for UK homes yet.
The Wallbox Quasar 2 works with CCS-equipped vehicles and is one of the more established options, typically installed for £5,500 to £7,000 including the unit and installation. The Indra V2H charger is another CCS option in a similar price range.
For CHAdeMO vehicles like the Leaf, the options are more limited. The Wallbox Quasar 1 (the older model) supports CHAdeMO, as does equipment from Evalia, though availability varies and you’re looking at similar costs.
You’ll also need a compatible inverter and often a battery management system to make everything talk to each other properly. This isn’t a case of plugging in a charger and watching the magic happen. Expect a proper survey, potentially upgrades to your consumer unit, and installation by someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Budget £6,000 to £8,000 all in for most home setups.
What Else You Need
A time-of-use energy tariff is essential to make the economics work. Octopus Energy’s Intelligent Octopus Go is popular because it gives you cheap overnight rates (typically around 7p per kWh at the time of writing) and can integrate with some bidirectional setups.
You’ll also want a decent amount of solar generation if you’re serious about this. Charging your car on cheap overnight electricity and then sending that same electricity back to the grid at peak rates sounds brilliant, but the arbitrage opportunity is smaller than you’d think once you factor in conversion losses and cycle wear on your battery.
Where V2H makes more sense is storing your own solar generation. Charge the car during the day from your panels, use that power in the evening when your panels aren’t generating. You’re essentially using your car as a giant home battery, which is clever given you’ve already paid for it.
Does It Actually Save Money?
For most households, honestly, not yet. If you’re spending £7,000 on installation and you save £30 per month on energy bills through clever charging and discharging, you’re looking at 19 years to break even. That’s longer than you’ll keep the car.
The backup power aspect is more compelling. If you live somewhere with unreliable supply or you work from home and absolutely cannot afford downtime, having 60-80 kWh of backup power from your car could be worth the investment. That’s several days of running your fridge, Wi-Fi, and essential devices.
There’s also the solar self-consumption angle. If you’ve got a large solar array and you’re currently exporting electricity at 15p per kWh but importing at 25p, storing that solar power in your car and using it later makes financial sense. You’re essentially getting paid 25p for electricity you generated, rather than the 15p export rate. But you’d probably be better off with a dedicated home battery like a Tesla Powerwall, which doesn’t drive away to Tesco when you need it.
The Honest Assessment
Bidirectional charging is genuinely clever technology and it will become more relevant as the grid needs more flexibility. But in 2026, it’s still early adopter territory.
If you’re buying an EV anyway and the bidirectional-capable version costs the same, absolutely get it. Future-proofing costs nothing. But spending £7,000 on home equipment to enable it? That only makes sense if you’ve got substantial solar generation, you genuinely need backup power, or you’re the sort of person who gets excited about participating in grid balancing trials (hello, fellow nerds).
The smart move for most people is to wait another year or two. Charger prices will come down, more vehicles will support it as standard, and the energy tariffs designed around V2H will improve. Right now, unless you’ve got a specific use case, a regular home charger and a time-of-use tariff will serve you better for a fraction of the cost.