Polestar and home energy company dcbel are rolling out vehicle‑to‑home (V2H), blackout backup, and smart charging features for Polestar 3 owners in the US, starting in California.
Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller calls bidirectional charging a “game-changer” for both EVs and home energy. “As it lowers your total cost of ownership and makes your car work for you even when parked, this makes the choice of driving a Polestar even more attractive,” he said.
Bidirectional tech lets an EV battery charge not only from the grid but also send power back out, either into your home or back to the grid. That means lower energy bills, home backup during outages, and better use of renewable energy.
This initial setup utilizes DC power and activates V2H capability for Polestar 3 models based on a 400-volt architecture. The California‑only offer includes dcbel’s Ara home energy system and could help drivers cut charging costs by as much as $1,300 a year. Polestar says the car could also serve as emergency backup power for up to 10 days, depending on conditions.
California residents can apply for rebates through a state program run by dcbel, helping offset the cost of both hardware and installation. More details are available on dcbel’s Polestar page.
“We are very excited to deliver this initial bidirectional charging offer together with our North American partner dcbel,” said Olivier Loedel, Polestar’s head of software product management, adding that this “marks an important first step as we aim to launch bidirectional charging features to more Polestar customers in more markets.”
Polestar says a wider rollout is planned. In Germany, with more European markets set to follow, the brand has already introduced the bidirectional‑ready Zaptec Go2 AC charger, which will support the capability when it becomes available on compatible Polestar 3 vehicles.
Read more: Polestar wants to save the grid with V2G Virtual Power plant trial in CA/Sweden
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![Yes, an EV really CAN power your home – if it’s one of these [update]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Polestar-3-price-US.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1 "Yes, an EV really CAN power your home – if it’s one of these [update]")
