Your car is a big battery
Your EV's battery is huge, often five to ten times bigger than a home battery like a Powerwall. With the right setup, it can keep your house running for days during a blackout. That's called vehicle-to-home, or V2H.
In 2026, more cars can do this than ever. But a V2H-capable car is only half of the setup. This guide explains which EVs can do it, what equipment you need, what it costs and how long it lasts.
V2H vs V2L: the difference in one minute
These two get mixed up all the time, but they're very different. Power figures below are typical ranges. Some US versions of cars offer less V2L power than the same cars sold elsewhere.
| V2L (vehicle-to-load) | V2H (vehicle-to-home) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Outlets on the car, or an adapter. You run extension cords to a few appliances. | A two-way charger and backup equipment wired into your home's main electrical panel. |
| How much power | Usually about 1.5 to 3.6 kW | Usually about 9.6 to 11.5 kW |
| What it can run | A fridge, a microwave, a few lights | Most or all of your house, automatically |
| Extra cost | Usually none, or a small adapter | Several thousand dollars |
Why V2L isn't enough for a whole house
V2L is great for keeping the fridge cold. But it can't run central air or heating, and it can't power your whole house. For that, you need V2H.
How V2H works
You install a bidirectional (two-way) charger in your garage, plus backup equipment at your main electrical panel, including an automatic transfer switch.
When the grid goes down, the transfer switch cuts your house off from the power lines. That protects utility workers who are repairing them. Then the system pulls power from your car's battery and feeds it into your home's circuits. You don't have to do anything; it switches over automatically.
The EVs that can power your home in 2026
Here are the main options in the US. The backup times assume an average home using about 30 kWh a day (EIA). They are rough estimates based on battery size, or the company's own figure where noted. Prices are published hardware prices as of October 2026; installation is extra and varies a lot by home. If you run only essentials, your backup lasts much longer.
| Vehicle | Equipment you need | Approx. equipment price | Backup for an average home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevy Silverado EV (largest battery) | GM Energy V2H Bundle | $8,998 list (often discounted), plus install | About 6 days |
| Chevy Blazer EV / Equinox EV | GM Energy V2H Bundle | $8,998 list (often discounted), plus install | About 3 days |
| Tesla Cybertruck | Powershare Gateway + Universal Wall Connector, or Powerwall 3 | About $1,950 hardware + $2,000–$4,000 install (without Powerwall) | Over 3 days (Tesla) |
| Tesla Model 3 / Model Y (ordered Oct 1, 2026 or later) | Powerwall 3 + Wall Connector | No extra hardware if you already have both | Adds over 2 days to a Powerwall (Tesla) |
| Kia EV9 | Wallbox Quasar 2 | About $6,440 at its 2025 launch, plus install | About 3 days |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | Charge Station Pro + Home Integration System | No longer sold new | About 3 days (Ford) |
General Motors: the widest choice
Most new GM EVs work with the GM Energy V2H Bundle. That includes the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Blazer EV and Equinox EV, the GMC Sierra EV and Hummer EV, several Cadillacs (Lyriq, Optiq, Vistiq, Escalade IQ) and the upcoming 2027 Chevy Bolt. The bundle includes a PowerShift charger, a home hub, an inverter and a small "dark start" battery, and it supplies up to 9.6 kW to your home. GM often discounts it: in October 2026 it was 25% off.
Tesla: Cybertruck, and now Model 3 and Model Y
Every Cybertruck supports Tesla's Powershare home backup, at up to 11.5 kW. New Model 3 and Model Y cars ordered in the US on or after October 1, 2026 support it too, but only with a Powerwall 3 and a Wall Connector. There's no gateway-only option for them. Some earlier cars may also qualify; check Software > Additional Vehicle Information on the car's screen for "Powershare Support."
Kia EV9
The EV9 works with the Wallbox Quasar 2 two-way charger. V2H launched in seven states: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Washington. Kia has said more states will follow. Some utilities, like PG&E in California, run pilot programs that can cover much of the cost.
Ford F-150 Lightning: existing owners only
The Lightning was one of the first V2H trucks, using Ford's Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System. Ford stopped building the electric Lightning in December 2025, and the home backup system is no longer sold new. Owners who already have it keep using it. Ford's newer, cheaper option (about $1,350 to $1,550 installed) connects the truck's 240-volt outlet to a transfer switch at your meter. It's useful, but it isn't true V2H.
Others to watch
The 2025 Volvo EX90 and some Polestar 3 models work with a two-way charger called the dcbel Ara. Hyundai has said V2H is coming for the Ioniq 9. The older Nissan Leaf, with its CHAdeMO plug, can also do it with the dcbel Ara.
Four things to check before you buy
Brand lock-in: V2H equipment usually only works with its own brand. You can't use a Ford Charge Station Pro with a Chevy Blazer EV. GM's bundle doesn't work with other companies' home batteries, either. Plan on buying the equipment your carmaker approves.
Where you live: some programs only cover certain states, like Kia's, or depend on your utility. Check before you choose a car based on V2H.
Solar to recharge: without solar, your car is a big battery you can use up once. In a two-week outage, it'll run out. With rooftop solar and compatible equipment, the sun can top it up during the day. Ask your installer whether your setup can do that.
How you heat your home: electric heating uses a lot of power and can drain a car battery fast in a freeze. A gas furnace only needs electricity for its fan and controls, so your car's battery lasts much longer.
An example: Mark in Texas
Mark lives near Dallas and has sat through more than one winter power outage. When he went car shopping in 2026, he was choosing between a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and a Chevrolet Equinox EV.
The Ioniq 5 had great reviews and V2L outlets. But Mark knew that running an extension cord through a window to a space heater wouldn't cut it in a freeze. He chose the Equinox EV and paid for the GM Energy V2H Bundle, about $9,000 at list price plus installation.
When a winter storm knocked out his power, the system switched on automatically and started sending up to 9.6 kW from the car to his electrical panel. His gas furnace needs electricity to run its fan, and now it had it. The fridge stayed cold and the lights stayed on.
Mark kept the thermostat low and switched off anything he didn't need. That way the Equinox's roughly 85 kWh battery kept his house going for about three days on one charge. For Mark, that peace of mind made the upfront cost worth it.
(Mark is an example, not a real customer. A home with electric heating would use up the battery much faster.)