Wallbox and Kia team up to try and bring bidirectional charging capabilities to EV9 owners
EV charging and energy management developer Wallbox announced it is working with Kia America to try and bring viable bidirectional charging capabilities to the homes of EV9 owners. This process will begin with Wallbox’s Quasar 2 EV charger.
Wallbox ($WBX) describes itself as a creator of “advanced electric vehicle charging and energy management systems that redefine the relationship between users and the network.” In its eight years since being founded, Wallbox’s portfolio of commercial and public EV charging solutions have expanded to 115 different countries.
Last October, we visited the company’s newest facility in Texas, where it demonstrated a 400kW DC fast charger capable of delivering 100 miles of range in a mere five minutes. Truthfully, most EVs are built to handle such high rates just yet – but some EVs that are close are those atop Hyundai Motor Group’s 800V E-GMP platform, including the Kia EV9 which recently began US deliveries.
Today, Wallbox announced it is working with Kia to give EV9 drivers access to its Quasar 2 home charger, offering the potential opportunity for bidirectional charging.
Can Wallbox make bidirectional charging viable with EV9?
Wallbox announced its new collaboration with Kia America today, sharing it will begin offering EV9 customers the second-generation version of its Quasar 2 home charger in the first half of 2024. The model first debuted at CES in January of 2022 and gained some good press given its bidirectional capabilities.
By using the home charger, owners can essentially turn their EV in a power bank with the capability to send energy from the vehicles battery into their home, also known as vehicle-to-home or V2H. We are seeing this capability to power homes during blackouts, inclement weather, or peak usage times more and more across the EV landscape, but although the technology exists, implementing it takes a lot more effort.
With a less than stellar electrical grid in the US especially, not all homes are built to handle the hardware, not to mention major hurdles EV owners have come across when trying to install a home charger including permits and installation. Not to mention wait times for said equipment.
Regardless, Wallbox is confident it can get the Quasar 2 charging for Kia EV9 owners next year, and empower them to save on energy costs and gain peace of mind during outages. Per Wallbox cofounder and CEO Enric Asunción:
We’re excited to work with Kia America toward our shared vision for accelerating electrification and transforming how we harness and interact with energy. Bidirectional charging can offer long term benefits to users, grid operators, utilities and will accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. When combined with an EV capable of bidirectional charging, such as Kia’s advanced EV9, Quasar 2 offers one of the most functional and affordable home energy management solutions on the market.
The second-generation Quasar offers bidirectional charge rates up to 11.5kW. Wallbox points out that combined with the EV9’s 76kW or 100kW battery pack, owners can store five-times the amount of standard home storage system – enough to power a home with typical energy consumption for up to four days.
The company also estimates Quasar 2 owners will save over $1,000 annually on energy bills when combined with other time-of-use programs. As mentioned, the Wallbox chargers are expected to begin rolling out in the first half of next year.
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With its tire-blistering acceleration and record-setting performance, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has been getting attention throughout the auto industry, impressing everyone who’s seen it. That “everyone” now seems to include the OG supercar brand, itself.
CarNewsChina posted pictures from a Weibo user that reportedly show a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra exiting the storied Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy. According to a Chinese blogger going by 西米露在博洛尼亚 (which seems to translate to “Sago Dessert in Bologna”), the prancing horse brand is actively benchmarking the Chinese hypercar for its own upcoming EV.
The SU7 Ultra was definitely coming from inside Ferrari’s facility. After verification, we learned this specific vehicle was officially purchased by Ferrari for testing, and the development of their next-generation electric platform.
Yet another Chinese auto blogger, 苏黎世贝勒爷, claims that Ferrari representatives visited Xiaomi headquarters last year, allegedly to discuss the joint development of next-generation high-performance EV motors.
The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made its debut last year, promising 1,548 hp, sub 2.0-second 0-60 mph times, and a top speed well over 200 mph – all at a price lower than a Tesla Model S Plaid or Porsche Taycan Turbo GT. The car sold out almost immediately after it was unveiled, racking up some 50,000 orders almost overnight.
The new electric benchmark
In the automotive world, “benchmarking” is a process in which car companies systematically tear down each others’ competitive products to compare everything from sound insulation, vehicle ride and handling, component materials, and even manufacturing methods against their own or against other industry leaders. The goal is to evaluate performance, cost, quality, and other key metrics, effectively figuring out “where they stand” in the market.
If Ferrari really did buy an SU7 to benchmark it against their own upcoming electric supercar, it’s more than just a curiosity – it could mean that the highest tiers of automotive innovation have shifted from West to East. Maybe forever.
Featured image via Xiaomi; sources throughout the post.
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We’re finally getting our first teases of the upgraded 2027 Chevy Bolt, built on GM’s battery/motor platform formerly known as Ultium. So far, so good for the vehicle, which will be revealed later this Fall.
Chevy took to social media today to tease the 2027 Chevy Bolt, saying, “You asked, we listened. The #ChevyBolt is back and better than ever. More this fall. 👀”
Chevy ended the original Bolt program with the 2023 model, which was loved by a loyal group of customers (including myself). Some of the major gripes, including charging speed and rear brake lights, already look to be addressed. Also, a new more aggressive fascia is debuting.
Electrek’s take
GM has done an incredible job keeping the 2027 Bolt under wraps. It will be the first GM vehicle with a native NACS port after the Cadillac Optiq-V, which we spied in Seattle last week.
Hopefully, the new Bolt will have improved charging speeds over and above the 54kW that previous Bolts adhered to. One possible downgrade is that the old Bolt’s amazing wireless CarPlay/Android Auto system will likely be replaced by GM’s move to Android’s built-in experience. For a few years, the Chevy Bolt was the most affordable long-range EV, and it won our 2022 Electrek car of the year for its versatility and price.
I would, of course, like to see the new Bolt as a hot hatchback, but GM CEO Mary Barra has hinted that it will likely take more of the EUV’s SUV form factor. Things like AWD options, SuperCruise, pricing, power and range are yet to be revealed, but stay tuned to Electrek for the latest on Bolt developments.
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On today’s test-acular episode of Quick Charge, it’s a new day and a new Chinese ADAS test for Tesla to conquer – but this one’s got a LOT more pedestrian carnage to parse through! We’ve also got some great e-bike deals from Retrospec and a bladder-busting Hyundai.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec – the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure! To that end, we’ve got a pair of Retrospec e-bike reviews followed up by the updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 with nearly 350 miles of range from its updated long-range battery. With that, Hyundai now has the longest range Korean EV on the market, while Texas is adding megawatts of battery energy storage to beef up its troubled grid, and it’s doing so faster and cheaper than ever before.
Plus: Quick Charge listeners can get an extra 10% off the price of their next awesome e-bike by using code ELECTREK10 at retrospec.com!
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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