General Motors (GM) will add vehicle-to-home (V2H) bidirectional charging to all of its Ultium-based electric vehicles (EVs), the company announced this week.
Ultium is the name of GM’s new-generation of EV platform, and V2H allows the high-capacity battery in these vehicles to transfer power back into a home when needed, such as during a power outage or to offset peak electricity demand. Among the first vehicles equipped with V2H charging are the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV RST, the 2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV, and the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq. The charging feature is also to be included in Cadillac’s just-revealed Escalade IQ.
GM says the bidirectional technology will expand to its entire portfolio of Ultium-based EVs by model year 2026.
How Can Homeowners Install GM’s V2H System?
For the setup to work, homeowners must install the appropriate equipment in their house. GM Energy – a subsidiary of GM – will offer three options. GM does not list prices for them yet.
The first package offered by the company is the Ultium Home V2H bundle. GM says this package is designed for customers looking to transfer power from their GM EVs to their homes through the V2H system. The second package is the Ultium Home Energy System. Utilizing this package would be optimal for those looking for V2H functionality and energy storage. The final bundle is the Ultium Home Energy Storage Bundle. The storage bundle works for those without an EV who want to incorporate stationary storage into their homes.
Competitive vehicles such as the Ford F-150 Lightning have already been integrating such technology. Ford currently collaborates with Sunrun to provide its clients with V2H charging systems.
Ford’s pricing could give a possible idea into what to expect from General Motors.
To use a Ford F-150 Lightning for bidirectional charging, a customer would need the home integration system and the Charge Station Pro. The Ford Charge Station Pro is $1,310 added if you don’t own a Ford F-150 Lightning with an extended battery range. This station cost is without the $1,250-$1,650 installation base price.
Combined with the home integration system and installation, the base price can range from $8,900-9,400. It can go up in price depending on your home’s layout for installment. Pricing heavily depends on your installation quote.
