If I want whole-home backup from my EV9, is any special hardware required?

Yes. You’ll need hardware to “island” your home from the grid, ensuring no electricity from your EV goes anywhere other than your property. For the Wallbox Quasar 2 system, you’ll need to install the Power Recovery Unit (PRU), which costs an additional ~$3K for the hardware and another $2K-$3K to install. This device activates and deactivates “island” mode, allowing your Quasar 2 to direct power from your EV to your home for up to a few days without sending any power back to the grid.

The PRU requires a minimum home load of approximately 500W to activate and provide backup power. If your home’s typical baseline usage is below this level, the PRU may not activate consistently, and it may not be the best fit for your home.

If you already have a battery that does home backup, you likely already have an islanding switch installed, so you may not need to purchase this additional PRU equipment again. Please consult the electrician when they do your site assessment to confirm. Our electricians can best advise you on what is needed for your home.