There are so many acronyms related to bidirectional charging. What do they mean?

• What is V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything)?

Instead of merely drawing in power to charge your EV battery, this capability refers to your Kia EV9’s ability to send power from its battery outward for other uses. This includes all acronyms following this bullet.

• What is V2L (Vehicle-to-Load)?

This capability, natively included with your Kia EV9, allows you to power small-to-medium devices directly, including a phone, shop vac, electric mattress pump, hair dryer, etc. 

You do not need to be plugged into your home’s wall outlet to use this feature, but the devices must be plugged into your vehicle outlets to receive power.

You do not need to install any extra equipment at your home to utilize this feature.

This capability is particularly useful when camping or in the garage when wall outlets are not readily available.

• What is V2H (Vehicle-to-Home)?

This capability refers to your Kia EV9’s ability to power your home during an electrical outage or any time of day but particularly when energy rates are high. 

You must be plugged into your home’s wall outlet to utilize this feature.

The installation of special equipment is required at your home—this includes a bidirectional EV charger and other items that are not supplied by Kia. 

Please contact the Bidirectional Energy team via https://bidirectional.energy for more information.

• What is V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid)?

This capability refers to sending power back through your home’s power meter to the grid when the utility needs more power. 

You must be plugged into your home’s wall outlet to utilize this feature. 

This feature allows you to reduce your utility bills from time-based rates and demand charges. 

The installation of special equipment is required at your home—this includes a bidirectional EV charger, a power recovery unit (PRU), and other items that are not supplied by Kia.

This capability allows you to potentially contribute to more cost-effective electricity for all energy users supported by your energy provider (Eversource or UI). Often, in moments of high demand for electricity, the energy provider must activate additional power plants to meet customer needs. Growing needs means that the energy provider must build more energy generation (natural gas, solar energy, etc.) to meet needs. V2G participation may push out the need to purchase and build additional energy projects, costs which would be paid for through energy rates.