Vehicle-to-home means the car can power the house through a compatible bidirectional charger and an installation designed for export as well as import. Most UK cars and almost all ordinary wallboxes do not do this. A vehicle-to-load socket in the boot, useful for a kettle on a picnic, is not vehicle-to-home. A few models and chargers are being trialled or sold for bidirectional use. Treat them as a specific, expensive design with grid paperwork, not as a setting you turn on in a normal app.
Which cars and chargers can do vehicle-to-home and the written scope
Paying extra now for a 'V2H ready' label with no supported car is how money sits on a wall.
The expensive shortcut on which cars and chargers can do vehicle-to-home
The mistake is confusing a 3-pin inverter in the boot with a house backup system.
Handover when which cars and chargers can do vehicle-to-home is the issue
Ask for a written yes or no: does this pair of car and charger power the house, and who signs the connection form?
Which cars and chargers can do vehicle-to-home
If a seller offers V2H, ask for the exact car, the exact charger, the G98 or G99 path if it exports, and a UK warranty. If any of those is vague, you are buying a normal charger.
- Most home wallboxes are charge-only
- Vehicle-to-load is not vehicle-to-home
- Export kit needs generation paperwork
- Do not delay a normal install for a label
What a survey must prove about which cars and chargers can do vehicle-to-home
A standard 7 kW wallbox remains the right buy for almost every driveway in 2026. You can revisit bidirectional kit when your car and a product genuinely match.
Frequently asked questions
Will my existing charger be upgradable?
Assume no unless the maker has a published, supported path for your exact unit.
Does a home battery do this job more simply?
Often yes for backup and time-shifting. Different product, different design.
Are grants available for V2H?
Do not assume a chargepoint grant covers bidirectional hardware. Check the live rules.
Is it illegal?
No. It is just a generation and installation design that has to be done properly, and it is uncommon.
Core buying guides
Start with these high-intent guides, then dig into the rest of the library.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local EV Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.