Vehicle-to-Home (V2H)
Vehicle-to-home (V2H) is the use of energy stored in an electric vehicle battery to supply electrical loads in a home through a compatible power-transfer and control system.
How it works
The vehicle and compatible bidirectional equipment return power to the home's electrical system. Depending on the installation, V2H may support selected critical circuits or a larger share of the home. It can be used during an outage or to reduce electricity drawn from the grid at selected times.
An outage-capable system must prevent exported power from energizing the public grid while utility supply is unavailable. The required transfer equipment, protection, permits, and operating limits depend on the electrical installation and local rules.
Important boundary
V2H is not the same as vehicle-to-load (V2L). V2L normally supplies appliances from an outlet or adapter without integrating the vehicle with the home's electrical panel. V2H is also not automatically vehicle-to-grid (V2G): a home backup installation can operate without exporting power beyond the property.
The vehicle, EVSE or inverter, control system, and home installation must all support the intended function. A bidirectional-capable vehicle alone is not sufficient.
For the broader architecture and related export modes, see Bidirectional Charging. Compare Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G).