Enphase Energy has announced its new IQ Bidirectional EV Charger architecture, aimed at enabling both vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid features for EVs. The system is designed to allow users to charge their vehicles, provide backup power to their homes during outages and interact with the grid. The system is managed through the Enphase App, and its release is targeted for the second half of 2026.

The IQ Bidirectional EV Charger is designed to support both 400 V and 800 V EVs and can deliver up to 11.5 kW of bidirectional power. The architecture incorporates gallium nitride-based grid-forming microinverters. The charger operates with Enphase’s IQ Meter Collar for installation, offering a scalable solution that can start with basic charging and expand to a larger home energy system by adding solar and battery modules.

The system introduces a black start feature, allowing homeowners to restart and power a de-energized home by simply plugging in the EV, aimed at enhancing backup power reliability. It uses artificial intelligence-powered energy management to optimize EV charging and discharging based on real-time electricity rates, solar production forecasts, and current grid conditions.

Enphase’s IQ Meter Collar

The IQ Bidirectional EV Charger uses a DC architecture, placing the inverter within the charger for faster power transfer and advanced energy control. Enphase Energy says this approach is designed for greater efficiency compared to AC-based systems, which rely on the vehicle’s onboard charger.

“The IQ Bidirectional EV Charger brings the family car into the home energy system,” said Jayant Somani, senior vice president of the digital business unit at Enphase Energy. “It’s simple to install, easy to control, and designed to deliver backup power and the ability to share energy with the grid for homeowners.”

Source: Enphase Energy