Last summer, during a three-hour power outage in Uccle, my neighbour plugged a fridge and two lamps into the V2L socket of his IONIQ 5. No generator, no candles — just his car parked in the driveway. When he told me the same 77 kWh battery could power his entire house for two days, I wanted to understand where Belgium stood on bidirectional charging.
What is bidirectional charging and why does it matter for EV owners?
Bidirectional charging allows an electric vehicle to send the energy stored in its battery back to a device, a house or the grid. It is no longer just a car that consumes — it is a battery on wheels that can supply power.
Three levels exist, from simplest to most ambitious:
| Technology | Power | Equipment needed | Availability in BE |
|---|---|---|---|
| V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) | 1.8–3.6 kW | Built-in outlet or adapter | Standard on IONIQ 5/6/9, EV6/EV9 |
| V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) | 5–10 kW | Bidirectional DC charger | Fluvius pilots, chargers expected late 2026 |
| V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) | 6–15 kW | Charger + smart meter + DNO contract | Pilot projects only |
V2L is a glorified camping outlet. V2H replaces a €10,000 Powerwall home battery. V2G is the holy grail — but Belgium is not there yet.
IONIQ 5 battery — powers a Belgian home for 2 days
Minimum price for an installed V2H bidirectional charger
Rate achievable with V2H + solar panels
Which EVs sold in Belgium support bidirectional charging in 2026?
The Hyundai-Kia group leads the pack. The E-GMP platform (IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6, IONIQ 9, EV6, EV9) includes V2L as standard and the V2H/V2G hardware — what is missing is the charger and grid-side software in Belgium.
| Modèle | Prix | Autonomie réelle | Batterie | Recharge DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai IONIQ 5Recommandé | 41 990 € | 390 km | 77.4 kWh | 233 kW |
| Kia EV6 | 44 990 € | 420 km | 77.4 kWh | 233 kW |
| Hyundai IONIQ 6 | 44 990 € | 480 km | 77.4 kWh | 220 kW |
| Hyundai IONIQ 9 | 59 990 € | 477 km | 110 kWh | 350 kW |
The Nissan Leaf remains the only EV with operational V2G, but it uses CHAdeMO — a standard Europe is abandoning. Volkswagen (ID.3, ID.4, ID.Buzz) is preparing CCS2 bidirectional charging via ISO 15118-20 and has announced a V2G launch with Elli for Q4 2026 in Germany. The Volvo EX60 promises V2H for summer 2026. The Renault 5 E-Tech is hardware-ready.
In practice, if you buy a bidi-ready EV today, you are betting on an ecosystem that will come together over the next 12 to 18 months. V2L, however, works right away.
How much does a V2H system cost in Belgium and what is the payback?
The key question: is it worth the investment?
| Item | Estimated cost | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| V2H bidirectional charger | €6,500–8,000 | Wallbox Quasar 2 (10 kW, CCS2) |
| Installation + compliance | €1,500–3,000 | Electrical panel, wiring, Synergrid standards |
| Smart meter (if missing) | €0 | Fluvius installs free of charge in Flanders |
| Total V2H | €8,000–11,000 | Excluding solar panels |
Compare that with a standard home battery:
| Solution | Usable capacity | Cost | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Powerwall | 13.5 kWh | €9,500 | 10 years |
| BYD HVS battery | 10.2 kWh | €7,500 | 10 years |
| V2H via IONIQ 5 | 60 kWh usable | €8,000–11,000 | 8-year battery warranty |
V2H delivers 4 to 6 times more capacity at a comparable price. And on the E411 on Sunday evening, that battery also takes you to Namur.
V2H is a home battery that also takes you to work. The Powerwall stays in the garage.
How does the Flemish capacity tariff make V2H profitable?
In Flanders, the capacity tariff (since 2023) charges the grid component based on your monthly peak power draw, not total volume consumed. Charge your EV at 11 kW when you get home while the oven runs at 3 kW? Your peak hits 14 kW — and your grid bill climbs.
V2H smooths these peaks. The EV battery discharges at 3-5 kW during the household's peak hours, pulling the peak below 5 kW.
Estimated saving: €150 to €300/year on the Flemish grid component alone. Wallonia is working on a similar mechanism — Walloon households would benefit from getting equipped before it kicks in.
Combined with solar self-consumption, the maths change completely:
| Scenario | Self-consumption | Annual saving |
|---|---|---|
| Solar only (6 kWp) | 30–40% | €400–550 |
| Solar + stationary battery | 60–70% | €650–800 |
| Solar + V2H (IONIQ 5, 77 kWh) | 80–85% | €800–1,050 |
Is Belgium ready for V2G in 2026?
No, not for private individuals. V2G requires three things that do not yet exist at scale: CCS2 bidirectional chargers certified by Synergrid, aggregation contracts to resell electricity, and a clear regulatory framework for grid injection.
What is moving forward: Fluvius is piloting V2G projects in Kortrijk and Ghent. The European AFIR regulation mandates bidirectional communication on all public chargers from January 2027. VW and Elli are preparing a V2G offering for Q4 2026 — in Germany first.
The theoretical tariff arbitrage — charging at €0.18/kWh off-peak and selling at €0.40/kWh at peak — could yield €700 to €900/year. But you need to subtract battery wear, the charger cost and aggregation fees. Realistic timeline for a Belgian private individual: end of 2027 at the earliest.
Should you buy a bidi-ready EV now or wait?
If you are switching EVs in 2026, choose a bidi-ready model (IONIQ 5, EV6, ID.4) — there is no added cost since the hardware is built in. V2L works from the day of delivery and will bail you out during power cuts or on camping trips.
For V2H, the recommendation is to wait for CCS2 bidirectional chargers to hit the Belgian market (late 2026 or early 2027) and for prices to drop below €6,000.
For V2G: it is a bet with a 2028 horizon. Worth considering if you have solar panels, a dynamic tariff and the appetite to participate in grid balancing. Otherwise, V2H will deliver 90% of the financial benefit without the regulatory complexity.
Le verdict de Christophe F.
V2L is ready, V2H is coming, V2G will wait. In 2026, the pragmatic choice for a Belgian household with solar panels: buy a bidi-ready EV (IONIQ 5, EV6, ID.4) and install a standard wallbox. When CCS2 bidirectional chargers are Synergrid-certified — likely late 2026 or early 2027 — you will upgrade to V2H without changing your car. V2G will follow, but you will have lost nothing by choosing bidi-ready now.