Enphase unveils bidirectional EV charger for home backup power

FREMONT, Calif. - Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH), a $5 billion market cap energy technology company with over $1.4 billion in annual revenue, announced on Tuesday its new IQ Bidirectional EV Charger architecture designed to enable vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid capabilities. According to InvestingPro data, the company maintains a strong financial position with more cash than debt on its balance sheet.

The direct current (DC) charger will connect to electric vehicles and allow homeowners to charge their EVs, power their homes during outages, and share energy with the grid, according to the company’s press release.

The system requires only the IQ Meter Collar alongside the charger for basic functionality, with the option to add Enphase solar panels and batteries later. The company stated the design aims to be cost-effective and compatible with most home electrical setups.

The charger is being designed to support both 400V and 800V electric vehicles and deliver up to 11.5 kW of bidirectional power using GaN-based grid-forming microinverters. The system will include a "black start" feature intended to power a de-energized home during an outage by plugging in an EV.

"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.

The company plans to offer both alternating current (AC) and direct current versions of bidirectional chargers, with the announced product using DC design. According to the release, the charger is expected to comply with global standards including UL 9741, ISO 15118-20, and IEEE 1547.

Enphase indicated the product is being designed for global markets with availability expected in the second half of 2026.

The company noted that all system features would be managed through the Enphase App, with AI-powered energy management designed to optimize charging and discharging based on electricity rates, solar production forecasts, and grid conditions.

In other recent news, Enphase Energy announced the start of pre-orders for its new IQ9N-3P Commercial Microinverter, marking the company’s first use of gallium nitride technology. This new microinverter is designed for three-phase grid configurations and boasts a 97.5% efficiency rate. Additionally, Enphase has begun U.S. shipments of its IQ Battery 10C, which includes domestically sourced components to meet federal tax credit requirements. Jefferies upgraded Enphase Energy’s stock rating from Underperform to Hold, citing positive Treasury guidance for residential solar as a contributing factor. Moreover, Enphase confirmed that its products comply with the European Union’s new cybersecurity rules, well ahead of the 2025 deadline. The broader U.S. solar sector also received a boost from China’s recovery efforts, which are leading to a gradual price recovery in the solar market. These developments reflect a series of strategic moves by Enphase Energy to align with regulatory standards and market trends.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.