Imagine pulling into your driveway after a long day, plugging in your electric car — and instead of just charging it, that same vehicle could power your house through the night. That’s the vision Swedish EV maker Polestar is turning into reality.
The company has just launched its first Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) pilot program in California, marking a major move beyond sleek Scandinavian design and into the world of smart energy technology. For the first time, a Polestar 3 can not only draw energy from your home’s grid but send power back when you need it most.
This initiative is in partnership with dcbel, a Canadian clean-energy tech company known for its smart bidirectional chargers. With this setup, energy doesn’t just flow one direction — your Polestar 3 can store and return electricity, essentially becoming a backup generator with a luxury interior.
In everyday terms, that means your SUV could keep your lights on during a blackout or help you save money by using stored energy when electricity prices peak. In California — where rolling blackouts and high energy costs are a fact of life — this could be a massive convenience, maybe even peace of mind.
To sweeten the deal, Polestar 3 owners in California can qualify for a rebate program backed by the California Energy Commission and handled by dcbel. The program helps cover both the cost of equipment and installation, giving curious early adopters a way to try out V2H without draining their savings.
Two-way or “bidirectional” charging has quickly become one of the hottest areas in EV innovation. It’s often called V2G (vehicle-to-grid) when scaled up to supply energy to the broader grid, but the principle is the same: instead of being just an energy user, your car becomes an energy partner. It can store excess solar power, stabilize local grids, and lend a literal charge when things go dark.
Polestar now joins other automakers exploring similar ideas — including Volkswagen, Kia, and Hyundai — but it brings a distinct touch. True to form, Polestar’s emphasis on design and user-friendly tech means the experience will likely be as polished as its cars look on the showroom floor.
For now, this pilot is limited to California, but if it succeeds, it could expand to other markets. As EV batteries get larger and home energy systems become more advanced, the idea of your car powering your home might soon feel downright ordinary.
After all, the electric car is no longer just transportation. It’s becoming a core part of how we live — and how we power our lives.
Alternative headlines: