Belgian Kia drivers hoping to use their electric cars as giant home batteries face a frustrating wait. Although the vehicles already have the necessary hardware, Kia Belgium has confirmed to Newmobility.news that Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality is not expected before the fourth quarter of 2028.<\/p>\n
Across the border, Kia is already testing bidirectional charging in 80 Dutch households, although commercial availability there remains uncertain. Meanwhile, competitors such as Renault and BMW are already offering solutions in selected European markets.<\/p>\n
More controversially, Kia warns that independent bidirectional charging solutions may stop working after software updates. This raises an uncomfortable question: who really controls the battery customers have already paid for?<\/p>\n
Kia Belgium confirms that its electric models have the hardware to support V2X applications, including supplying electricity to homes or the grid. However, the necessary software, communication protocols, and approved charging infrastructure are still being developed.<\/p>\n
For now, owners must settle for Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which powers individual appliances but cannot integrate the vehicle battery into a home’s energy system. Kia says availability in Belgium is expected from Q4 2028. It does not guarantee that every existing EV6, EV3, or EV9 will receive the functionality through a software update.<\/p>\n
The situation is particularly frustrating because independent specialists have already demonstrated what is technically possible.<\/p>\n
Belgian energy specialist Watt’s Next lists successful bidirectional DC charging tests with several electric cars, including the Kia EV6, Volvo EX30, Volkswagen ID.5, Tesla Model Y, and Porsche Taycan, all tested in Belgium in late 2024.<\/p>\n
More recent independent tests, however, suggest that the situation has changed for Kia: while a 2024 EV6 could still discharge successfully, EV3 and EV9 models from the 2026 and 2027 model years reportedly refused to do so. The reason remains unconfirmed.<\/p>\n
Kia does not confirm that a June 2026 firmware update deliberately blocked these systems. But its statement is revealing: “the manufacturer does not support third-party solutions outside its approved framework” and warns that such solutions may cease to function after vehicle software updates.<\/p>\n
That leaves owners relying on independent solutions facing uncertainty about compatibility, future updates, and warranty implications.<\/p>\n
Across the border, Kia and Hyundai are already testing V2G with Vattenfall in the Netherlands. Up to 80 households with a Kia EV9 or Hyundai IONIQ 9 are participating in a six-month pilot program that feeds electricity back to the grid during peak demand.<\/p>\n
Other manufacturers have progressed further commercially. Renault introduced its Power V2G service for private customers in the Netherlands in May 2026, following its launch in France. Compatible Renault 4 and Renault 5 models can return electricity through a We Drive Solar charging station, although a dedicated service and energy arrangement are required.<\/p>\n
BMW has also moved ahead in Belgium. Its new iX3 supports V2H via the 7.4 kW BMW Wallbox Professional, which is offered for \u20ac1,700 before installation.<\/p>\n
These examples also highlight a broader problem: bidirectional charging often depends on manufacturer-approved equipment and software, and sometimes on a specific energy supplier.<\/p>\n
For households with solar panels, V2H could make a substantial difference. Instead of buying a separate home battery, drivers could store surplus solar electricity in their car during the day and use it in the evening. V2G goes further by allowing electricity to flow back into the public grid.<\/p>\n
Yet hardware compatibility alone is not enough. Safety certification, local grid requirements, communication standards, and commercial agreements all complicate deployment. Independent specialists such as Watt’s Next advocate broader compatibility rather than dependence on a single manufacturer’s ecosystem.<\/p>\n
For Kia owners in Belgium, however, the immediate reality is simple: their electric cars may be technically capable of powering their homes, but officially supported access to that functionality remains at least two years away. And even the late-2028 date is a target, not a firm guarantee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Belgian Kia drivers hoping to use their electric cars as giant home batteries face a frustrating wait. Although the vehicles already have the necessary hardware, Kia Belgium has confirmed to Newmobility.news that Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality is not expected before the fourth quarter of 2028. Across the border, Kia is already testing bidirectional […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":196908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"{title}\r\n\r\n{excerpt}\r\n\r\n{url}","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[77162,77170,77218,6,4,77221],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-batteries","category-belgium","category-netherlands","category-technology","category-top-stories-today","category-v2x"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&ssl=1",2560,1440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C169&ssl=1",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1",640,360,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=640%2C360&ssl=1",640,360,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=1536%2C864&ssl=1",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=2048%2C1152&ssl=1",2048,1152,true],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=18%2C10&ssl=1",18,10,true],"related-thumb":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1",640,480,true],"gform-image-choice-sm":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1",300,300,true],"gform-image-choice-md":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1",400,400,true],"gform-image-choice-lg":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1",600,600,true],"mailchimp":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?fit=560%2C315&ssl=1",560,315,true],"unipress-phone":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=640%2C100&ssl=1",640,100,true],"unipress-tablet":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C240&ssl=1",1536,240,true],"unipress-tablet-portrait":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C180&ssl=1",1536,180,true],"unipress-tablet-landscape":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C180&ssl=1",2048,180,true],"unipress-smartphone":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=1080%2C168&ssl=1",1080,168,true],"unipress-wide-screen":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newmobility.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/KIA-charging-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C180&ssl=1",2560,180,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"
Belgian Kia drivers hoping to use their electric cars as giant home batteries face a frustrating wait. Although the vehicles already have the necessary hardware, Kia Belgium has confirmed to Newmobility.news that Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality is not expected before the fourth quarter of 2028. Across the border, Kia is already testing bidirectional charging in 80 Dutch households, although commercial availability there remains uncertain. Meanwhile, competitors such as Renault and BMW are already offering solutions in selected European markets. More controversially, Kia warns that independent bidirectional charging solutions may stop working after software updates. This raises an uncomfortable…<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"Batteries<\/a>, Belgium<\/a>, Netherlands<\/a>, Technology<\/a>, Top Stories Today<\/a>, V2X<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Joris Van Roy","url":"https:\/\/newmobility.news\/en\/author\/jorisximcom-be\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"\n