What the Wallbox Quasar 2 actually does
The Quasar 2 is a DC bidirectional charger. That distinction matters. Standard home chargers supply alternating current to your car and let its onboard converter handle the step down to DC for the battery. The Quasar 2 bypasses that. It talks directly to your vehicle’s high-voltage battery pack via CCS2, sending and receiving DC at up to 12.8 kW peak — or 11.5 kW (48A) in sustained bidirectional operation.
Because it bypasses the car’s onboard charger, it can pull energy back out of the battery at meaningful speeds. That is what makes V2H (powering your home from your car) and V2G (selling energy back to the grid) possible.
This is different from V2L, the socket in the boot of a BYD Atto 3 or Kia EV6 that can run a kettle or charge a laptop. V2L taps the battery through a standard AC socket and is limited to 2–3 kW. The Quasar 2 can transfer up to 11.5 kW in and out of your home’s wiring, which is roughly what a large heat pump or three electric showers draws at full load.
The >97% round-trip efficiency figure (per Wallbox’s North American technical datasheet) means less than 3% of your battery energy is lost in each transfer direction — a meaningful advantage over less efficient AC bidirectional approaches.
Is the Wallbox Quasar 2 actually on sale in the UK in 2026?
Not quite. As of May 2026, the Wallbox UK product page presents a “keep me updated” sign-up form rather than a checkout. Future Charging Solutions, one of the UK’s specialist bidirectional charger resellers, lists the Quasar 2 as “coming soon — please register your interest.”
The broader context: Wallbox reportedly began its European rollout in Q4 2025. North American pre-orders opened in March 2025, initially restricted to Kia EV9 owners in seven US states, with a wider rollout described as following. No UK retail date has been confirmed.
For a UK buyer today, you can register your interest, speak to specialist installers, and plan your install. You cannot yet place a confirmed delivery order. Several other charger comparison sites gloss over this detail; we will not.
How much will it cost?
Wallbox has not published a final UK retail price. Based on a European RRP of approximately €7,188, the unit is widely cited at around £6,100 before installation.
That is not the total cost. The Quasar 2 requires a specialist installer from Wallbox’s certified network, a DNO G99 application (necessary because the charger can export to the grid, typically taking 30–60 working days), and an external grid isolator, a contactor that islands your home from the grid during V2H operation. You may also need a G100 export cap review depending on your local grid constraints.
Independent estimates put UK installation costs at £1,500–£3,000 on top of the unit. A realistic total spend sits in the range of £7,600–£9,100.
Wallbox states that owners can “save up to £850 annually.” That is a vendor claim based on specific usage assumptions; treat it as an upper bound. Octopus Power Pack, the UK’s only mass-market V2G tariff, has cited savings of approximately £620 per year for a 7,500-mile-a-year driver — but that figure is built on Quasar 1 hardware. At ~£9,000 total outlay and ~£620–£850 in annual savings, the simple payback period is 10 to 15 years, assuming savings begin from day one. For most households, the financial case alone does not yet stack up. The Quasar 2 is a long-term technology bet, not a five-year return-on-investment purchase.
Which cars actually work with it?
Every CCS2-compatible EV can charge from the Quasar 2. The list of cars that can use V2H or V2G is much shorter.
Bidirectional operation requires the vehicle to support DC bidirectional communication via its CCS2 port, and most current EVs do not. Confirmed compatible vehicles for V2H/V2G in Europe include:
- Kia EV9 — confirmed via Wallbox’s North American commercial launch; expected to extend to UK-spec vehicles
- Cupra Born 77 kWh — the first European EV confirmed to support CCS bidirectional with the Quasar 2, per Electrive
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are mentioned by some sources as expected to follow, but Wallbox has not confirmed this for the Quasar 2 specifically. [FLAG: Ioniq 5/6 Quasar 2 compatibility — not yet confirmed by Wallbox; verify before publishing]
Popular UK EVs including the VW ID.3, VW ID.4, Polestar 2, Tesla Model 3, Tesla Model Y, Renault Megane E-Tech, and BMW iX are not currently compatible with the Quasar 2 for bidirectional operation.
For a full list of bidirectional-capable vehicles available in the UK, see our V2H Compatible Cars 2026 guide.
Does the Wallbox Quasar 2 work with Octopus Power Pack?
Not yet. This is the most commercially significant question for UK buyers, and the current answer is no.
Octopus Power Pack is the UK’s first mass-market V2G tariff, launched in February 2024. It manages your car’s charging and discharging automatically, buying cheap electricity overnight and selling energy back at peak times. For a driver covering 7,500 miles a year, Octopus estimates savings of approximately £620 annually versus a standard variable tariff.
Power Pack currently works with the Wallbox Quasar 1, the older CHAdeMO-socket unit paired primarily with the original Nissan Leaf. Octopus has said it is working to add more compatible chargers and vehicles, but the Quasar 2 is not on the current approved hardware list as of May 2026.
Until the Quasar 2 is added to Power Pack, UK buyers cannot access the V2G export income that underpins much of the product’s financial case. If you want V2G income from Octopus today, the Quasar 1 remains the only confirmed UK route.
For a full breakdown of V2G tariff options in the UK, see our Octopus Power Pack V2G tariff review.
Installation: what a UK fitter actually has to do
A standard Pulsar Max or Andersen A3 installation takes a qualified charge point installer half a day. The Quasar 2 is a different project entirely.
A UK install involves:
- Specialist installer — Wallbox’s own installation network or a certified third-party installer is required; this is not a task for a standard EV charger fitter
- DNO G99 application — required because the charger can export to the grid; expect 30–60 working days; your installer should handle this, but factor the wait into your planning
- External grid isolator (contactor) — required for Blackout Mode to safely island your home from the grid; this is a separate piece of hardware at additional cost
- Potential G100 export cap — some DNOs apply a default 3.6 kW export limit; a G99 application lets you request a higher allowance, but approval is not guaranteed
None of this is impossible. But the Quasar 2 install is a multi-week project with specialist compliance requirements, not a same-week fitting job. Budget for both the lead time and the additional hardware costs before committing.
What about solar?
The Quasar 2 supports direct DC charging from a solar array. By taking DC power directly from your panels rather than converting it to AC and back, the charger avoids the conversion losses that AC-coupled systems incur.
In practical UK terms, the summer yield from a typical 4 kW domestic array can contribute meaningfully to daytime EV charging, particularly for shorter commuter journeys. The myWallbox app can prioritise solar charging when PV generation exceeds home demand.
For most UK households, solar integration is a useful feature rather than a headline reason to buy. Solar generation alone will not power a significant V2H discharge cycle; it is better understood as a way to reduce your EV’s running cost rather than a standalone energy-independence solution.
Quasar 2 vs Quasar 1: which one do you actually want?
These two chargers serve different buyers.
Wallbox Quasar 1 (CHAdeMO): Available now. Supported by Octopus Power Pack. Cheaper. Works with the Nissan Leaf (32 kWh and 40 kWh) and a small number of other CHAdeMO vehicles. If you have a Leaf, want V2G income from Octopus today, and can meet the install requirements, this is the more practical choice in 2026.
Wallbox Quasar 2 (CCS2): Not yet at UK retail. Not yet on Power Pack. More expensive. But it uses the connector that all current and future bidirectional EVs will use, supports a growing compatible-vehicle list, and is the right long-term platform for the next decade of EV technology.
If you are buying a new EV from a manufacturer actively adding CCS bidirectional support — Kia, Hyundai, Cupra, and others — the Quasar 2 is the correct long-term investment. If you need V2G working and earning today, the Quasar 1 with a compatible Leaf is the more straightforward path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Wallbox Quasar 2 available in the UK? As of May 2026, no — the Wallbox UK product page shows a “keep me updated” registration form rather than a checkout, and UK specialist resellers list it as “coming soon.” European distribution reportedly began in Q4 2025; a firm UK retail date has not been confirmed.
How much does the Wallbox Quasar 2 cost in the UK? A UK retail price has not been published. Based on the European RRP equivalent, the unit is widely cited at approximately £6,100 before installation. Add £1,500–£3,000 for a specialist install including DNO G99 application and external grid isolator, giving a realistic total of £7,600–£9,100 for most households.
Which cars work with the Wallbox Quasar 2 for V2H or V2G? All CCS2 EVs can charge from the Quasar 2. Bidirectional V2H and V2G functionality is confirmed on the Kia EV9 and Cupra Born 77 kWh in Europe. Most mainstream UK EVs — VW ID range, Tesla, Polestar, Renault — cannot currently use V2H or V2G with this hardware.
Does the Wallbox Quasar 2 work with Octopus Power Pack? Not as of May 2026. Octopus Power Pack, the UK’s only mass-market V2G tariff, currently supports the older Wallbox Quasar 1. Octopus has said it is working to expand hardware support, but the Quasar 2 is not yet on the approved list.
How long is the Wallbox Quasar 2 warranty? Two years, per Wallbox’s North American technical datasheet. UK warranty terms have not been separately confirmed; verify with your installer before purchase. Note that UK consumer law provides a separate statutory six-year right against the seller under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Is the Wallbox Quasar 2 worth it? For most UK buyers in 2026, not yet. The product is not at retail, Octopus Power Pack does not support it, and compatible vehicles remain a short list. Early adopters with a Kia EV9 or Cupra Born, off-street parking, and a 10-year planning horizon are the right audience now.
