The 2025 Chevy Equinox EV debuts the second model year for Chevrolet’s all-electric, entry-level crossover, bringing with it a few small updates and changes. Notably, the 2025 Equinox EV offers customers a few different solutions when it comes to satisfying their charging needs. Among them is the V2H PowerShift Charger, which is now available to order and enables bidirectional charging capabilities.
For those readers who may be unaware, V2H bidirectional charging essentially means that a given EV’s battery can be used to power your electrical system at home. This feature is particularly useful when the local electric grid is down, ensuring that critical household items, such as refrigerators and lights, remain operational.
In order to enable V2H charging, the 2025 Chevy Equinox’s PowerShift Bidirectional Charger (RPO code 5AV) requires installation of a GM Energy Vehicle-to-Home Enablement Kit, which is sold separately. Further charging options for the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV include (relevant RPO codes listed in parentheses:
- PowerUp 2 11.5 kW charger (5CH)
- NACS to CCS1 charging adapter (RYZ)
To note, the NACS to CCS1 charging adapter was previously only available only through the GM mobile apps. All three of the options listed here are LPO-level accessories, meaning they are shipped to the dealer, rather than installed at the factory.
For readers who may have missed it, GM recently announced that GM EV owners now have access to the Tesla Supercharger network. However, GM EVs require an NACS adapter to use these stations, as Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) differs from GM’s Combined Charging System (CCS1).
The Equinox EV recently received a power boost for the 2025 model year, with FWD units now up to 220 horsepower and 243 pound of torque, and AWD units now up to 300 horsepower and 355 pound-feet of torque. The GM BEV3 platform provides the underpinnings, while vehicle production takes place at the GM Ramos Arizpe plant, located in Mexico.
Comments
This feature will increase sales as it is a great option during power outages, especially after a storm.
This would be great to have. But I’m surprised that no mention was made of the fact that people who supply electricity from their cars to their homes will need additional work done on their home’s electrical system to install a disconnect between the home and the power lines that supply it. This is to prevent power company workers from being electrocuted when they work on lines that are supposedly de-energized while you are sending power back through those lines. This could cost hundreds of dollars.
You could just turn the main breaker off and then lift the neutral incoming lead from the neutral/ground buss bar. That way, any current that is back fed from the EV into the power panel will flow through the electrical load and go to local ground via ground rod. Alternately, if the power panel has separate neutral and ground buss bars, a temporary jumper between them will need to be installed in order to complete the circuit.
Thus my comment “need additional work done on their home’s electrical system…”
Everyone I ever talked to, no matter how skeptical they are about EVs, loves this feature. They are always surprised and excited when they realize one day they won’t have to worry about power outages ever again. Nifty feature, if only GM could make it simpler and more affordable.
The GM Energy Vehicle-to-Home Enablement Kit costs $5,100 (on sale), but if you need the PowerShift Charger, then the total cost comes out to $6,799. I don’t understand why they’re sold separately, but it’s not cheap. I presume neither of these offerings include hookup costs, so it could cost even more.