Vehicle-to-Home Charging Goes Mainstream as Hotels Race to Add EV Amenities and DC Fast Charging Hits Record Deployment

Introduction

The EV charging industry enters a new phase as bidirectional vehicle-to-home technology launches for the mass market, major hotel chains race to install thousands of chargers, and 2025 sets records for DC fast charging deployment. At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we help Los Angeles property owners navigate these evolving technologies and make strategic decisions about their commercial EV charger installations and residential charging solutions. This week we examine how bidirectional charging is transforming EVs into home backup power sources, why hospitality properties are rapidly adding charging amenities, and what record infrastructure deployment means for property owners considering installations.

Vehicle-to-Home Charging Launches for Mass Market

Vehicle-to-home charging technology has moved from pilot programs to mainstream commercial availability. Six homes in Menifee, California have been outfitted with V2H technology, marking the first demonstration of vehicle-to-home capability for the mass market using purpose-built commercial products. This UC Irvine research initiative showcases how EV owners can use their vehicle batteries as backup power sources during grid outages or to reduce electricity costs by drawing stored energy during peak rate periods. Source: UC Irvine News.

The typical electric car battery holds approximately 60 kilowatt-hours of electricity, enough to power an average home for roughly two days during an outage. Beyond emergency backup, V2H enables homeowners to charge their vehicles when electricity rates are lowest, typically overnight, and then draw that stored energy back into the home during peak rate periods between 4 and 8 PM. This load-shifting capability can generate meaningful savings for homeowners on time-of-use rate plans while reducing stress on the electrical grid during high-demand periods. Source: Kelley Blue Book.

Multiple automakers now offer V2H-capable vehicles. The Ford F-150 Lightning pioneered high-volume bidirectional capability as a standard feature, able to power entire homes for several days using Ford's Intelligent Backup Power function and Charge Station Pro. The Tesla Cybertruck uses Powershare technology to supply power to devices, other EVs, and homes during outages, with all sockets together providing up to 9.6 kilowatts. GM offers a V2H Enablement Kit that works with the PowerShift Charger to send energy from V2H-capable GM vehicles back to homes. Source: Zecar.

Hyundai and Kia Expand Vehicle-to-Everything Services

Hyundai Motor Group is accelerating the worldwide rollout of its advanced Vehicle-to-Everything services, bringing V2H functionality to American owners of the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 9. These vehicles will soon enable owners to use their electric cars as generators, keeping lights on during grid outages or taking advantage of peak and off-peak energy periods to reduce electricity costs. Kia's V2H service, launched in February 2025, already enables EV9 owners to use their vehicles as household backup power sources. Source: InsideEVs.

In Korea, Hyundai Motor Group will launch the nation's first V2G pilot service on Jeju Island by the end of 2025, using Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 vehicles. In Europe, the Group is expanding customer-centric energy solutions by introducing a commercialized V2G service in the Netherlands, becoming the first automaker to launch a customer-focused V2G offering. Customer recruitment for the V2G service begins at the end of 2025, building on the Smart Charging service introduced earlier this year. Source: Hyundai Newsroom.

Hyundai has also simplified the public charging experience with new features in the MyHyundai with Bluelink app. Users can now find and pay for charging within the app without juggling third-party charging network apps or using physical credit cards. The new plug-and-charge feature works at IONNA, Tesla Supercharger, and select ChargePoint stations, enabling seamless charging sessions where the vehicle automatically authenticates and bills. For property owners, the expansion of V2X capabilities signals growing consumer interest in EVs as energy assets, not just transportation, creating additional value propositions for properties with charging infrastructure.

Hotels Race to Add EV Charging as Standard Amenity

Electric vehicle charging points are becoming a standard hotel amenity, similar to how Wi-Fi became expected in the early 2000s. Major hotel chains are making substantial investments in charging infrastructure to attract the growing population of EV drivers. Hilton plans to install up to 20,000 Level 2 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors at its U.S. hotels, while Marriott is partnering with EV Connect to introduce new EV chargers at 6,000 hotels across the United States and Canada. Source: ChargePoint.

Choice Hotels has paired with both Tesla and EOS Linx and projects that it could have EV chargers at 15 percent of its hotels globally in 2025. Best Western Hotels announced plans to install Tesla's Universal Wall Connectors across its portfolio, while IHG partnered with EnviroSpark to make EV chargers available to all IHG-branded hotels across the United States and Canada. The hospitality sector is estimated to hold nearly 15 percent of all EV charging points in the United States, reflecting the natural alignment between overnight hotel stays and Level 2 charging times. Source: Noodoe.

Current adoption varies significantly by hotel segment. A 2022 Green Lodging survey revealed that 26.6 percent of all U.S. hotels were equipped with charging stations, but nearly 90 percent of luxury hotels offer them while only about one in five limited-service hotels provides charging. This gap represents significant opportunity for economy and mid-scale properties to differentiate themselves by adding charging amenities. Level 2 chargers provide 10 to 20 miles of range per hour, enabling most vehicles to fully recharge during a typical overnight stay. Hotels can offer charging as a complimentary amenity, charge fees similar to parking, or provide charging benefits to loyalty program members.

2025 Sets Record for DC Fast Charging Deployment

DC fast charging infrastructure growth in the United States is on track to surpass previous yearly highs, with Paren forecasting a 19 percent year-over-year increase in port deployment for 2025. Chief analyst Loren McDonald stated that 2025 is going to be a record year for deployment of DC fast charging ports, despite reduced government support. The number of newly opened ports rose to 4,242 in Q2 2025, a 23.3 percent increase over the previous quarter. Source: The Buzz EV News.

Paren's U.S. Reliability Index reached 85.5 in Q2 2025, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of improvement. This combination of expanding infrastructure and improving reliability creates a virtuous cycle where better charging experiences encourage more EV adoption, which in turn drives additional infrastructure investment. Europe has now surpassed one million charge points, while the United States continues growing its network despite policy uncertainty around federal funding programs.

In California, the October 2025 launch of the $55 million Fast Charge California incentive program provides co-funding for public DC fast chargers, including ultra-high power units capable of delivering over 275 kilowatts. Tesla and automakers participating in the IONNA joint venture announced plans to add 30,000 fast-charging ports across key U.S. locations. As we discussed in our analysis of federal funding developments, private investment continues driving infrastructure expansion regardless of government program uncertainty.

Understanding EV Charging Maintenance Costs

Property owners considering EV charger installations should understand ongoing maintenance requirements and costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, station owners should estimate average maintenance costs of up to $400 annually per charger for Level 2 equipment. Most charging networks offer maintenance plans for additional annual fees that can provide peace of mind and ensure consistent uptime. Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center.

Maintenance costs vary significantly by charger type. Level 1 and Level 2 chargers typically require $300 to $500 annually for maintenance, making them cost-effective for most commercial applications. DC fast chargers require more substantial maintenance budgets, with annual costs often exceeding $1,000 and potentially reaching $2,000 to $3,000 for high-power equipment. Software subscriptions for energy management systems typically add approximately $28 monthly depending on the provider. Source: Qmerit.

Proper maintenance delivers benefits beyond equipment longevity. To qualify for government grants, stations must meet uptime and availability standards, with NEVI requirements mandating 97 percent uptime. Achieving this ambitious target requires solid preventive maintenance plans. Shaffer Construction performs comprehensive electrical load studies and helps clients select equipment with strong manufacturer support and service networks to ensure sustained reliability that meets grant requirements and keeps EV drivers satisfied.

What These Developments Mean for Los Angeles Property Owners

This week's developments highlight several themes relevant to Los Angeles property owners. The mainstream launch of vehicle-to-home technology transforms EVs from simple transportation into home energy assets, creating new value propositions for properties with charging infrastructure. As more vehicles gain V2H capability, properties that enable overnight charging help residents capture maximum value from their EV investments.

The hotel industry's rapid adoption of EV charging demonstrates how charging amenities attract customers and create competitive differentiation. While hospitality represents one sector, the same dynamics apply to office buildings seeking to attract tenants, retail centers competing for shoppers, and multifamily properties marketing to prospective residents. Properties without charging increasingly face competitive disadvantage as EV drivers factor charging access into their decisions.

Record DC fast charging deployment and improving reliability metrics confirm that the charging industry is maturing rapidly. Property owners who install infrastructure now benefit from established technology, competitive equipment pricing, and available incentive programs while positioning themselves ahead of properties that delay investment.

Conclusion

From vehicle-to-home charging launching for the mass market to major hotel chains installing tens of thousands of chargers, the EV charging industry continues its rapid maturation. Hyundai and Kia's expansion of V2X services, record DC fast charging deployment, and improving reliability metrics all demonstrate an industry moving from early adoption to mainstream infrastructure. For Los Angeles property owners, these developments reinforce the strategic importance of investing in EV charging infrastructure while incentive programs remain available and before charging access becomes an expected amenity across all property types.

Ready to explore EV charging options for your Los Angeles property? Contact Shaffer Construction, Inc. for a complimentary site assessment and expert guidance on selecting the right charging solution for your needs.

Shaffer Construction, Inc.
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