If you drive a car, you're probably painfully aware of the volatility of gas prices – so it should be no surprise that one of the primary drivers of electric vehicle (EV) adoption is improving energy security. But did you know that some EVs can also charge appliances in your house, help you avoid peak electricity rates, and serve as a constant and reliable source of electricity?
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Vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging allows you to charge devices directly with your EV, which is particularly beneficial as power outages continue to increase in frequency and the cost of electricity becomes higher. In this article, we'll explain what V2L charging is, how it works, and when it can be helpful to have an EV that supports this technology.
Vehicle-to-load charging is a bidirectional power feature that enables you to use the battery in an EV to power another device. While the car is sitting idle, the battery is able to connect to other devices such as a , a kettle, and even another EV to transfer power to it. Essentially, compatible EVs function as rechargeable power banks that you can use to charge another device – then, when the battery runs low, you can plug in the vehicle and charge it up again.
Vehicle-to-load technology relies on an onboard converter to convert the direct current (DC) electricity stored in your EV's battery to alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used by most common appliances and devices. You then may have to plug an external adapter into your EV's charging port; this serves as a three-prong socket so you can directly plug in any necessary devices, like a charger, fan, light, or electric kettle. If you want to charge more than one device at a time, you can also look into splitter devices or multi-pin ports, as long as your car battery is able to support the load. Some EVs also have built-in sockets, so you won't need an adapter to perform V2L charging.
In theory, most EVs should be able to support this technology. An EV battery can hold up to twice the amount of energy most households require in a single day – so it should hypothetically be able to power multiple loads. However, in order for this electricity conversion to occur, your EV's software needs to be programmed to support it. Many existing EVs don't currently have this software, but if your EV is capable of receiving over-the-air updates, it could be programmed in the future to support V2L charging.
There are a few EVs that have software that already allows for V2L charging, including the Kia EV6, Hyundai ioniq 5, and Ford F150 Lightning. Many future EVs will already be programmed with software that supports V2L charging – and will also likely come with built-in sockets, so you won't even need an adapter to plug in into your devices.
We've compiled a list of EVs that currently support V2L charging so you can compare options based on the cost, size of the battery, power rating, and number of outlets already built into the car.
When you're considering how many appliances your EVs battery can support, it's important to consider both its capacity and power rating. Capacity (measured in kWh) is a measure of the maximum amount of electricity stored in your battery on a full charge – it's a good indication of how long you'll be able to power devices depending on their load sizes.
Power (measured in kW), on the other hand, is a measure of how much electricity can be supported at a single time. You can't power loads that exceed your EV's power rating. To understand which loads you can power with your EV (and for how long), we break down below how much electricity common household appliances need. Keep in mind that one kW = 1,000 watts – so, assuming you're only powering one load at a time, all three EVs shown above can power these loads (except for another EV depending on its battery size), but some may only be able to run for short periods of time depending on your battery's capacity.
Vehicle-to-load charging has several advantages, including providing energy security during camping trips or power outages and lowering your electric bill if you live in an area with demand charges or time-of-use (TOU) rates.
Vehicle-to-load charging is especially helpful for camping trips, so you can easily power appliances like stoves and phones on the go. It enables you to drive to the most remote locations but still have access to some source of reliable power for basic needs and safety. In upcoming EV models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and the F-150 PowerBoost, there will also be the option of charging another EV in case you need to help out a friend or family member in a pinch!
Power outages can be scary and frustrating – but with V2L charging, you'll be able to use your EV to power your essentials. Being able to charge your and have access to basics such as an electric stove can be very helpful in maintaining some normalcy in your routine. There's also talk of something called V2H, or vehicle-to-home charging, which will allow your EV to charge your entire house if there’s a prolonged power outage. However, this requires a large amount of battery power, and the technology in most EVs today doesn't support it yet.
If you've checked your electric bill recently, you're probably aware that the cost of electricity is constantly increasing – in fact, due to a surge in the price of natural gas, electricity prices are reaching all-time highs in the U.S. With many utility companies using TOU rates or demand charges in electricity pricing, you'll want to avoid consuming too much electricity when the price is high. Using V2L charging in peak hours can help reduce the amount of electricity you need to pull from the grid, lowering electricity costs while still providing access to all the appliances and devices you need.
V2L (Vehicle to Load) is a bidirectional power feature that lets you use the large battery in an electric vehicle to power or charge something else.
The scenarios where this is useful are plentiful, from helping a stranded EV driver with no power to whipping up a brew with a portable kettle.
Despite the clear value of V2L, only a handful of electric cars have it today, although more vehicles will adopt it in the future. Electric cars that have V2L include the MG ZS EV, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6.
When purchasing an EV with V2L, look out for the maximum kWh the vehicle can output, and any adapters required to connect the car to the other device. For example, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 only includes the adapter as standard in the highest-spec Ultimate trim, otherwise, it is an option.
In electric vehicles, Vehicle to Load transfers power from the vehicle’s battery to connected appliances and devices. V2L can charge another device, like a smartphone or another electric car, or power a device like a television or coffee machine.
The power draw available with V2L differs between electric vehicles, typically set at either 2.3kW (the same as a 3-pin plug) or up to 3.6kW.
Vehicle to Load makes sense as a feature because when an electric vehicle is parked or sitting idle, the batteries aren’t used, limiting the practicality of that energy.
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V2L technology includes an onboard converter in the vehicle, which converts Direct Current (DC) from the battery to Alternating Current (AC) for V2L.
To use V2L, you need a V2L adapter. The V2L adapter plugs into the vehicle’s charge port and serves the purpose of providing a socket.
The adapter plugs into the car’s charge port, and the other end contains a female 3-pin socket to plug devices into.
When V2L mode is activated on the vehicle, power from the battery is converted and fed to the connected device through the adapter and cable.
The V2L technology is contained in the vehicle, not the adapter. The adapter handles the load and facilitates power transfer to the cable, but the conversion from DC to AC and power management happens inside the vehicle.
In theory yes, because the onboard charger in an electric car can work both ways (converting DC power in the battery to AC power for V2L).
However, the car requires software to manage the conversion process, and not all cars have it, although cars with over-the-air updates are candidates.
In other words, electric cars have the power electronics to handle a DC to AC conversion for V2L, but most do not have the software to handle the request. It is down to manufacturers to embrace V2L.
V2L opens up the stored energy in an EV’s battery to other devices. Without V2L capability, the batteries in electric vehicles are closed.
Since electric vehicles store an enormous amount of energy, V2L capability can replace small electric generators powered by petrol, diesel and oil.
V2L unlocks the ability to power external appliances with the energy stored in an electric vehicle’s battery. Any device powered by a 3-pin socket is fair game, and some V2L cars can power more heavy-duty devices that draw 3.6kW.
Remote camping trips are bread and butter work for V2L technology, letting you drive anywhere and power devices like lights, portable heaters, coffee machines and cooking apparatus. Clean and green! Plug in an extension cord and you can power and charge multiple devices.
However, the greatest benefit to V2L is the ability to charge other electric vehicles. There are so many scenarios where this is handy, like assisting an EV driver who has run out of range or is running low and isn’t near a charger to top up.
V2L has the potential to power a house in the event of a power cut, turning an electric vehicle into a battery storage system. This is called V2H (vehicle to home). However, powering an entire house would require a huge power draw beyond the capabilities of today’s V2L technology. This is very much a future feature.
To use V2L, you need an adapter that plugs into the vehicle’s charge port. Adapters don’t always come as standard with a vehicle and can cost hundreds of pounds, as is the case with the Hyundai IONIQ 5 which only gets it as standard in Ultimate grade.
The power draw is limited to 2.3kW or 3.6kW, depending on the vehicle. 2.3kW is good for anything with a 3-pin plug, while 3.6kW is the same power as a 16A Commando socket. When it comes to charging other vehicles, 3.6kW is 44% faster.
V2L definitely has a future because electric cars are fantastic energy storage devices. By making the energy in an EV battery available to external devices, such as other vehicles, the mobility of that energy is transformed.
For example, a 50kWh battery can power a house for several days – this is known as Vehicle to Home. The potential use cases really are enormous.
V2L is an exciting technology that lets you power and charge other devices with your electric vehicle.
Bidirectional EV charging is set to become common to increase the practicality of EVs, opening up the energy stored in their enormous battery packs.
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