Spain Dipped into Darkness, Yet Some EVs Lit the Way Again | Carscoops
A study has revealed that the average electric vehicle (EV) could supply power to a home for nearly six days while still retaining a significant amount of charge.
Electric cars have the potential to assist homeowners during power outages.
Recently, some EV owners in Europe utilized vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging during a blackout.
A think tank estimates that up to 60% of an EV’s charge could keep a home powered for six days.
Spain and Portugal recently faced a significant power outage that left millions of residents without electricity for most of the day, rendering lights off, appliances inoperable, and Wi-Fi routers inactive. However, a few individuals were able to continue as normal, thanks to an unexpected choice: they owned an electric vehicle.
Several EV owners in Spain shared on social media how they were using their car batteries to supply power to their homes. Certain EV models, like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, feature V2H or vehicle-to-home functionality, allowing them to transfer charge back to a home's electrical system.
Related: GM Energy’s Residential Charger Converts Your EV Into a Home Generator
EVs equipped with V2H can function similarly to large portable power packs that many use to charge their smartphones when they are out. They resemble the battery packs used by some homeowners with solar panels, which store excess energy produced during the day.
Not every electric car has V2H capability, despite the technology being available for years. However, according to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) in the UK, a typical EV with a 71 kWh battery and V2H compatibility could power a home for close to six days using just 60% of its charge.
Colin Walker, head of transport at ECIU, stated, “Not only do EVs help in reducing emissions and saving owners hundreds of pounds in operational costs, but they also enhance the resilience of their homes. An increasing number of EVs on the market can return power to homes. During a major blackout like the recent one in Spain, these EVs could keep lights on, fridges cool, and wireless routers operational for several days.”
Power outages are more than just an inconvenience.
Power cuts can be quite frustrating, especially for those who work from home. They can also quickly become costly if food in the freezer spoils. More critically, they can pose safety risks. For instance, during a power outage that lasted over a day, my 92-year-old father-in-law sustained third-degree burns when his dressing gown accidentally touched a candle he had lit in the kitchen.
After four months and multiple skin grafts, he is still in recovery, and it is sobering to consider that he might have avoided long hospital stays and permanent scarring had he owned an EV—assuming he remembered to charge it beforehand.
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Spain Dipped into Darkness, Yet Some EVs Lit the Way Again | Carscoops
Research indicated that the typical electric vehicle could supply energy to a home for nearly six days while still maintaining a significant amount of charge.