You park, plug the EV into an outlet and the cabin lights up, taking all its power from your car. Sounds like something out of a futuristic movie, perhaps? Well, think again!
By: Axel Philipson, Country Manager, Sweden
Power your adventure
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology – which enables electric vehicles to function as mobile powers banks – is now very much a reality. Through an inverter, EVs are able to discharge energy to power external devices and homes. The concept, while simple, is revolutionary, marking a shift from vehicles being mere consumers of energy to becoming active participants in the energy ecosystem.
V2L technology is still in its early stages of development but is rapidly gaining momentum. Several automotive manufacturers, including Hyundai (1), BYD (2) and Kia (3), have already introduced V2L-equipped EVs. Even Tesla has recently jumped on the bandwagon with their Cybertruck and Powershare (4).
Solely vehicle-dependent, the technology has proven itself as a solution to power outages for EV owners in a world where extreme weather and natural disasters are happening more often than we would like to admit (5, 6).
On a more positive note, the technology opens up a whole range of possibilities, from remote and off-grid settings like camping in the wilderness, to powering outdoor events without the hassle of traditional generators – run on petrol or diesel – and extension cords. At Zaptec we tried the latter ourselves when live recording the beautiful and serene “Feathers in Snow” on the bank of Tysdalsvatnet (in Western Norway close to our HQ in Stavanger) with an EV serving as a silent and efficient power station in the background.
