Could This Technology Be The Gateway To Success For EVs In South Africa?

2 min read

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), also known as Vehicle-to-Device, is a system on certain EVs that allows an EV to function as a battery itself providing AC power to devices plugged into the vehicle. This means that the vehicle’s battery can be used to charge appliances and, in some cases, power homes. The power draws from the high voltage battery in the EV.

V2L uses:

• Power camping equipment.
• Power home appliances during power outages.
• Charge another EV.

V2L procedure:

1. Make sure the vehicle is off and in park.
2. Keep the doors unlocked.
3. Plug your AC device into your V2L connector cable’s outlet.
4. Plug the V2L connector into the car’s charging port.

EVs with the V2L feature usually come with 2 separate V2L connectors – an exterior V2L connector for outdoor devices and an interior V2L connector for all other indoor devices.

The Genisis GV60 is an electric vehicle that comes standard with V2L technology. Genisis warns customers “Optional two-way charging will deplete battery and becomes inoperable once battery discharge limit reaches 20%. Not all electrical appliances will operate properly when using this feature. Do not use products that require a continuous power supply, and only use appliances under 16amps”.

You can set the maximum amount of battery usage from the high voltage battery. You can use a maximum of 80% of the vehicle’s battery capacity. V2L cannot be used while charging (for safety reasons) but can be used while driving.

V2L is not the same as V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) system where the electric vehicle can be used to transfer power into the grid and requires a bidirectional cable. According to Eskom, the average South African household uses 30kWh of electricity per day. With the average EV battery capacity at 40kWh, using the V2L system will provide more than 24 hours of electricity for the typical household. If only essential items are used in the house, it could be enough to power a household of 4 for 5 days.

A Possible Drawback

Some people, namely on the Victron Energy online community, have cited that their V2L circuits have tripped when connecting their EVs to their houses using the V2L systems. The one thing that they all had in common was that their homes contained solar inverters, which might have caused the trip due to a surge or load protector function on the solar inverter.

There is also the inherent issue of where to charge the EVs in the first place, as charging infrastructure in South Africa is not yet mature and electricity supply inconsistent.

Some Cars With Power To Load

Due to the high frequency of load shedding, load reduction, cable theft and extended power outages in South Africa, EVs with V2L systems could be very useful and desired by South Africans, making a good case for having EVs in the country despite the concerns of our electricity supply reliability issues.

MG4 Vehicle-to-Load vacuum cleaner test: https://youtu.be/QMeDRKxuiV4?si=q5ScJHYmRwfd6OSR

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Vehicle-to-Load 24-hour test: https://youtu.be/yO5fJ8z66Z8?si=Mjx3CnxEGO8NVB85

What do you think about EVs with V2L systems? Are these cars what SA needs or is it just another concept that is too difficult to implement? Share your thoughts by replying to this email.

For more information on vehicle-to-load systems on EVs, or any other renewable energy related articles, view the other blog posts on my website and be sure to open my weekly emails every Tuesday at 9AM CAT.

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