The Blue Ridge EV Club (BREVC) holds electric vehicle shows each year as part of Drive Electric Earth Month in the spring and National Drive Electric Month [avl.mx/f2p] in the fall. Last year’s fall show was scheduled for Sept. 29. Whoops! But because Tropical Storm Helene canceled the event, lots of electric vehicles (EVs) were able to show off in other ways.
EVs are basically giant batteries on wheels. Even relatively small ones store enough energy to run a refrigerator for weeks. And, when the battery gets low, you can drive somewhere that has power (any outlet will do), charge up and bring home a load of energy. A gas vehicle can be modified to do the same task, but it will be dirty; you can’t leave it running in the garage, pumping out toxic exhaust. It will also be extremely inefficient; a full tank of gas will be empty within hours. And, after Helene, EV charging stations were back up and running long before most gas stations.
Automotive engineers call the capability to run external devices “vehicle to load,” or V2L, and it exists at a wide range of levels. With an inexpensive adapter, several Hyundai, Kia and Genesis models can power modest loads, like computers and refrigerators. Several Ford and General Motors EVs have multiple AC outlets on board, giving them the ability to power, for example, tools at a construction site. With some additional hardware, available from Ford and GM, these same vehicles can power a whole house…