Because vehicle to load (V2L) is a popular selling point of EVs. While the article isn’t clear, it sounds like this is what they already had installed and used.
V2L is not the same as those inverters. The inverters can only provide enough power for a few outlets (~3,000 Watts or so, depending) and for a relatively brief time (looks like most are 600-1500 Wh, meaning 1 hour of a single US 120v outlet at capacity). They must be purchased separately (which can be a problem once the need first arises, since they are not a common preventative option), and then manually connected all the way from car to device.
V2L, however, is very different. It is purchased and configured when the vehicle charging circuit is installed. It connects directly to the mains line, meaning that the feature simply needs to be turned on. Devices you want to power are still plugged into the wall. This feature can often supply 50 amps @ 240v, or 12,000 Watts.
Then there’s the issue of capacity. The battery used to start an ICE isn’t even playing the same sport as an EV battery. The high end noted above is 1,500 Wh (1.5 kWh). The Tesla model 3 has one that’s 50,000 Wh (50 kWh), while the F150 lightning has 98,000 Wh (98 kWh) and an option for 131,000 Wh (131 kWh). While an ICE can act as a generator, I’m not even going to try to get an estimate on capacity. Way too many variables involved.
As for why the article focused on that brand/model, I think it’s more about tugging at the heart strings. It’s less about the brand and more about putting a face on why the feature was helpful/important. But I agree that it was written in a way that focused way too heavily on the brand and feels like an ad.
lemann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 year ago
It’s probably marketing for V2L specifically I think.
It allows EVs to backfeed power through the charger cable into your home’s circuit breaker via a safety switchover, (if specced during charger installation - I doubt that feature was used here though) and doesn’t necessarily require the vehicle to be powered up. I.e. the car just behaves like a battery and a 2-4kW inverter for your home AFAIK.
You could probably do the same thing manually with an ICE, maybe would want to run the engine at least though, as the built in starter batteries won’t last too long and don’t like deep cycling. A death cable would technically work, but you’d really want a switchover box in a proper installation to not kill line operators repairing a power fault, and to retain proper GFCI operation
A lot of the more expensive EVs have this built in, although they don’t really publicly mention it for some reason. Ford’s F150 lightning is a really blatant example of this, it supposedly carries a much beefier inverter than average, but they’ve hidden the info behind a tiny link at the bottom of the webpage. It’s not even shown in the specifications grid.
vithigar@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
The lack of exposure for this particular feature of EVs and PHEVs is kind of baffling to me. The ability to use your vehicle essentially as a UPS for your home is huge. My Outlander PHEV is capable of V2H through its CHAdeMO port but finding the equipment to actually use it seems just about impossible.
Even without special equipment though it has two 120V AC outlets and is rated for a combined output of 1500W through them. Definitely nice to have in a pinch. With a fully charged battery and full tank of gas it could run those outlets at maximum load for about a week.