KATHMANDU: Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid models equipped with vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology are helping residents cope with widespread power outages caused by severe flooding in China’s Guangxi region, according to CarNewsChina.
The flooding, triggered by historic rainfall following Typhoon Mesaak, has disrupted electricity supply and communication networks across several areas. In response, many new-energy vehicle (NEV) owners have turned their cars into mobile power stations to support affected communities.
According to local media reports, NEV owners are using the V2L function to provide AC power for charging mobile phones and other essential electronic devices. In some areas, owners have also joined volunteer groups to deliver emergency supplies.
Videos circulating online show residents gathering around vehicles, including the Geely EX2, to charge their phones during the blackout.
This is not the first time EVs have played such a role in disaster relief. During the devastating floods in China’s Henan province in 2021, EV owners similarly used V2L technology to provide emergency electricity. By connecting multiple extension cords, a single vehicle was able to charge phones for dozens of people.
How V2L technology works
Vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology allows an EV or plug-in hybrid to supply electricity from its battery to external devices. Vehicles equipped with bi-directional onboard chargers can convert the battery’s direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), enabling them to power appliances, charge electronic devices or run emergency equipment.
Most EVs in China offer 3.3 kW to 6.6 kW of V2L output, which is sufficient for household electronics and small appliances. Some advanced models provide much higher output.
V2L technology shows how EVs can provide critical backup power during natural disasters when electricity supplies are disrupted.
