This blog post comes to us from Alan Shedd who resides in coastal Georgia. He shares how his Kia EV6 V2L made dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, including a power outage, more comfortable.

When Hurricane Helene struck coastal Georgia, it left many without power for days. In situations like these, a backup power source can make a world of difference. For my wife and me, our Kia EV6 with its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability became a lifeline during the power outage, providing comfort and convenience without the noise, pollution, or expense of traditional gas-powered generators.

For my wife and me, our Kia EV6 with its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability became a lifeline during the power outage.

The Power of Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)

We used the energy stored in our EV6 to run a small, efficient window air conditioner for 68 hours, maintaining a comfortable living environment in the sweltering 90-degree heat. The V2L feature allows EV owners to plug in appliances and tools using the car’s battery, providing a versatile energy source when the grid goes down. In our case, the EV6 powered not just the air conditioner but also recharged a portable power station twice—all while leaving us enough energy in the car to run errands, if needed.

EV vs. Traditional Generators: A Clear Winner

Before switching to the EV, we briefly used our Honda generator to power the AC. It burned through a gallon of gas in nine hours and cost $30.40 over the outage period. By contrast, using the EV6 was quieter, cleaner, and far more cost-effective—recharging the vehicle’s battery after the outage only cost $4.60. Plus, the reduced pollution and noise made the experience much more pleasant.

How We Made It Work

Our home already had a modest solar power system with battery backup, which kept essential appliances like the refrigerator and lights running. However, our system couldn’t handle large loads like air conditioning or water heating. That’s when we turned to the Kia EV6, equipped with a 77 kWh battery. With 88% charge at the start of the outage, the car’s battery ran the AC for nearly three days, using about 35.4 kWh of energy.

The math:

• The AC consumed 29.8 kWh over 68 hours.
• Recharging the portable power station took another 2 kWh.
• By the time the power came back on, the EV6 still had over 100 miles of range left.

An Affordable, Green Solution

The experience confirmed that the EV’s V2L capability is an incredibly useful tool during extended power outages. It’s cheaper, quieter, and cleaner than a traditional generator, providing a flexible long-duration power supply. For us, it was the perfect solution, keeping our home comfortable while reducing the stress that often accompanies hurricane recovery.