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During The Blackout That Paralyzed Spain, Bidirectional Electric Vehicles Helped Families Keep Lights On And Appliances Running For Days.
The blackout that affected Portugal and Spain occurred on April 28. It was one of the largest in recent European history, impacting parts of southern France and Andorra as well. Because of this, many Europeans turned to electric cars to cope with the power outage.
The chaotic situation caught the population off guard. But, amid the confusion, one group stood out: electric car owners.
These vehicles, in addition to moving without fossil fuels, showed another surprising advantage.
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Many of them come equipped with a technology called bidirectional charging, which allows them not only to receive energy from the electrical grid but also to provide it.
In other words, they turn into a mobile battery, capable of powering an entire house.
The Technology That Became An Ally In The Dark
This system is known as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). Not all models have this function, but those that do can become a kind of home generator.
Even without a full charge, they managed to keep the house running for days.
According to data from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, the average capacity of an electric car battery today is 71 kWh.
If a car were at only 60% of this charge, or around 42 kWh, it could still power a household for five days.
This is because the average daily consumption of a house in the country is about 9 kWh.
And, as often happens in emergencies, people tend to save energy. This further increases the range of electric vehicles when used this way.
Energy, Savings, and Resilience
Colin Walker, director of transport at the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, explained the impact of the technology.
According to him, electric cars are not just for reducing emissions and saving money on fuel. They also enhance energy security for households.
Walker highlighted that more and more vehicles are coming to market with the capability to return energy to the home. And, as seen in the blackout in Spain and Portugal, this can keep refrigerators running, lights on, and even routers functioning for several days.
Moreover, the technology allows for another benefit in normal times: savings.
The car can be charged during the night, when energy is cheaper, and then return part of that charge to the grid during peak hours, when electricity costs more. This generates profit for the car owner.
Few Models, But Growing
Despite the advantages, the number of cars with this function is still limited. Not all electric vehicles for sale come with the system. However, this is changing.
It is worth noting that not all work exactly the same way. Some have the V2H function, to power the whole house. Others offer the V2L function, which allows only specific devices, such as appliances, to be charged.
In cases like the recent blackout, both solutions are useful. They ensure the minimum necessary for the functioning of basic items in daily life.
Practical Example: Microwave In The Car
On social media, there have been various reports of how drivers used their electric cars to get through the blackout days.
In some videos, electric vehicle owners can be seen using a microwave directly in the car.
A Trend That Is Expected To Grow
The expectation is that, over time, more models will adopt this technology as standard. After all, it transforms the car into a true “power bank” on wheels.
A portable energy source that can keep the house running or charge devices wherever needed.
This practicality goes beyond blackouts. In everyday situations, it is also useful. A clear example is the Ford F-150 Lightning.
Designed for heavy work, it comes with outlets in the bed where tools, such as electric saws, can be plugged directly into the vehicle.
The energy crisis in Spain revealed a new facet of electric cars. More than just a sustainable mode of transport, they proved to be a practical solution in emergencies.
The V2G technology, once seen as a futuristic extra, showed its value when the country needed alternatives. And now, it may be the key to ensuring more security, savings, and autonomy for consumers.
Eu uso qdo falta energia em casa
Carregar a bateria do veículo de madrugada, quando a energia é mais barata, e usar durante o dia, quando a energia é mais cara, é uma vantagem que só países com tarifas binômias oferecem. No Brasil as tarifas dos consumidores residenciais são iguais na ponta e fora de ponta, e tanto faz o horário em que se carrega ou descarrega a bateria.
Me apressei. Na verdade existe essa tarifa no residencial, que é a tarifa branca. Sorry.
Pode usar sistemas de energia solar em casa. sistema on-grid que capta energia do sol e envia o excedente para a rede da companhia ou off-grid que usa baterias que acumulam energia mas não envia para a companhia.
Como vocês querem que alguém leia com tantos comerciais