Can I still charge my electric vehicle if the electricity goes out?

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) during a power outage depends on the equipment you have and the specific circumstances of the outage. Normally, if your home loses power, you will not be able to charge your vehicle from a standard EV charger connected to the grid.

However, there are alternatives that can help:

Solutions for Charging During Power Outages

Using Powerwalls or Energy Storage Systems

If you have a Tesla Powerwall, it can coordinate with your Tesla vehicle to charge it during a power outage, provided there is enough stored energy. You can set a charging threshold to control how much power is shared with your vehicle. Once the stored energy falls below this threshold, the Powerwall will prioritize powering your home. You can resume charging by lowering the threshold, waiting for the power to return, or for solar to recharge the Powerwall.

Public Charging Points

In the UK, if you receive notice of a planned power outage, using a public charging point is a viable option. However, it is essential to check if the power outage affects these public facilities as well.

EV Charger Backup During Power Outages

Currently, there is no widespread EV charger that automatically switches to backup power during outages. However, technologies enabling power flow both ways offer potential for future integration.

Bidirectional Charging

Bidirectional charging technologies, such as Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), allow an electric vehicle to supply power back to the home or to specific devices. While not commonly integrated as immediate backup power during outages, this technology holds promise for providing emergency power in the future.

Practical Advice

• Check Power Outage Notifications: Use services like Powercast, which provides real-time updates on planned or unplanned power outages, to make informed decisions about charging.
• Plan Ahead: Charge your vehicle before a planned outage if possible.
• Use Public Facilities: If unable to charge at home, utilize public charging points.
• Consider Energy Storage Solutions: Invest in systems like Powerwalls if feasible, for backup power during outages.

Common Mistakes and Considerations

• Relying on Automatic Systems: Ensure you understand how your charging system behaves during power outages and don't rely solely on smart charging schedules.
• Underestimating Outage Duration: Plan for long power outages and ensure your vehicle has sufficient charge or other power sources.

Key Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Energy Storage Solutions: Provide backup power during outages.
• Public Charging: Offers an alternative when home charging is unavailable.

Cons:

• Limited Backup Options: Not all systems can switch to backup power.
• Dependence on Infrastructure: Public charging points may also be affected by the same power outage.

Real-World Applications in the UK

In recent years, the UK has improved EV infrastructure and technology. For example, UK Power Networks has developed open-source software to help manage EV charging during power outages, improving the reliability of EV charging across London, the South East, and East of England. This software provides crucial updates and helps reduce the impact of power cuts on electric vehicle owners.