I'm looking into the possibility of using an electric vehicle (EV) that supports bidirectional charging as a backup power source for my entire home. Are there any practical considerations or experiences that people have had with this setup?
2 Answers
While using an EV as a whole home backup might sound appealing, don't forget the hefty price tag. For example, the GM Energy V2H Bundle needed for vehicle-to-home (V2H) integration starts at around $7,000 and can go as high as $13,000 based on options. You also need to factor in the cost of the EV, like the Equinox, which is about $36,000. So, it's a considerable investment. In contrast, a dedicated battery bank, which can power your home, is much cheaper—around $7,000 for a 30 kWh system. If you already own a compatible EV, it might be worth considering, but it’s not something I'd buy an EV just for.
One thing to keep in mind is potential battery life during extended outages. If you face a 24-hour power cut, your car could end up drained, leaving you without backup power. It's worth thinking about how essential your power needs are and the risk of running the EV down, especially if your habits don’t change much during an outage. However, if you’re using something like a GM vehicle with 85 kWh, that could get you through a few days without issue—plus, you could potentially drive to a charging station and come back to power your home again!
Which 30 kWh battery are you considering? Is it something like the Tesla Powerwall 3, or are you looking at a more DIY system like the EcoWorthy?