Every year, manufacturers unveil electric cars that are ever more autonomous and innovative. Some offer attractive functions, allowing you to extend the possible uses of your vehicle and improve your daily life.
Among them: the V2L. Focus on the functioning and the benefits of this technology.
V2L: what are we talking about?
The V2L function means “vehicle to load” (in French, “from the vehicle to the recharging of an electric consumer”). It is based on a bidirectional charging system whose principle is to draw energy from your car battery in order topowering an electrical appliance.
This technology has other variants, such as V2H (“vehicle to home”) or V2B (“vehicle to building”). The principle is the same, but its use is limited to the electrical network of a home or building.
Unlike solutions like V2H, the V2L function can be used immediately and does not require special installation. It is possible to connect a device to your car thanks to:
— a V2L socket integrated into the vehicle;
— an adapter to plug into the Type 2 connector (the charging socket located outside the vehicle). It has a domestic E/F plug and works even when the engine is off.
For information
A more generic term exists: V2X for “vehicle to everything”. It includes all the possible uses of bidirectional charging such as V2L, V2B or V2G.
> To read also: V2H: when your car powers your house
What are the concrete advantages of V2L?
Currently, only a few cars like the Kia EV6 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 offer the V2L function. In full development, it remains limited to 3.6 kW of power for the moment. This is equivalent to a 230V 16A household outlet, which is more than enough to power many electrical appliances. On a daily basis, the V2L system thus offers numerous possibilities:
- Powering outdoor electrical devices:
Telephone, television, computer, barbecue, lighting... By allowing an electrical device to be charged, V2L technology is practical for camping, having lunch outside or maintaining a green space. In particular, it allows artisans to connect their tools without using a generator, to recharge small-mobility solutions (bicycle or electric scooter) or even to inflate an air mattress when camping.
- Troubleshoot in the event of a power outage:
Thanks to the V2L system's electrical outlet, it is possible to power a device in your home in the event of a power outage. Using an extension cord, you can operate a freezer or television while waiting for a technician to arrive, for example.
- Charging another electric car:
Even more, this technology could allow cars to recharge each other: we then speak of V2V “vehicle to vehicle”. To be functional, it nevertheless requires the use of a specific Type 2/Type 2 cable and more power (3.6 kW is still insufficient).
Once V2L is deployed, services like Chargemap or route planners could integrate this technology for its users. If they wish, vehicles with batteries will thus be able to offer kilowatts to troubleshoot or answer calls for help from the community. In the future, the development of a mutual aid network could facilitate the use of electric cars, especially in places where charging points are not very present (in the open countryside for example).
Sources: YouTube, Clean car, Avem
