General Motors is expanding the utility of its electric vehicle lineup through energy management features. Through vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H), and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, GM’s Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac EVs can serve as mobile power sources for homes, events, and potentially the broader electrical grid.
Highlights
- The GMC Sierra Denali EV’s Power Station Pro delivers up to 10.2 kW of offboard power, enough to run event lighting on just 2% of battery charge.
- GM Energy’s V2H system kept one employee’s home powered for over seven hours during a winter outage using a PowerShift charger, 35.4-kWh PowerBank, and Home Hub.
- V2H integration with rooftop solar panels enables stored energy use during outages, reducing reliance on gas-powered generators.
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is in development, with plans for select GM EVs to eventually supply power back to the electrical grid.
Vehicle-to-Load: Portable Power From the Battery
Vehicle-to-load, also called offboard power, allows an EV to run external devices through built-in outlets. GM employee Andrew Ertley demonstrated this with his GMC Sierra Denali EV at a school PTA fundraiser.
The event took place across two backyards on a fall evening with no available power source. Ertley’s truck, equipped with the GMC Power Station Pro, provided all necessary lighting. The system can deliver up to 10.2 kilowatts of offboard power.
The entire evening of lighting consumed only 2% of the Sierra EV’s battery charge. As a result, the fundraiser raised over $40,000 for school programs without requiring extension cords or traditional generators.
Vehicle-to-Home: Bidirectional Charging for Backup Power
V2H is a bidirectional charging capability that sends power from an EV’s battery back into a home. However, this feature requires dedicated GM Energy V2H equipment to manage and control energy flow safely.
GM Energy Finance Manager Carolyn Bollozos installed a full GM Energy Home System after experiencing roughly six power outages per year. Her system includes:
- GM Energy PowerShift charger
- 35.4-kWh GM Energy PowerBank
- Home Hub and Inverter for whole-system control
Real-World Outage Performance
During a cold, windy day in Michigan, Bollozos reported that power returned within seconds of the outage. The system kept her home essentials running for over seven hours. Additionally, there was no noise or disruption during the switchover, allowing her to continue working from home.
V2H With Solar Integration
GM Energy also supports integration with rooftop solar panels. Jim Reilly, Group Manager of Portfolio Planning at GM Energy, operates a combined system at his Seattle home. His setup includes:
- Rooftop solar panels
- GM Energy PowerShift charger for two GM EVs
- 10.6-kWh GM Energy PowerBank
- Home Hub and Inverter
Reilly uses the PowerBank to store solar energy for later use. During a neighborhood-wide holiday outage, his home ran all appliances normally. Meanwhile, neighboring homes relied on gas-powered generators. In contrast, Reilly’s system operated silently.
Vehicle-to-Grid: Future Grid Support
Looking ahead, GM’s vehicle-to-grid technology aims to allow EVs to supply power back to the electrical grid. In the future, select GM EVs may help utilities enhance grid resilience. Furthermore, this capability could assist in managing growing energy demand at scale.
GM Energy’s broader goal is to unlock the full potential of EV batteries beyond transportation. The same battery packs that move passengers from point A to point B can also serve as distributed energy resources for homes and communities.
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