I live in a neighborhood where it’s quite common to lose power for days at a time. With my wife working from home and Superstorm Sandy causing a week-long blackout, I purchased a 7,500-watt generator. An electrician installed a transfer switch, upgraded to a 200-amp service, and because my stove and clothes dryer are gas-fired, my generator easily powers my entire house, including the HVAC.
However, a relative recently purchased two new electric vehicles (EVs), and I began to wonder— could it be possible to use an EV battery as a generator to power my house during a blackout? Read along as an ASE Master Technician and other experts in efficient, intelligent home energy solutions explain what you need to know before safely using an EV generator (battery) to power your home during a blackout.
How EV Battery Power Works
First, lithium-ion batteries that power the vast majority of EVs do not produce electricity; they only store it. Similar to the lithium-ion batteries in our phones, laptops, and other devices, EV batteries are simply larger and contain several hundred to thousands of cells.
Each cell has a positive (+) cathode and a negative (-) anode separated by an electrolytic solution. When charging an EV battery from an external source (i.e., a battery charging station), an electrochemical reaction occurs. Lithium-ion ions flow from positive (+) to negative (-) through electrolysis, storing the charge in the battery as direct current (DC). When driving, the exact opposite takes place: “An inverter converts DC to alternating current (AC) to power an EV’s electric motors,” said Christopher Maiwald, Founder and CEO of Lectron, an EV charging provider.
ASE Master Technician Tom Diamond explained that electrolyte is often overlooked in the charging process. “Electrolyte maintains chemical stability that helps extend the lifespan of a Lithium-ion battery,” while improving their ability to hold a charge longer, said Diamond. “Current EV batteries commonly use three types of electrolytes, usually a liquid, solid-state, or gel/polymer (a gel-filled fluid in a plastic type state). New battery technology will extend the life, range, and an EV’s ability to maintain a charge longer in different operating and weather circumstances, at a lower price.”
What is Bidirectional Charging?
Bidirectional charging allows electricity to flow in both directions on the same circuit. “Bidirectional charging can be used to charge your EVs battery, as well as sending electricity [using UL certified attachments] back to power your home, or sending electricity back to the power grid, or provide power to other devices (power tools, camping gear, smart phones, air compressor),” explained Maiwald.
“A unidirectional (non-bidirectional) EV charging system stores energy for driving, while bidirectional chargers can reverse the power flow from the EV battery back to your home, or even the power grid,” said Daniel Fletcher, co-founder of DCBEL, a company that develops EV bidirectional charging systems.
Which Models Can Power A Home?
Select models from Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo currently offer some form of bidirectional charging capability. But check your owners or the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to determine exactly the type of bidirectional charging system your vehicle has:
- Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) only powers external devices.
- Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) can power your home during service outages.
- Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) sends energy back to the grid.
Maiwald believes, “These capabilities will increase across EV lineups once automakers adopt a single EV charging standard.”
Ford Intelligent Backup Power
Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power system, available on the F-150 Lightning, can provide up to 9.6 kilowatts (kW) of power, which, depending on usage, can power a home for two or three days. Ford’s backup system “enables the truck to automatically send stored battery energy to a home during an outage through a bidirectional charger (sold separately), effectively functioning as a backup [battery] generator,” said Maiwald.
Hyundai’s Vehicle-to-Load system
Hyundai’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system allows drivers to power small appliances, tools, or electronics directly from their EV’s battery via an onboard outlet, “essentially turning the vehicle into a portable power source,” explained Maiwald. “Special V2L adapters designed for specific bidirectional vehicles are required to utilize this feature.”
Everything You Need to Power Your Home
Always consult your vehicle’s OEM, an electrician, home power service professionals and most importantly, your utility company before attempting to power your home using a V2H or H2G charger.
“A compatible integrated bidirectional inverter is needed to safely isolate any bidirectional EV from the grid (V2G) when powering your home,” explained Fletcher. Installing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) is essential. An ATS isolates your EV from the grid, but more importantly, it can sense when the power has come back on, “automatically switching” from EV to grid power.
Fletcher added that, to allow the grid to stabilize, “some utility companies and local municipalities require an ATS to modulate, or wait up to 15 seconds, before switching back to grid power.”
This is not a DIY installation. To eliminate safety concerns such as fire, GFCI, surge protection, and hard failsafe isolation (preventing current from feeding back into the grid that can electrocute powerline workers) always have a certified electrician, knowledgeable in V2G, while following all local code requirements, installs the bidirectional inverter to your homes electrical service. Depending on your home’s wiring, electrical service, and location where the inverter will be installed, installation can cost thousands of dollars.
Performance, Limitations and Challenges
A typical EV battery (60–100 kilowatt hours-kWh) can power an average home using about 30 kWh per day, for one to three days. This is assuming that your EV battery was fully charged before using it to power your home. For an additional cost, many V2G inverter system manufacturers incorporate solar panels and backup batteries as a way to lower energy costs, produce clean energy, help keep your lights on longer during a blackout, or even sell excess power back to your utility company.
When connecting an EV to the grid, “The [inverter] system must precisely match the grid’s waveform and voltage output,” said Fletcher. “It is critical—no matter which inverter [or system] you install—it meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 15118. This ensures any V2G system matches and manages electron flow from the grid, ensuring safe and effective charging.”
FAQ
Can I just plug my EV into a wall outlet to power my house?
NO, absolutely NOT! “Backfeeding [plugging an extension cord directly from an EV, or home generator, into a receptacle in your home] is dangerous as well as illegal,” said certified electrician and Family Handyman contributing editor Ally Childress.
Is it safe to use an EV as a generator?
Yes, if your EV has bidirectional capability, and you have the appropriate hardware and software that are compatible with your EVs electronics. However, technically, an EV does not “generate” or produce electricity; it’s a battery that simply stores power until it’s needed.
Can I charge my EV from a gasoline or propane-powered generator?
Yes, but only in a desperate situation. First, check your generator’s specifications. EVs have sensitive electronics. Generators producing more than six percent low Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) can quickly damage those sensitive, expensive electronics. A Level 1 charger requires 1000 to 2000 watts to operate. A Level 2 charger requires 9600 watts, plus a 240 volt 40 amp output to function properly—plus the cost of the fuel to run the generator.
About the Experts
- Christopher Maiwald is the Founder and CEO of Lectron.
- Daniel Fletcher is Co-Founder and Head of Ecosystems and a seasoned leader in software and energy technology. Dan has deep expertise across renewable energy, EVs, and more. As head of Ecosystem for DCBEL Energy, Dan and his team are focused on making distributed energy work for everyone through strategic partnerships
- Tom Diamond has over 35 years of experience in the automotive repair industry as a technician and certified (Mazda) trainer. He has been an ASE Master Technician for over 25 years, is a PennDoT certified state safety inspector and is currently the Automotive Technology instructor at Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, PA. Interview Oct 29, 2025.
Resources
- ANSI: “ISO 15118-1:2019 Road vehicles – Vehicle to grid communication interface – Part 1: General information and use-case definition“
- ANSI: “UL 1741 Ed. 3-202, Standard for Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use With Distributed Energy Resources“
- Camille Cater, Sunrun Team at Antenna Group
- Edmunds: “What Is Bidirectional Charging and How Does It Work?”
- Ethan Heine, President and CEO of Suntrek Solar
- EVBattery: “Electrolytes and EV Range“
- Greg Field, Owner and Senior Energy Consultant with PGT Home Energy Solutions
- Joseph Vellone, CEO of ChargeScape
- Large Custom Batter: “Why Electrolytes Are Essential for Lithium Battery Function“
- Mark Halberg, Service Generator Estimator with Prairie Electric
- MIT Review: “How does an EV battery actually work?“
- U.S. News and Report: “NACS vs. CCS: What EV Shoppers Need to Know in 2025“
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