GM’s V2H Tech Might Be Your Best Bet During Power Outages

EVs, on some levels, are big electric powerhouses with wheels. Now, the batteries that power the EVs have the capability of powering anything that runs on electricity. The concept, as a whole, is not new and is known as Bidirectional Charging, but GM here is expanding its ecosystem and offering the benefits of an “all-electric future”.

Unlike the V2L feature that we’ve seen in EVs that usually power appliances, V2H (vehicle-to-home) happens on a much larger scale. A compatible GM EV can power a properly equipped home – emphasis on “compatible” and “equipped home” here – thus mitigating the impacts of weather-related power outages. In fact, Ford’s trucks came in handy back in 2021 during the Texas winter storm and helped power some appliances at homes, thanks to its Pro Power Onboard generators. Think of V2H as a much more capable power generator for your house.

However, it’s not that you can just plug and play the whole setup. The ‘GM Energy suite will be offered as bundle options, allowing you to choose what fits your requirements the best. GM has collaborated with Qmerit for this and will work in tandem to offer the V2H experience. While the present bundle includes the equipment needed to transfer energy from the EV to your home, GM plans to expand this by the end of the year and even include stationary energy storage and solar integration

“GM Energy is committed to making the transition to an all-electric lifestyle an even more compelling option by simplifying all aspects of personal energy management,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “With the introduction of these new offerings, it has never been easier for our customers to access the expanded benefits of a holistic EV ecosystem, helping to mitigate the impacts of power outages and having the ability to offset certain energy costs over time.”

The first ‘compatible’ EV from the GM portfolio for the V2H function would be the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV First Edition RST. By 2026, all EVs based on the Ultium platform will be compatible.