Abstract
Recent vulnerabilities in centralized electrical infrastructure have underscored the need for resilient, vehicle-based power sources. Modern electric vehicles, equipped with bidirectional on-board chargers (OBCs), can operate as regulated AC power supplies through Vehicle-to- Load (V2L) functionality. V2L technology enables an EV’s traction battery to safely power external appliances, tools, and electronics, offering a clean, quiet alternative to traditional generators.
This technical brief outlines the core functional principles behind European V2L applications, including how certified adapters communicate with the vehicle via defined electrical signaling and how power export remains tightly governed by the vehicle’s battery management system (BMS) and OBC control logic.
In practice, V2L supports a wide range of use cases—providing emergency power during outages, enabling convenient off-grid operation for camping and outdoor activities, supporting mobile work environments, and, in some systems, enabling vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) charging.
Consistent with automotive-grade validation practices, V2L remains a safe, controlled, and low-stress operating mode that offers practical stationary energy support in grid-vulnerable scenarios.