V2L Cars to be in demand?

[Lespresso]

With the current energy problem getting worse I am so glad I have ordered a MG4, when I initially explored upgrading from my MG5 V2L was just a nice thing to have, now I think it’s a very important feature.
When discussing the MG4 V2L is undoubtedly one of the main talking points with the possibility of power cuts.
I think vehicles with V2L capability are going to be in big demand, get them while you can.

 

[Jomarkh]

The V2L on the MG is only going to give you a 2.2kW supply so won't power a house during a power cut. You maybe able to run some light bulbs, router, tv microwave etc but not large wattage stuff all at the same time. I am not sure how you would connect it all up to the car.

 

[Lespresso]

The V2L on the MG is only going to give you a 2.2kW supply so won't power a house during a power cut. You maybe able to run some light bulbs, router, tv microwave etc but not large wattage stuff all at the same time. I am not sure how you would connect it all up to the car.

Of course V2L will have limitations, it’s certainly not going to replace the normal supply, but still a good to have if there’s nothing else.

 

[kin]

At least to power the fridge/freezer to stop food going off, or a 2 kw room heater to stop freezing your bollxxks off

Edit: joking aside, how much electric does a combi boiler actually uses? Can’t be much as it only use a pump to circulate the water through the radiators around the house, right?

 

[Alb]

A Combi would use a few hundred Watts at most.

 

[kin]

I just checked a 90L/min pump uses 100w, a MG4 has 61kw usable battery, theoretically speaking, it could power the boiler upto a month!
I might just ask my electrician to install a water proof emergency socket to the outside of the house.
Although I’m sceptical, but just in case, I read somewhere there could be rolling blackout during winter months to save energy

 

[PAULinTHAILAND]

I often hear V2L being dismissed as not being able to power a house. I have solar and batteries and carefully monitor my power usage. If your average power usage over the day is about 1kW then V2L combined with batteries could flatten out your energy use curve.

I made this video to explain how V2L could be combined with a solar system

 

[BugEyed]

I might just ask my electrician to install a water proof emergency socket to the outside of the house.

If they agree to do it without a lot of other changes get another opinion.

 

[DuracellBunny]

With the current energy problem getting worse I am so glad I have ordered a MG4, when I initially explored upgrading from my MG5 V2L was just a nice thing to have, now I think it’s a very important feature.
When discussing the MG4 V2L is undoubtedly one of the main talking points with the possibility of power cuts.
I think vehicles with V2L capability are going to be in big demand, get them while you can.

To power the house during a powercut you need to cut off the grid before connecting V2L, either manually or through an automated circuit breaker.
If you don't and the power comes back while V2L is powering the house the random phase off sync will smoke your things.

 

[JohnInFrance]

With the current energy problem getting worse I am so glad I have ordered a MG4, when I initially explored upgrading from my MG5 V2L was just a nice thing to have, now I think it’s a very important feature.
When discussing the MG4 V2L is undoubtedly one of the main talking points with the possibility of power cuts.
I think vehicles with V2L capability are going to be in big demand, get them while you can.

The V2L protocol is not designed to power your home and, whilst it can be made to work (@PAULinTHAILAND has a setup that proves this), it's prohibitivly expensive if you're starting from scratch and probably not up to code in the UK and/or EU (I'm not an electrician, so don't know).

It would be possible to trail an extension lead from your car into the house and power a few important items (fridge/freezer etc.) but remember the rated load is only 2.2kW. Additionally, certainly in the implementation for European spec cars, the car needs to be powered on for the discharge to work; unless one has a very secure place to park that would seem a bit risky if not being supervised all the time.

V2H and V2G are the protocols designed for powering houses and sending back to the grid. AFAIK, only Nissan have implemented this and I believe that Octopus have run some trials with it in the UK, but it's still in its infancy and requires new hardware such as bi-directional chargers etc., so not a simple plug and go solution either.

 

[JohnInFrance]

I just checked a 90L/min pump uses 100w, a MG4 has 61kw usable battery, theoretically speaking, it could power the boiler upto a month!
I might just ask my electrician to install a water proof emergency socket to the outside of the house.
Although I’m sceptical, but just in case, I read somewhere there could be rolling blackout during winter months to save energy

That just won't work and will cause all manner of problems and I doubt your electrician would do it if you explain the reason you want the socket installed. Better explanation > V2L Cars to be in demand?

 

[kin]

To power the house during a powercut you need to cut off the grid before connecting V2L, either manually or through an automated circuit breaker.
If you don't and the power comes back while V2L is powering the house the random phase off sync will smoke your things.

Sorry if I keep banging on about my combi boiler!
So if the combi wasn’t connected to the ring circuit and has a plug instead like the fridge freezer, would my boiler be safe to use?

 

[Lespresso]

It’s great to see your replies and comments, most are beyond me, especially paulinThailand who’s video is astonishing !!!
As mentioned previously, the V2L feature will be useful to me in the event of a power cut as a temporary measure running limited appliances.
of course it has limitations, it’s not designed to power a household but it means having a coffee and something hot from my microwave, il be happy

 

[raph]

V2L is very cool, but I just wish MG installed a 220V socket in the car.

When I test drove an Ioniq 5, I used a hair dryer while driving, just for giggles.
But in the real world, a socket in the car would likely be much more useful to me than V2L outside while stationary.

I could charge my electric scooter in the back, I could use my Laptop without Cigarette Plug Adaptors, I could hook up my kids Xbox when going on vacation, use a mini fridge...

As things are, I can only see myself using V2L on the external Type 2 plug - to try it out, when camping (which I don't do) or in the case of power outages (which fortunately I haven't experienced for many years - even though there's a bit of fearmongering going on due to the current crisis and it may be good to be prepared in the coming winter).

 

[dirk362]

Sorry if I keep banging on about my combi boiler!
So if the combi wasn’t connected to the ring circuit and has a plug instead like the fridge freezer, would my boiler be safe to use?

If your boiler was changed to a standard 3-pin socket and used a cable such as the one I shared in a previous reply, then yes.
Boilers use very little power or amps in real terms, and usage would be within the 2.2kW V2L from the MG4.

Noting the MG4 needs to be On for V2L to work, which I struggle with a little given it has no Start/Stop button and uses a sensor in the seat. So long as you don't lock the car, I guess once initiated and the key fob is within range, it should be okay.

However, getting someone to actually change a boiler to a normal socket might be very challenging as it's just not how they were designed to be used. I'm not sure you'd find an electrician who'd be happy to do this.

 

[Lespresso]

If your boiler was changed to a standard 3-pin socket and used a cable such as the one I shared in a previous reply, then yes.
Boilers use very little power or amps in real terms, and usage would be within the 2.2kW V2L from the MG4.

Noting the MG4 needs to be On for V2L to work, which I struggle with a little given it has no Start/Stop button and uses a sensor in the seat. So long as you don't lock the car, I guess once initiated and the key fob is within range, it should be okay.

However, getting someone to actually change a boiler to a normal socket might be very challenging as it's just not how they were designed to be used. I'm not sure you'd find an electrician who'd be happy to do this.

Interesting point about the lack of on button and the seat sensor?

 

[BugEyed]

Sorry if I keep banging on about my combi boiler!
So if the combi wasn’t connected to the ring circuit and has a plug instead like the fridge freezer, would my boiler be safe to use?

There are still possible issues relating to the Earthing because of the possible Earth bonding of the pipework. You need to take specialist advice for your particular circumstances. But it should be easier to resolve.

 

[BugEyed]

Noting the MG4 needs to be On for V2L to work, which I struggle with a little given it has no Start/Stop button and uses a sensor in the seat. So long as you don't lock the car, I guess once initiated and the key fob is within range, it should be okay.

We have to hope that they have thought it through and allow you to lock the car once V2L is initiated.

 

[kin]

We have to hope that they have thought it through and allow you to lock the car once V2L is initiated.

Definitely read a comment elsewhere in the forum the procedure to turn on V2L without the car DRL staying on.
He might even have made a comment about the car being locked??
I’ll try to search for it…

 

[JohnInFrance]

We have to hope that they have thought it through and allow you to lock the car once V2L is initiated.

I've not found a way to do that on the ZS.