Owner shares reaction after using new EV for unexpected task: 'Life saver'

Many homeowners have discovered their electric vehicles can be used for more than quiet, clean rides and quick acceleration; they can also power their homes in a pinch. 

Posted in the r/KiaEV9 subreddit, an EV9 owner shared their experience of being saved by their EV's battery after more than two days without power in the middle of a Colorado winter. 

The poster was looking into a generator when they remembered they had a "giant backup battery" just sitting in their garage.

Thanks to their EV and a vehicle-to-load adapter, "My fridge, freezer, and coffee machine are still alive," they wrote. At the time of the post, they'd only used 10% of their battery in 30 hours. 

"I totally forgot it came with the V2L adapter," they wrote. "Life saver!"

Use cases like this highlight why EVs are more consumer-friendly than traditional gas-powered cars. Owners stuck in a blackout or heatwave can use their vehicle's massive battery to power essential devices for days at a time — which is becoming even more important as extreme weather events grow longer and more severe amid rising global temperatures. 

EV owners also save money by avoiding volatile prices at the pump, and the cars require less maintenance and fewer fluid changes throughout their lifetimes compared to gas-guzzling models.

While on the road, EVs produce zero tailpipe pollution, reducing heat-trapping emissions. Meanwhile, cars powered by internal combustion engines rely on the extraction and burning of gasoline or diesel. 

Smart upgrades that slash monthly energy bills

If you're interested in lowering your monthly energy bills while preparing for outages, combine your EV with solar at home.

‣ EnergySage can help you save up to $10,000 on installations by curating competitive bids from local installers
‣ Not ready to spend up front? Palmetto's $0-down LightReach solar leasing program can lower your utility rate by up to 20%
‣ TCD's Solar Explorer makes it easy to access exclusive offers from preferred partners.

What's the most you'd pay per month to put solar panels on your roof if there was no down payment? $200 or more 💰 $100 💸 $30 💵 I'd only do it if someone else paid for it 😎 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Fellow Kia EV9 owners in the subreddit shared similar stories of their clutch cars. One owner in the same Colorado blackout shared their perspective. 

"We've been using our EV9 to charge our EcoFlow battery, powering our electrical panel," they wrote. "We don't even have the V2L adapter, just an extension cord plugged into the outlet in the back."

"Have used mine a couple times for 3-4 hour outages for sump pump, fridge, lights etc. and it barely dropped anything," another shared. "Really sweet use case for the occasional outages."

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD's exclusive Rewards Club.