Electric Vehicles as Power Stations: The Newest Generation of EV Technology

Four million households without power, nearly $200 billion dollars in damage, and 246 lost lives. Winter Storm Uri ravaged the United States, especially Texas, from February 13 - 17, 2021.

Feeding off an extremely strong Arctic high-pressure system (a result of the polar vortex disturbance) that pushed frigid polar air far south into the central and southern U.S., Uri hammered Texas with a brutal winter storm and a blast of ice. The state was plunged into a cold, brutal darkness.

The crisis was caused by several factors: a soaring demand for electricity; a power grid that wasn’t winterized for extreme weather; the freezing of natural gas pipelines and coal plants; and the isolation of the Texas grid.

All in all, this weather event ended up being the largest blackout in the U.S. since the Northeast one of 2003.

For at least two quick-thinking Texans, though, their hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) saved the day. Both Randy Jones and Jerry Hall plugged in several extension cords to the onboard generators of their F-150 trucks. They charged appliances, kept the lights on, stayed warm, and survived the worst of the storm. They were not alone. There is an X feed dedicated to F-150 owners who have used their trucks as portable power generators in times of emergencies.

And these trucks could increasingly come in handy to deliver emergency power. From 2000 to 2023, about 1,755 major power outages (affecting at least 50,000 customers or 300 MW) were attributed to weather. And weather-related outages between 2014–2023 nearly doubled compared to those from 2000–2013.

Powering Homes: Not Just Vehicles Any More

How does this technology work?

Think of an electric vehicle (EV) as a giant rolling battery. Normally, the EV uses that battery solely to move itself around and to haul passengers from Point A to Point B. However, in (Vehicle-to-Load) V2L technology, people can use onboard outlets to plug things into their cars, just as they could plug an appliance into home outlets. In other words, people can run household devices, tools, or even medical equipment from their vehicles.

V2L technology relies on partial bidirectional (or two-way) charging.  What this term means is that electric vehicles can not only consume power but also push electricity back out.

How much power are we talking about here? Most V2L systems typically provide around 1.5 kW to 9.6 kW of power. To put those numbers into perspective, 1.5kW could run a fridge and a few lights while charging a phone. And 9.6 kW could keep most of a typical home running--the fridge, furnace, lights, internet--for several days.

Electric vehicles equipped with V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) systems are even more impressive. Relying on full bidirectional charging, this system allows electricity to flow back from the EV to your house and, if you like, to the grid. How? The EV connects to a special bidirectional charger and a home energy management system (usually through the breaker panel). When the grid goes down, such as during an ice storm, the system kicks in. Instead of the grid, the system draws power from your vehicle to keep appliances, fridge, and whole house running. In fact, a fully charged EV battery can power a typical home for three to ten days, depending on the vehicle and household energy use.

Leading the Way in EV-Charging Technologies

Several automotive companies have jumped on board to turn their vehicles into emergency power stations. Ford, as the above examples demonstrate, lead in unveiling this technology in 2021. That was the year it released the first commercially available bidirectional charging system in the US. This system enabled both V2L and V2H via the F‑150 Lightning, the first vehicle to double as a robust power source.

The company has recently claimed that when its Charge Station Pro is paired with Ford Intelligent Backup Power, the V2H Functionality can keep the lights on in a typical American home for three to ten days. And it has flexible power delivery as well. Because of its 120V and 240V outlets, the truck can run a wide variety of appliances and tools.

Other companies have also turned some of their EVs into mobile power stations.

For instance, GM’s impressive PowerShift Charger, paired with the V2H Enablement Kit, offers hefty bidirectional capabilities. Certain Silverado EVs can power homes during outages, delivering up to 19.2 kW (19,200 W) and supporting 21 days of backup power!! Even better: GM has partnered with EnergyHub to enable EV-managed charging. This collaboration allows customers to schedule their charging, which supports grid stability, especially during peak demand. It also helps utilities manage electric load more efficiently. Not to be left out, both Tesla and Rivian are also transforming their vehicles into smart energy hubs.

As these examples illustrate, electric vehicles are redefining what it means to “drive.” Today’s EVs can push power to homes, charge other vehicles, and serve as lifelines during emergencies.

Keeping the Lights on and More: Benefits of EV Power Stations

One of the most obvious benefits of using an EV to keep the lights on is cleaner power. Unlike backup generators that run on gas, VH2 is emission-free: no C02 exposure. And these mobile power stations are a whole lot quieter, too, making them ideal for residential neighborhoods and nighttime use.

Then there is the cost benefit. Some V2H systems enable the use of stored EV power  during peak energy hours, which means people can save substantially on utility bills.

These systems can also significantly lower your carbon footprint. That is, if a V2H system were combined with solar panels, your vehicle’s battery could store this energy. So, you could have daily home-to-vehicle power flow and nightly vehicle-to-home power flow!

And they also allow you to do your part in supporting the grid. V2H systems that have smart controls enable you to feed energy back to the grid during times of high demand. California law (SB 59), in fact, encourages bidirectional charging--not only to reduce your energy bill but also to put less strain on the grid, especially during emergencies.

It has even been suggested that the U.S. power grid could leverage fleet-wide V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) storage (made possible by bidirectional chargers) in peak demand scenarios, emergency response, or renewable energy buffering.

Despite these benefits, V2H and V2L technologies do have their challenges. Technical barriers include the need for compatible bidirectional chargers, inverter integration, and standardized communication protocols between vehicles, chargers, and home energy systems. And then there are the numerous grid and regulatory hurdles. For instance, utility companies must ensure that power exported from vehicles does not destabilize local networks.

On the consumer side, there are several deterrents to adopting these systems. These include high upfront costs for hardware and installation, uncertainty about battery degradation from frequent cycling, and limited awareness of the benefits.

Advancing Electric Vehicle Research at MTU

Several Michigan Tech researchers are actively working on these challenges while striving to make EVs smarter, more resilient, and more usable for both people and communities.

Over the last five years, Michigan Tech researchers in both Mechanical and Aerospace (MAE) Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) have laid the groundwork for electric and hybrid vehicles to become not only modes of transportation, but also portable power stations.

On the MAE side, a wealth of research has explored how hybrid energy management strategies optimize both fuel efficiency and battery longevity in ways that prepare vehicles to supply external power.

For instance, Luting Wang has studied how plug-in EVs interact with the grid in ways that lower costs and improve reliability. Similarly, Jingyuan Wang (ECE) dove deeper into how EVs can provide both active and reactive power support to operate as “virtual power plants.”

Groundbreaking work in ECE includes the study on Long Trip Charging Planning of Battery Electric Vehicles. Pradeep Krishna Bhat, Zhouquan Wu, and Bo Chen researched how EVs might interact with ultra‑fast charging infrastructure to reduce wait times and support grid reliability. These are key steps toward vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality. 

There have also been projects on vehicle-to-grid control strategies, hardware-in-the-loop testing platforms, wireless power transfer microgrids, and battery longevity. Mehdi Jafari, working with Laura Brown and Lucia Gauchia, built Bayesian models to better predict how EV batteries age and increase their longevity.

And let’s not forget MTU’s Advanced Power Systems Laboratories (APS LABS), which offers specialized professional development and collaborative research in clean, efficient mobility: delivered via its unique mobile lab and online/on-site courses.

Through hands‑on training in electrification, battery safety, and power systems, APS LABS equips engineers with the expertise to safely transform vehicles into mobile energy platforms.

Incorporating Electric Vehicle Technology Into the Curriculum

Along with this research, MTU offers several online graduate programs for helping you lead the charge in evolving mobility technologies.

Power electronics and energy storage are at the heart of bidirectional charging. In MTU's Online Advanced Electric Power Engineering certificate, you can study Power Electronics for Electric Drives and Battery Systems Integration. You'll be ready to analyze how systems such as GM’s PowerShift charger convert DC battery power into home-ready AC electricity. And in the Online Control Systems Certificate, you’ll get experience designing reliable algorithms for EV charging while studying simulation tools for load balancing, which are critical during peak demand or outages.

Engineers must be able to design vehicles that balance power, range, and environmental impact. Michigan Tech’s Online Hybrid Electric Drive Engineering Certificate will equip you with skills in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Drives, Battery Management Systems, and Modeling, Simulation, and Control of HEVs.

Tomorrow’s vehicles won’t just be electric; they’ll also be intelligent. That is, as they become both self-driving and power-generating (V2L/V2H), engineers need expertise in cyber-physical systems to ensure that vehicles are safe, reliable, and responsive to complex environments. MTU’s online certificate in the Safety and Security of Autonomous Cyber-Physical Systems will help you develop these and other crucial skills.

These mobile power stations are still vehicles, so they must remain safe, efficient, and responsive under varying loads. Two other certificates that will help you drive this newest shift in EV technology are Automotive Systems and Controls and Vehicle Dynamics.

Michigan Tech doesn’t just teach you about EVs, then. It prepares you to engineer the future of power, mobility, and resilience.

Learning More About These Programs

As the auto industry continues to pivot toward electrified propulsion, digital integration, and sustainable mobility, Michigan Tech can help you develop the expertise to stand out to employers. You’ll get not only credentials, but also research-supported, industry-aligned expertise. And instruction from some of the best minds building the future of automotive engineering.

Learn more about these online graduate certificates. Discover how they can be combined to create an online MS or PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Join us for our final 2025 Third Thursday live webinar where you can ask questions about these and other programs, speak to subject matter experts, and inquire about admissions requirements and the application process.