Electric vehicles (EVs) are proving useful beyond transport, with new analysis suggesting they can provide critical backup power during blackouts.
According to the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), the average EV – using just 60% of its charge – could power the average Spanish household for five days.
The findings come as social media reports reveal some EV owners in Spain used their vehicles to supply electricity to their homes during recent power outages.
Colin Walker, Head of Transport at ECIU, said: “As well as reducing emissions and saving their owners hundreds of pounds in running costs, EVs are also capable of adding resilience to their owners’ homes.”
In the UK, where outages often result from damage to the distribution network, such as storm-downed trees, the average EV could provide nearly six days of electricity under the same conditions.
EVs with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) or vehicle-to-home (V2H) capabilities can send power back to the home or grid via a bi-directional charger.
These systems allow owners not only to maintain power during outages but also to reduce energy bills by charging when electricity is cheap and selling it back during peak demand.
ECIU estimates that this could earn owners up to £630 annually, using only 20% of the vehicle’s battery for two hours a day.
“In an unprecedented blackout like the one we just saw in Spain,” said Walker, “these EVs will allow people to keep their lights on, their fridges cold and their wireless routers running for days.”
A similar example was cited in Chile, where a former environment minister used his EV to power his home during a 2024 blackout.
This series covers the developing electric vehicles market of the UK and its increasing infrastructure, as the nation advances its net-zero goals. For all things EV, don’t miss out on your free ticket to EVCharge Live UK – taking place 23-25 September 2025.
