GM will add backup power function to its electric vehicles

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

General Motors said Tuesday that it planned to equip all of its electric cars and trucks with the ability to act as backup power supplies during blackouts. The decision to install two-way charging technology in Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC electric cars and trucks, enabling them to power homes in an emergency, shows how carmakers are marketing the vehicles as being not just cleaner than their gasoline counterparts, but also more practical. The technology will begin appearing in vehicles this year, including an electric version of the Silverado pickup and an electric Cadillac Escalade, which GM will unveil Wednesday.

By the 2026 model year, all GM electric vehicles will have what is known as vehicle-to-home technology, the company said. That will include a new version of the Chevrolet Bolt. GM planned to discontinue the compact car but reversed the decision last month after people complained about the disappearance of one of the most affordable electric vehicles.

Vehicles able to keep the lights on and refrigerator running during a power outage could be appealing as blackouts become more frequent and longer because of extreme weather caused by climate change. The average duration of power outages doubled from 2015 to 2021, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.