[jansar]

In CA we will be getting extended black out as our local utility will cut off power when winds or other weather conditions prevail. This is to prevent wildfires. We have been told to expect about 6 power outages on average every year and they will last for 2 to 3 days. Is there any way to use our EV Bolt batteries to power our home during the power outages? We have 2 Bolts just sitting in our garage and that is a lot of Kwh.

Any ideas ? We also have solar panels and net metering and so we are connected to the grid.

Thanks

jansar

 

[XJ12]

In CA we will be getting extended black out as our local utility will cut off power when winds or other weather conditions prevail. This is to prevent wildfires. We have been told to expect about 6 power outages on average every year and they will last for 2 to 3 days. Is there any way to use our EV Bolt batteries to power our home during the power outages? We have 2 Bolts just sitting in our garage and that is a lot of Kwh.

Any ideas ? We also have solar panels and net metering and so we are connected to the grid.

Thanks

jansar

this thread has a summary of other threads on the subject. personally, I'd like to get something that would run off the traction battery like they have for the leaf. waiting for a CCS version.

https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/10-...s-using-bolt-emergency-120v-power-source.html

 

[Sibilance]

There have been a few threads on this, as XJ12 mentioned and linked to.

Personally, as someone who also has solar panels on my home, I'm keeping an eye on various battery power storage and utilization devices, like Tesla's Powerwall. If you already have the interconnect wiring for a grid interactive solar power system, it should be relatively simple to add one.

 

[BoltronJAX]

On a related note, there are plans to make Vehicle to Grid (V2G) capability part of CCS, though the timeframe is within 7 years (2025):

https://insideevs.com/news/342354/charin-ccs-combo-standard-to-offer-v2g-by-2025/

So, no solution today but it is on the way and presumably eliminates the need for the current hacks (no pun intended) people are using.

 

[psyflyjohn]

There has been a thread earlier on using a portable sine waver inverter, attached to the 12v battery. It can then be used to keep an appliance or two active, such as a freezer or fridge. I've thought of getting one. Living in San Diego, we are vulnerable to wildfires and possible power outages.

 

[Raymondjram]

On a related note, there are plans to make Vehicle to Grid (V2G) capability part of CCS, though the timeframe is within 7 years (2025):

https://insideevs.com/news/342354/charin-ccs-combo-standard-to-offer-v2g-by-2025/

So, no solution today but it is on the way and presumably eliminates the need for the current hacks (no pun intended) people are using.

There are solutions but with the battery packs outside of the vehicle. I have read about some ingenious people who buy packs from scrapped EVs (including Volt and Model S), take them partially apart, and rearrange them for 24 V, 36 V, or 48 V arrays that can be attached to large kilo-Watt sized inverters for home supplies.

The cost of the packs is relative. You can find many at eBay. I been watching 1.8 kW packs from Fusion and C-Max Hybrids for $400 or less, and I see many 3.6 kW packs from Tesla Model S offered, too. Buying the full packs with their BMS and cooling systems reduce the work for home applications. The Ford packs are assembled with bolted Panasonic Li-Ion cells, and can be rewired inside for different voltage arrays, but the Tesla packs are sold in 12 V arrays only because all the cells are welded.

Do an eBay search and maybe you will find what you need.

 

[daveo4Bolt]

my Powerwall system works really - well - already been used for 8 hours of "outage" from PG&E since Feb. 14th, 2019 - bonus is a system like this keeps the Solar system online during the outage, so during the day solar runs the house, and only use the batteries at night

it's a slick system if you want whole house backup - I'd like more capacity however - only have 2 power walls which is about 28 kWh usable.

a 60, 75, 85, 90, or 100 kWh automotive battery would be awesome - although between the house's usage and my solar production it would take like 4 days for the solar system to charge a 100 kWh battery - ROFL

 

[capecodbolt]

In CA we will be getting extended black out as our local utility will cut off power when winds or other weather conditions prevail. This is to prevent wildfires. We have been told to expect about 6 power outages on average every year and they will last for 2 to 3 days. Is there any way to use our EV Bolt batteries to power our home during the power outages? We have 2 Bolts just sitting in our garage and that is a lot of Kwh.

Using the Bolt’s battery to power your home sounds great! But given the power company’s plan to cut power, a more substantial long term solution seems wiser. Such as a Tesla Powerwall battery or one of the new Siemens batteries with the new chemistry.

Do your solar panels use Enphase individual inverters? Check out the new intelligent software they are coming out with soon that works transparently when the Grid goes down.
The inverters must be a recent model. Ask your solar installer. See more:
https://enphase.com/en-us/stories/are-you-ready-ensemble

In CA we will be getting extended black out as our local utility will cut off power when winds or other weather conditions prevail. This is to prevent wildfires. We have been told to expect about 6 power outages on average every year and they will last for 2 to 3 days. Is there any way to use our EV Bolt batteries to power our home during the power outages? We have 2 Bolts just sitting in our garage and that is a lot of Kwh.

Using the Bolt’s battery to power your home sounds great! But given the power company’s plan to cut power, a more substantial long term solution seems wiser. Such as a Tesla Powerwall battery or one of the new Siemens batteries with the new chemistry.

Do your solar panels use Enphase individual inverters? Check out the new intelligent software they are coming out with soon that works transparently when the Grid goes down.
The inverters must be a recent model. Ask your solar installer. See more:
https://enphase.com/en-us/stories/are-you-ready-ensemble


Any ideas ? We also have solar panels and net metering and so we are connected to the grid.

Thanks

jansar

 

[davioh2001]

There used to be a site called evextend.com that sold a kit - when I try to go to it now it says certificate error.
apparently at least some bolt owner bought this and described it on another bolt forum here. I decided it wasn't worth the trouble and cost for what it was.
https://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8312

 

[hatchy]

If you do the 1kw inverter off the 12v battery, you may have put a weight in the driver's seat or figure out something to prevent the car from timing out and turning off. It was discussed in another thread here, IIRC that was the deal. Since you have two Bolts, that would at least net you 2kw. Not much power, but so easy. Probably can have the inverters hooked up 5 minutes after the power is out. I have a gasoline generator, but I do have an inverter also in case I need to do this.

 

[Usain]

my Powerwall system works really - well - already been used for 8 hours of "outage" from PG&E since Feb. 14th, 2019 - bonus is a system like this keeps the Solar system online during the outage, so during the day solar runs the house, and only use the batteries at night

it's a slick system if you want whole house backup - I'd like more capacity however - only have 2 power walls which is about 28 kWh usable.

a 60, 75, 85, 90, or 100 kWh automotive battery would be awesome - although between the house's usage and my solar production it would take like 4 days for the solar system to charge a 100 kWh battery - ROFL

There is a US congressman from KY who made a YouTube video about this. I think he is an electrical engineer by trade.


He has been off the grid for several years and he replaced his bank of lead acid batteries with the pack from a wrecked Tesla.

 

[rgmichel]

GM does not support using the Bolt EV's battery for emergency house power. I understand that Nissan does support it although I would do a web search to find out more. Personally, I would not like to run down my car battery for such a purpose. If you were to use the battery to power your house, you have 60kWh, so how long the power will last depends on your daily usage. I prefer a conventional generator with an automatic transfer switch. The one I use is based on propane, and with my 500 gallon propane tank, it will last me two weeks if the power goes out, which is far longer than any battery-based system.

 

[GregBrew]

GM does not support using the Bolt EV's battery for emergency house power. I understand that Nissan does support it although I would do a web search to find out more. Personally, I would not like to run down my car battery for such a purpose. If you were to use the battery to power your house, you have 60kWh, so how long the power will last depends on your daily usage. I prefer a conventional generator with an automatic transfer switch. The one I use is based on propane, and with my 500 gallon propane tank, it will last me two weeks if the power goes out, which is far longer than any battery-based system.

My Volt, with 10 gallons of extra gas should see me through about a week, and the Bolt should add another week. (We're talkin' emergency here, with *everything* shut down except for refrigeration.) Both vehicles have 120A Anderson connectors on their auxiliary batteries, and their DC-DC converters are good to about 1500W. I can load my inverter up to 1000W, and the DC-DCs can keep up. This is moot, now, as I recently got two Powerwalls.

 

[billatq]

If you do the 1kw inverter off the 12v battery, you may have put a weight in the driver's seat or figure out something to prevent the car from timing out and turning off. It was discussed in another thread here, IIRC that was the deal. Since you have two Bolts, that would at least net you 2kw. Not much power, but so easy. Probably can have the inverters hooked up 5 minutes after the power is out. I have a gasoline generator, but I do have an inverter also in case I need to do this.

Apparently it's easier than that, you just have to put it in neutral and get out on the passenger's side: https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/10-technical-discussion/17722-camping-mode-test-results.html

 

[California]

In CA we will be getting extended black out as our local utility will cut off power when winds or other weather conditions prevail. This is to prevent wildfires.

PGE has started the precautionary shutdowns.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat - About 1,600 PG&E customers across eastern Napa, Solano and Yolo counties were affected Saturday afternoon by a planned blackout to limit fire risk.

 

[rgmichel]

Apparently it's easier than that, you just have to put it in neutral and get out on the passenger's side: https://www.chevybolt.org/forum/10-technical-discussion/17722-camping-mode-test-results.html

It would be more friendly if GM would support using the Bolt EV's 60KWh battery for home power-up. Just provide the circuitry, socket and protections to do it. Running an inverter off the 12v battery is not a good option as it is fraught with all sorts of if, ands and buts.

 

[rgmichel]

My Volt, with 10 gallons of extra gas should see me through about a week, and the Bolt should add another week. (We're talkin' emergency here, with *everything* shut down except for refrigeration.) Both vehicles have 120A Anderson connectors on their auxiliary batteries, and their DC-DC converters are good to about 1500W. I can load my inverter up to 1000W, and the DC-DCs can keep up. This is moot, now, as I recently got two Powerwalls.

Depends on how much power you are willing to sacrifice. 1500W, about 5 MWh annual, is not exactly a river of power. If the power company goes out I want to start all sorts of big motors in the house, and run them a good while, HVAC, dehumidifiers, water pump, cooking stove, microwave, dishwasher, washing machines and so on, as well as low power devices like fridges and such like. The only way batteries work for back-up power is if you have an automatic transfer switch on your solar to keep it working during a power outage, and enough battery power to cope with cloudy, rainy days as well as night-time. So, let's say you have a Bolt's 60kWh battery, and an average daily usage of 40 kWh, then you need to generate 40 kWh daily minimum to keep going. For that you need a solar system that's capable of about 15 MWh per year. That is about 30 to 36 solar panels properly tracking the sun, not roof solar. Even that does not fully account for the cloudy rainy days, except in the summer. So, any proposals for use of the Bolt EV battery to power a home necessarily involves either a very substantial solar array, or a high penalty in the amount of power available to run the home. 60KWh is great, if you have the solar array, but temporary otherwise.
Its nevertheless very attractive for owners of solar to connect a Bolt EVs battery to the house, and in due course the support for connections to the car will be available to do it. The transfer switch technology is available already. So, its just a matter of time.

 

[XJ12]

Its nevertheless very attractive for owners of solar to connect a Bolt EVs battery to the house, and in due course the support for connections to the car will be available to do it. The transfer switch technology is available already. So, its just a matter of time.

I'm keeping my eye on this company out of Australia.

They have a 11kW home DC fast charger that they plan to make work on single phase power. And they're working on vehicle to home/grid technology that might be integrated into the same charger that uses CCS.

 

[rgmichel]

Using the Bolt’s battery to power your home sounds great! But given the power company’s plan to cut power, a more substantial long term solution seems wiser. Such as a Tesla Powerwall battery or one of the new Siemens batteries with the new chemistry.

Check out the new intelligent software they are coming out with soon that works transparently when the Grid goes down.
The inverters must be a recent model. Ask your solar installer. See more:
https://enphase.com/en-us/stories/are-you-ready-ensemble

I agree that the new Enphase approach sound good. It turns out my Enphase inverters are compatible, but I am still wary about putting in expensive batteries for backup power. Unless you are willing to put in enough solar panels to make sure those batteries stay charged any time of year through any length of power outage, batteries will only do backup for a day or two. The fact remains there is more energy in a few gallons of propane or natural gas to run a backup generator than there is in a battery, no matter what the nameplate. I still remember 7-10 days without power in Connecticut, and any backup solution has to be able to cope with that any time of year.

 

[GregBrew]

In a true power emergency, a house should be able to get by on 10-15kWh per day. A typical large modern refrigerator only takes 2-3kWh per day. 40kWh?!? What are you doing, growing weed?