Your EV battery is not just for driving

World EV Day 2026 Vehicle-to-load lets Indian EVs power a kettle, a laptop, an AC, even another car. Here is what it really does.

A 45 kWh EV holds 5 to 10 times more energy than a typical home inverter battery

The big idea That is a power bank on wheels. V2L is the feature that lets you use it.

Vehicle-to-load: the car turns battery DC into normal 230 V AC

What V2L means Through a cabin socket or a charge-port adapter. V2V uses it to slow-charge another EV.

EV AUTO INDIA Indian EVs that list V2L Tata Nexon, Curvv, Harrier, Punch EV Hyundai Creta Electric Kia Syros EV, EV6 MG Windsor, Hector Tomahawk EV BYD Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 7

Mahindra BE 6, XEV 9e and XEV 9S do not list V2L on their published specs

The surprise If V2L matters to you, ask the dealer to demonstrate it before you sign.

EV AUTO INDIA How much power 3.3-3.6 kW of 230 V AC About the same as one 15-amp household socket. Enough for a lot, but not for everything at once.

What 3.3 kW runs Yes: laptops, lights, projector Yes: kettle or induction cooktop, one at a time Yes: 1-ton inverter AC, about 8 hrs on 10 kWh Marginal: 1.5-ton non-inverter AC, geyser

Roughly 7 km of range for every kWh you draw

What it costs in range A night of camping with a 1-ton AC (about 8 kWh) costs around 55 km. A kettle costs under a kilometre.

EV AUTO INDIA The V2V reality 3 hrs to give a stranded EV 10 kWh Donor loses about 65 km, recipient gains about 55 km. V2V gets you to the next charger. It is not a fast charger.

EV AUTO INDIA Five safety rules Only the manufacturer's V2L adapter Never back-feed house wiring Short leads rated for 16 A Motors surge at start-up and may trip it Most cars cut off near 20% charge

Worth it if you camp, run a stall or live with power cuts

Is it worth paying for? For a commuter it is a party trick. It comes bundled in top variants. Read the full V2L explainer Photos: Precious Madubuike, Toa Heftiba, Priscilla Du Preez, Carley & Matt, Vadim Sadovski, Michael Fousert via Unsplash