V2L Explained

V2L Explained: Power Your Entire Camp From Your EV Battery

Updated June 2026 · 6 min read

No generator. No gas bottles. No noise. Here's how Vehicle‑to‑Load works, exactly what you can run on it, and which Australian EVs actually have it.

What is V2L?

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) turns your EV's main battery into a giant, silent power bank. Instead of electricity only flowing into the car, V2L lets it flow back out through a normal 240V socket — so you can plug in whatever you'd plug into a wall at home.

A car with a 60 kWh battery is the rough equivalent of carrying a 60-litre petrol generator that never needs refuelling and makes zero noise or fumes at camp. It's the single biggest reason EV camping is quietly overtaking the old petrol-and-gas setup.

⚡ Quick version
V2L = plug your gear straight into your car. Standard 240V outlet. Outputs roughly 1.5 kW–6.6 kW depending on the model. Available on 145+ EV variants in Australia right now.

How it works

Inside every modern EV sits a high-voltage battery (typically 40–100 kWh). The car's onboard inverter converts that to standard 240V AC — the same thing that comes out of your kitchen wall.

Depending on the car, the V2L socket lives either inside the cabin (a three-pin outlet in the boot or rear seat), outside via an adapter on the charge port, or both. The car manages everything electronically: it watches the draw, protects the battery, and shuts V2L off automatically once charge drops too low — usually around 15–20%. You can't accidentally flatten your car through V2L.

What can you actually run?

Most camp appliances pull far less than people expect. Here's a realistic breakdown:

A realistic three-day camp — fridge running non-stop, lights each evening, induction cooking twice a day, devices charging — uses roughly 10–14 kWh. On a 60 kWh battery (minus the 20% reserve) you've got around 48 kWh of usable V2L. Comfortable headroom for three days with plenty left for the drive home.

How much output do you need?

V2L is rated in kilowatts (kW) — the peak it can deliver at once. Most V2L-capable EVs in Australia output 3.3–3.6 kW; newer models push 6 kW or 6.6 kW.

For most camping, 3.3 kW is genuinely enough. It'll run a fridge, lights, charging and a kettle — just not every high-draw item at the same instant. At 6 kW+ you can run a full camp kitchen concurrently without staggering anything.

What adapters and gear you need

Most V2L cars include a short adapter that plugs into the charge port and gives you a 240V three-pin socket. Some have an internal socket too — no adapter needed. To get the most from a single outlet:

• A power board with individual switches (rated 10A continuous) so you can run several devices and cut power to each without unplugging.
• A quality 10A outdoor-rated extension lead (3–5m) for flexibility around the campsite.
• A way to keep your charge cables tidy and dry — a dedicated EV cable organiser bag stops the boot turning into a tangle.

⚠ Safety: never backfeed. Do not connect V2L output to a powered caravan-site outlet or any fixed wiring. Power flowing backwards through a board is a serious electrocution and fire risk. V2L is for direct appliance use only.

6 practical V2L camp tips

1. Arrive charged, not anxious. Plan to reach camp with 60–70% so you've got V2L headroom without touching your driving reserve.

2. Stagger the big stuff. Boil the kettle, then switch on the cooktop. Only run both at once if you've got 6 kW+.

3. The fridge is always on. A 12V compressor fridge cycling 24/7 uses ~1–1.5 kWh a day. Budget for it before adding cooking and lights.

4. Use a switched power board. Control what's drawing power without crawling around unplugging cables.

5. Top up on the way home, not in. Grab a fast charge on the drive back rather than rationing power at camp.

6. Know your cut-off. Most EVs stop V2L at ~15–20%. Some let you adjust it in the settings — check before you rely on it for overnight fridge power.

Which Australian EVs have V2L? (June 2026)

Source: EVDB Australia — 145+ variants available. A sample of popular models:

Plus many PHEVs (Outlander, Sealion 6, MG HS, Haval H6) at lower outputs. Always confirm your exact variant.