Vehicle to Load (V2L): Power Your Entire Camp From Your EV Battery

No generator. No gas bottles. No noise. Here’s how V2L works, what you can run on it, and which Australian EVs actually support it.

What Is V2L?

Vehicle to Load — V2L — is the ability to use your electric vehicle’s main traction battery as a portable power source. Instead of electricity flowing only into your car, V2L lets it flow out, through a standard 240V socket, powering whatever you plug into it.

Think of it as a massive, silent power bank on wheels. A car with a 60 kWh battery and V2L is the equivalent of having a 60-litre petrol generator that never needs refuelling, never runs out mid-trip (as long as you plan your charging), and produces zero noise or fumes at the campsite.

V2L is different from V2H (Vehicle to Home) or V2G (Vehicle to Grid), which require specialist bidirectional chargers and grid connection. V2L is simpler — it’s a socket, built into the car, that you plug things into directly.

⚡ Quick summary
V2L = plug your appliances into your car. Standard 240V outlet. Works like a wall socket. Outputs between 1.5 kW and 6.6 kW depending on the vehicle. Available on 145+ EV variants in Australia right now.

How Does It Work?

Inside every modern EV is a high-voltage battery pack — typically between 40 and 100 kWh — that stores energy at 300–800 volts DC. To run household appliances, the car’s onboard inverter converts it to standard 240V AC, exactly like what comes out of your wall at home.

Depending on the vehicle, the V2L socket is either located inside the cabin (a 240V three-pin outlet built into the dashboard or boot floor), accessible externally through the charge port via an adapter, or both.

The output is managed electronically. The car monitors how much power is being drawn, protects the battery from over-discharge, and will shut down V2L automatically if the state of charge drops too low (typically around 20%). You cannot accidentally drain your car to zero through V2L.

What Can You Actually Power?

Most camping appliances draw far less power than people expect. Here’s a real breakdown:

A realistic three-day camp — fridge running continuously, lights each evening, induction cooking twice a day, devices charging — uses approximately 10–14 kWh. On a 60 kWh battery (minus the 20% reserve), you have around 48 kWh of usable V2L capacity. Comfortable headroom for three days with range to spare for the drive home.

How Much V2L Output Do You Actually Need?

V2L is measured in kilowatts (kW) — the peak power the car can deliver at any one moment. Most V2L-capable EVs in Australia output between 3.3 kW and 3.6 kW. Some newer models push 6 kW or even 6.6 kW.

For most camping use, 3.3 kW is genuinely sufficient. It can run a fridge, lights, phone charging, and even a kettle or induction cooktop — just not all the high-draw items simultaneously. At 6 kW+, you can run a full camp kitchen concurrently without staggering appliances.

Adapter Types — What Do You Need?

Most V2L vehicles provide a short adapter cable that connects to the charge port and provides a standard 240V three-pin outlet externally. Some vehicles also have an internal socket in the boot or under the rear seat — no adapter required.

Buy a quality multi-board (power board with individual switches) to run multiple devices from a single V2L outlet. Look for one rated at 10A continuous. A quality 10A outdoor extension lead (3–5m, rated for outdoor use) gives you much more flexibility at the campsite.

⚠ Important safety warning
Never “backfeed” — do not connect your V2L output to a powered caravan site outlet or any fixed electrical installation. Power flowing backwards through a distribution board is a serious electrocution and fire risk. V2L is for direct appliance use only.

6 Practical V2L Camping Tips

1. Arrive charged, not anxious. Plan your route so you arrive at camp with at least 60–70% state of charge. This gives you plenty of V2L headroom without touching your driving reserve.

2. Stagger high-draw appliances. Boil the kettle first, then switch on the induction cooktop. Avoid running both simultaneously unless your car’s V2L output is 6 kW or higher.

3. The fridge is always on — account for it. A 12V compressor fridge cycling 24/7 uses roughly 1–1.5 kWh per day. Factor this in before adding cooking and lights.

4. Use a power board with switches. Individual switches let you control what’s drawing power without constantly unplugging cables.

5. Top up on the way home, not the way in. Stop for a fast charge on the drive home instead of managing anxiety at camp.

6. Check the V2L auto-off threshold. Most EVs cut V2L at around 15–20% battery. Some let you adjust this in the infotainment settings. Know your car’s cutoff before relying on it for overnight fridge power.

Every V2L-Capable EV in Australia (June 2026)

Source: EVDB Australia — 145 variants available.

Plus PHEVs: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Outlander, BYD Sealion 6, MG HS Super Hybrid, Haval H6 PHEV and more (lower output, smaller batteries).