EV Power: Mother Uses Electric Vehicle to Run Son’s Dialysis During Blackout

In an incredible display of the benefits of electric vehicles, an Australian mother used her car to power her son’s dialysis machine during a blackout caused by storms and flash flooding.¹ Kristy Holmes, a 42-year-old woman from the Gold Coast, shared the story of how her car became the literal lifeline for her 11-year-old son Levi, who was waiting for a kidney transplant.² Electric vehicles equipped with “vehicle to load” (V2L) systems allow them to work as emergency generators, power sources for household devices, and, in dire situations, dialysis machines.

The Life-Saving Power of Electric Vehicles

When her home lost electricity on Christmas Day, Holmes took to her garage and quickly connected her electric vehicle to power the house. She initially used the car to power her and her neighbor’s fridges but soon realized that her BYD Atto 3 could handle her son’s dialysis machine, ensuring he received crucial treatment during the blackout.

“We ran it off the car,” Holmes shared. “We only needed to use it for the one night. We could have run it for at least four nights and then have to go charge the car somewhere”.

Holmes’s story is a testament to the versatility of electric vehicles (from more than just Tesla, as BYD is a direct rival) in supporting various household items and machines. If the vehicle has electricity to share, then it makes sense to be able to share it. Holmes had previously used her electric car to power a slow cooker for making mulled wine during a movie night, so this wasn’t a new concept to her for applying it in more drastic circumstances.³

“It’s the most amazing car I’ve ever owned. Now it’s been able to save my son during a storm, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a petrol car again,” Holmes expressed. Sounds like an amazing marketing opportunity for BYD if you ask me.

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Community Assistance: Electric Vehicles in Action

Holmes wasn’t the only one lending a hand during the blackout. Chemistry teacher Matt McLaughlin, a Rural Fire Service member and fellow electric vehicle owner, offered emergency power assistance to his community through a Facebook group. McLaughlin used the same feature to help other neighbors struggling with the outages.

“If anyone needs electricity briefly… I can help out,” McLaughlin stated.

McLaughlin saw the crisis as a chance to educate people about the advantages of zero-carbon technologies, addressing the skepticism many still have toward electric vehicles. The experience was also able to showcase some more of the benefits of renewable energy sources (beyond helping save humanity and the planet). McLaughlin’s home is equipped with solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall, so his place remained unaffected by the power outage.

“We have been completely off-grid for six days. If the power goes out for half an hour in the middle of the night, we don’t notice. We’re oblivious to it,” McLaughlin shared.

The Future of Bidirectional Charging

This incident isn’t a one-off event, similar stories exist where electric vehicles have come in handy as a reliable power source during emergencies. Bidirectional charging, which is what allows electric vehicles to receive and provide power, is gaining traction. Major automakers like Ford and Tesla are incorporating these capabilities into their vehicles, giving them the essential backup power systems for homes and the wider energy grid.

Kristy Holmes’ story highlights the importance of electric vehicles equipped with emergency power systems. Beyond offering eco-friendly transportation, V2L capabilities prove to be invaluable in crisis situations. Yes, to save your perishable food items, but you also never know whose child is on a dialysis machine up the street. Blackouts are going to come with or without an electric vehicle to save you, so if you have the opportunity, maybe look into bidirectional charging options.

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