Plug-in hybrids the answer in Broken Hill-type blackouts, car boss claims
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The ability to power a source from your car when the grid goes down would be a game changer, but more needs to be done to drive buyers toward the technology.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) technology could be key in aiding future blackout disasters, preventing people from going without food or urgent medical care, the boss of a growing car company has said.
On October 17, a storm brought down seven transmission towers in Broken Hill, leaving 20,000 people in the region without power as one of the city’s two backup generators wasn’t operating, and the other failed.
The rolling blackouts have mostly stopped, and mains power is now back.
The power disruption has left thousands struggling to refrigerate and cook food, and meant people on dialysis machines for conditions such as kidney failure have had few options other than to call the hospital for help, reports the ABC.
The solution, according to BYD's CEO David Smitherman, is plug-in hybrid vehicles such as the BYD Sealion 6 and newly-launched Shark 6 ute, which have vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability – where power can be shared from an EV to an external source such as a home or the grid.
BYD launched its Shark 6 plug-in hybrid ute at Mt Gipps Station, 37km west of Broken Hill, last week – causing so much demand the website crashed.
"The technology in these cars is amazing, it's smart technology," Smitherman said. "It’s got V2L, and what that means is if you have a blackout you can take the power to your home. It can do V2L, but not V2G, the technology in Australia is not there yet [for Shark 6].
"All of these vehicles are a mobile power source right? So if we look at what has happened with recent blackouts, you could use the vehicle if you were on dialysis. There have been instances across Australia people have used their vehicle in those kind of dire situations, and it can keep your food from going off for example."
As recently reported by Drive, the head of Mitsubishi Australia said Australia could be further ahead with bi-directional charging but somebody needs to "take a hedge clipper to the red tape" which is holding back progress.
Mitsubishi became the first car brand in Australia to roll out bi-directional electric car charging functionality earlier this year, but the process was arduous and involved a lot of back and forth with the South Australian power authorities.
"It’s the future, it’s the way to go. Japan’s been doing it for years. Japan’s an advanced manufacturing society. If it can work there, it can work here too," Mitsubishi Australia CEO Shaun Westcott told us.
Mitsubishi's site joins Flinders University, also in Adelaide, in launching a V2G charging station last year, but as of now, South Australia is the only state that allows bidirectional chargers to be installed in homes.
In the wake of the Broken Hill power failure, state and federal regulators are investigating whether provider Transgrid breached its obligations or license requirements, as it has a responsibility to provide back-up power if the lines go down.
Mr Smitherman said growing the understanding of what PHEVs are capable of, and their benefits for the grid among other things, still needs work – particularly to tackle concerns such as cost and driving range anxiety.
"People just don't understand it, what we need to do to get this energy transition happening is to say this vehicle will save you a whole lot of money," he told Drive.
"The Sealion 6 has similar battery technology which allows you to drive in full EV mode. The average driver commutes 30km a day, I do 65km each way and have a charger at home and a charger at the office – I don't use any fuel. We've just got to tell that story.
"I think Australians are smart, we don't get fooled by things that easily. We're thrifty and innovative and look for value in things and technology.
"It's going to save you money – if you drive it day in and day out you'll save between $150 and $300 a week which is quite significant."
As far as the end of September, 15,546 PHEVs had been sold in Australia for 2024, up 120 per cent at the same point in 2023 and up 90 per cent for the month.
Meanwhile, fully-electric vehicle sales have slowed, down 60 per cent in September and down seven per cent for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same time last year.
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