Update allowing NZ market car to become a power source for off-grid adventures is being investigated.

ABILITY for Subaru’s new electric to make Kiwi owners truly happy campers by provisioning as a power source will come - but perhaps not for a while.

Early inquiry about the new Solterra, the first fully electric vehicle on the market specifically designed to deliver genuine off-road aptitude, has included question about whether it has vehicle to load (V2L) bidirectional charging.

Put simply, this feature allows the large battery dedicated to driving an electric vehicle to also, when the car is parked, power something external to the car, such as a domestic appliance, with alternating current.

The short answer appears to be yes - but only in the editions tailored for sale Japan at the moment.

Now available on some other electric models, notably from the Hyundai-Kia stable, V2L turns EVs into power sources for external electric devices.

Subaru celebrates that many buyers of its Forester and Outback are outdoorsy types, not adverse to taking time off in the wild.

Ostensibly, the Solterra would have the edge of becoming an even better off-the-grid accessory.

it would be theoretically possible to drive off-road to a remote camping location, and then draw power from the car’s 71.5kWh battery to use everyday appliances such as a coffee machine, microwave, a small fridge, lights or an electric pump for inflating an air mattress. Even an electric bike.

Some of that capability is provisioned by Japan domestic Solterra, but not the export car, as they have different input plugs for mains replenishment.

The domestic car details with a CHaDeMO input, aka Type 1, which easily provisions for two-way power flow.

However, the cars coming to New Zealand have a CCS input, also called Type 2, set up for alternating current refreshment at home and high-level direct current replenishment out of fast chargers.

That provision does not stonewall the concept - the Hyundai/Kia product is also CCS - but does present greater challenges, the biggest being development of an appropriate adapter.

The one used by Hyundai/Kia (above) is something like a regular charging handpiece in appearance. It plugs into the car’s charge port, and the other end contains a female three-pin socket to plug appliances into. It’s not clear if Subaru Japan has developed one. The local response enforces the car is not yet ready.

“The models in our market are not specced identically to the Japanese model,” explained Subaru New Zealand technical services manager Eric Peng.

“Subaru NZ are exploring the options to offer CCS to three-pin socket adaptor plug as accessory for those owners who would benefit from a two-way power flow function to power an external AC supply,” Peng explained.

“At this stage this is currently not available for this year’s model. 

“These functions are still in discussion, being explored and will require extensive testing before specifications are released.”

It is not clear if the car would be capable of vehicle-to-vehicle replenishment as well.

Japan’s electric car makers now develop V2L for domestic sale as a response to a Government request for that in wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident. 

V2L was seen as a handy stopgap to return some degree of electrical supply to the many homes and businesses that were without mains power. 

Hyundai’s system is designed to can supply AC power (230V / 50 Hz) up to a maximum of 3.6kW (or 15 Amps) power consumption. One advantage the Korean system has is that it bases off a 800 volt system, lacking in the Toyota-designed Subaru.

The Hyundai set-up proved handy in NZ after the Hawke’s Bay flood event a year ago next week, when the brand loaned Ioniq 5 cars to the region to fulfil the same role, not just for homes but also businesses. 

One ran a large cool store for several days, with minimal draw from its battery.

Ultimately, the set-up has potential to engage a step further, with vehicle-to-vehicle technology, allowing one well-replenished car to recharge another requiring zap.

Solterra is also among a growing count of electric models selling without the distributor including a home charger as part of the recommended retail.

One is available, but as an accessory, for $995.

For the next step up, an installed home charger, it has a partnership with local developer Evnex, installed for $2395 .