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EV Hack Keeps Homes Humming After Hurricane Sandy

WIRED -- As millions of people fired up generators and burned candles in the wake of superstorm Sandy, some EV owners hacked their cars to keep their lights on and refrigerators humming.

For Maryland resident Scott Wilson, that involved nothing more than making sure his Nissan Leaf’s battery pack was topped up the night before, along with having a ProWatt 1000 DC-to-AC converter and a pair of $25 cables at the ready. And it’s something that EV owners along the east coast can do as they prepare for the latest nor’easter front.

After a derecho storm hit the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest in June of this year and Wilson lost power for a few days, he wanted a sure-fire plan to keep the juice flowing during Sandy.

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Submitted Nov 12, 2012 By: TC_Fuel_Prices

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,643 Points:1,611,470 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 14, 2012 10:02:59 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse interesting to say the least. Although having a generator is probably better.
rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,459 Points:2,231,875 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2012 10:22:56 PM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse tomok - "EV Hack Keeps Homes Humming After Hurricane Sandy and what happens when the EV battery is drained and there is no electricity left and the vehicle fuel to recharge the battery is gone. Use an EV battery source for only a short time use. A much better choice is a generator large enough for your power needs and plenty of fuel to go with it." That makes sense if you're talking about a pure EV. If you're talking about a hybrid, though, that "plenty of fuel" can also keep the hybrid running.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,207,330 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2012 7:05:45 AM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse Interesting article, thanks for posting.
RonElp All-Star Author El Paso Posts:763 Points:109,620 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2012 3:17:01 AM Ignore RonElp Report Abuse An expensive generator... but a good idea.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,072 Points:2,347,460 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2012 2:32:52 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse EV Hack Keeps Homes Humming After Hurricane Sandy and what happens when the EV battery is drained and there is no electricity left and the vehicle fuel to recharge the battery is gone. Use an EV battery source for only a short time use. A much better choice is a generator large enough for your power needs and plenty of fuel to go with it. Make sure the electrical circuit breaker box is disconnected from the power lines before using the generator for house power. Do Not operate the EV or generator in a closed garage, CO from the exhaust fumes can enter the house through the house garage door and knock everyone out inside the house or kill those people in the house. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,768 Points:593,695 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Nov 13, 2012 1:44:29 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse This works well even without an ev.
Packman3231 All-Star Author Oregon Posts:627 Points:1,852,740 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 11:17:55 PM Ignore Packman3231 Report Abuse Leave it to the enterprising to figure out how to make their electric cars be a source of electric power during a power outage.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,825 Points:644,000 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 11:05:01 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse I can imagine how desperate hose folks are!
obimerrill Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,450 Points:291,665 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:58:17 PM Ignore obimerrill Report Abuse Good thinking!
N5EXY Champion Author Austin Posts:5,502 Points:1,512,030 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:54:08 PM Ignore N5EXY Report Abuse Another MerryLander does it with a Prius - http://www.aprs.org/APRS-SPHEV.html
jorod55 Champion Author California Posts:1,485 Points:433,675 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:53:31 PM Ignore jorod55 Report Abuse Pretty basic actually.
farn1958 All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:886 Points:183,385 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:49:57 PM Ignore farn1958 Report Abuse why not?
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,415,610 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:47:11 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse Alternative thinking!!!
badharley Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,035 Points:742,260 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:46:51 PM Ignore badharley Report Abuse Thats good.
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,150 Points:1,884,645 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:44:53 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Always thinkin
catspaw Champion Author Toronto Posts:29,929 Points:3,149,735 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:43:04 PM Ignore catspaw Report Abuse If there's no gas available at the stations, you can't drive anywhere with a ICE engine either, so this seems pretty smart. At least keep the freezer cold and the furnace going part-time.
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,998 Points:1,114,940 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:40:40 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse granitestater: "Siphoning electricity from your car may work. But what happens when you want to leave home?" You unplug and turn out the lights...
yakstar Champion Author Montreal Posts:2,430 Points:480,845 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:40:37 PM Ignore yakstar Report Abuse get 'r done!
dumba55 Sophomore Author Chicago Posts:142 Points:37,225 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:40:01 PM Ignore dumba55 Report Abuse smart
southrob Champion Author Tucson Posts:3,605 Points:689,150 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:39:42 PM Ignore southrob Report Abuse and we need to drill
furiousfowl Champion Author Riverside Posts:16,865 Points:2,751,130 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:35:46 PM Ignore furiousfowl Report Abuse Now that is a real PORTABLE generator.
danol43 Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,705 Points:590,640 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:34:53 PM Ignore danol43 Report Abuse cool tech
forteras Veteran Author Kentucky Posts:347 Points:1,914,240 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:33:02 PM Ignore forteras Report Abuse Shoot the juice to me Bruce!
hansone7 Veteran Author Des Moines Posts:391 Points:353,205 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:31:07 PM Ignore hansone7 Report Abuse That's inginuity!
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:8,836 Points:1,432,700 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:29:08 PM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Siphoning electricity from your car may work. But what happens when you want to leave home?
76chevy Champion Author Toledo Posts:3,994 Points:770,605 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:28:35 PM Ignore 76chevy Report Abuse Better than "riding it out" and complaining about the ride you didn't prepare for.
ruca2012 Champion Author San Diego Posts:1,074 Points:215,140 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:27:53 PM Ignore ruca2012 Report Abuse interesting
ricebike Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,043 Points:1,857,670 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:27:09 PM Ignore ricebike Report Abuse buddy, it's called solar panels on your roof...
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,491 Points:2,104,715 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:24:49 PM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse An excellent idea.
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,664 Points:1,124,060 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:24:19 PM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Going to have to read this later.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,664 Points:2,361,920 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:24:05 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse In time they will figure out how to feed the power back into a home and the grid from charging and charged vehicles, and it will help solve the grid power storage problems.
WhiteTreeIndian Champion Author New Jersey Posts:5,664 Points:1,124,060 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:23:56 PM Ignore WhiteTreeIndian Report Abuse Def interesting.
nztyraider Champion Author Nevada Posts:2,273 Points:695,575 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:21:08 PM Ignore nztyraider Report Abuse cool.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,956 Points:1,184,935 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:19:37 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse repeat
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,269 Points:2,255,970 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:18:15 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse a derecho storm ??..what is a derecho storm ??..
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,995 Points:2,528,285 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:16:17 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse it works
krobp46 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:2,721 Points:543,045 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:15:49 PM Ignore krobp46 Report Abuse a novel approach
ItsMorph Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:33,450 Points:3,188,105 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:15:39 PM Ignore ItsMorph Report Abuse What's so original about that? I've had inverters for years. Anybody with a 9th-grade science education should be able to figure that out easily. Oh, forgot...public schools...
Glock26 Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,534 Points:634,335 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:15:18 PM Ignore Glock26 Report Abuse Interesting!!!
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,733 Points:1,663,740 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:15:17 PM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse Some are getting a bit smarter out there, just not enough.
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:15:10 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse good
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,691 Points:429,350 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:14:30 PM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse What a good idea
ItisAJeepThing Champion Author Tucson Posts:19,765 Points:2,153,530 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:13:59 PM Ignore ItisAJeepThing Report Abuse Only if the water doesn't short out the battery first and cause a fire.
Jmac2008 Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,284 Points:883,090 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:11:22 PM Ignore Jmac2008 Report Abuse ok
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,530 Points:1,671,535 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:10:06 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse What about a Prius?
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,547 Points:1,860,320 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:09:47 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Sweet, they are good for something, lol.
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,309 Points:1,644,755 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:09:38 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Wow.........
Group23 Champion Author Greensboro Posts:1,243 Points:438,440 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:08:24 PM Ignore Group23 Report Abuse That's really the cart pulling the horse. I love it!!
boatfloyd Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:1,728 Points:389,925 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:06:48 PM Ignore boatfloyd Report Abuse Great back up battery.
wz Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,499 Points:1,279,265 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Nov 12, 2012 10:06:36 PM Ignore wz Report Abuse Draining the car battery will leave you stranded until your home power comes back on to recharge. But that leaves you in the same condition as gasoline-fueled cars that can't find a station that is selling gas.