A V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) adapter turns a compatible EV into a giant portable battery, powering household tools, kettles, fridges and even other EVs through the car's Type 2 charge port. It's the most underrated feature on modern EVs — but only on the small subset of cars that support it. Most don't.
Compatible cars (UK, May 2026)
V2L is currently supported on:
- Hyundai — Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, Inster, Ioniq 9, Kona Electric (2024+)
- Kia — EV3, EV5, EV6, EV9, Niro EV (post-2022)
- Genesis — GV60, GV70 EV, G80 EV
- MG — MG4, MG5 (post-2022), ZS EV (post-2022, V2L pack), Cyberster, S5 EV
- BYD — Atto 3, Atto 2, Dolphin, Seal, Sealion 7
- Renault — 5 E-Tech, 4 E-Tech (2024+)
- Smart — #1, #3
- Volvo — EX30, EX90 (selected trims)
- Polestar — Polestar 4 (selected trims)
- VW — ID. Buzz GTX, ID.4 / ID.5 (2026 facelift)
- Cupra — Born VZ, Tavascan (selected trims)
NOT compatible (as of 2026): Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, Audi (other than e-tron GT 2026), most VW pre-facelift, Porsche, most Japanese imports. Don't buy a V2L cable for a Tesla — it physically won't work, and we'll refund the return.
Power output — typically 3.6kW
Most V2L adapters output around 3.6kW (16A) at UK 240V — enough to run a 3kW kettle, a 2kW oven element, a power tool or a small fridge. Hyundai/Kia adapters typically cap at 3.6kW. The Ford F-150 Lightning (UK import) hits 9.6kW through Pro Power Onboard. Most use cases — camping, garden tools, emergency power during outage — work fine at 3.6kW.
UK socket configurations
We stock V2L adapters with:
- UK 1-gang single socket — most common configuration. Plug in a kettle, drill or extension lead.
- UK 2-gang double socket — two appliances simultaneously, total still capped at 3.6kW.
- 16A Commando blue plug — for caravans, garden machinery, market stalls. Higher continuous-current rating.
Length
V2L adapters typically come in 0.5m, 2.5m, 5m, 10m and 15m. 0.5m is the "in your boot, plug straight in" option — minimal carry. 5m+ if you want to power a load that's some distance from the car (a pop-up event, a campsite).
Common use cases
- Camping and overlanding — run a fridge, kettle, lights and laptop chargers off the car battery for several days. Most V2L EVs reserve enough battery to drive home (typically won't drain below 20%).
- Power outage backup — keep a fridge, freezer and a few lamps running through a UK winter outage. A 60kWh EV at 3.6kW draw lasts ~16 hours of continuous use.
- Garden / DIY — power tools at the bottom of the garden without trailing extension leads from the house.
- Charging another EV — emergency only; very inefficient, but possible at 3.6kW.
Battery management
Most V2L systems let you set a minimum battery threshold (commonly 20%) below which V2L stops automatically — preventing you stranding yourself without enough range to get home. Set it before you start the session, not after.
What we DON'T sell
We don't sell V2L adapters for cars that don't support V2L. The connector might fit physically, but the car won't switch on V2L mode and you'll get nothing out. If your car isn't on the list above, save your money and look at a portable Mode 2 charger instead — different product, different purpose.
Warranty
3-year manufacturer warranty on every adapter we stock. Compatibility guaranteed: if your car is on the list and the adapter doesn't activate V2L mode, we replace or refund without question. Free UK delivery over £50.