How will power outages affect my ability to charge an EV?

Some of the impact a power outage will have on EV drivers will depend on your household’s access to other transportation options. If a household has two gas cars and replaces one of those vehicles with an all-electric vehicle, they can consider if their  remaining gas car will be able to meet all their transportation needs in the event of a power outage or emergency. People who are more concerned about the impacts of a power outage can consider purchasing a plug-in hybrid EV instead of an all electric vehicle, or can install backup battery storage at their home if they have the financial means. 

While a power-outage is unlikely to really affect your ability to drive in most cases, it also never hurts to be prepared in case of a long-term outage caused by a natural disaster— the same way you would fill your gasoline-powered car with fuel or stock up on food ahead of time. While reserving your EV’s battery would be the best option, you could also use your L1 charging cable to plug into a portable power generator (or any working outlet anywhere, for that matter). You could also take your vehicle to a charging station outside of the affected area, or find an L3 charging station that uses solar power and/or backup battery storage to serve its customers.