I’ve been camping since I was a kid, the old-school kind—sleeping bag, questionable instant noodles, one flashlight that always dies halfway through the trip, you know the vibe. But the weirdest thing happened to me earlier this year that kind of flipped my whole idea of “roughing it” upside down.
So picture this: remote area, like proper remote. Last 12 km was gravel, zero cell service, trees taller than my life decisions. I’m setting up camp, nothing fancy—small tent, foldable table, the usual. My friend Jake is with me, doing his macho “real camper” routine with the propane stove.
And then I… accidentally make coffee with an electric kettle. Plugged. Into. My. Car.
Jake looks at me like I’ve summoned electricity from the heavens.
“Bro what… how… since WHEN does your car make coffee?”
And honestly? Same question. I kind of forgot that my EV (Ioniq 5) had this V2L thing—Vehicle-to-Load—built into it. I hadn’t touched it since buying the car. Didn’t even know where the adapter was.
But there I was, in the woods, boiling water like I was in a cabin with full power.
And that moment basically sent me down a rabbit hole.
So… What Even Is V2L? (Explained the way I understood it)
Look, I’m not an engineer. Half the time I still call kilowatts “the big watts.” But here’s the gist the way a non-technical human explains it:
Your EV has a giant battery. Like 60–100 kWh. That’s basically a mega power bank on wheels. V2L just lets you pull that battery power OUT of the car and into other stuff—kettles, lights, heaters, whatever.
Some cars do 1.8 kW, some do 3.6 kW, and trucks like the F-150 Lightning do like 9.6 kW which is totally bonkers. That’s “I could run my entire house for the day” levels of power.
Technically it’s been around in gas trucks for years, but on EVs it’s quieter, cleaner, and doesn’t stink up your tent. And unlike the alternator-powered stuff in trucks, EVs don’t have to idle or burn fuel. It’s just battery → inverter → outlet.
Simple, but kind of magical when you’re in the middle of the mountains trying to make oatmeal.
Cars That Actually Do This (And Why I Care Now)
Turns out not every EV can do V2L. But quite a few do:
Hyundai Ioniq 5 / 6
Kia EV6
Genesis GV60
Ford F-150 Lightning
Rivian R1T / R1S
Some newer GM models
Tesla… supposedly adding it, eventually, maybe, who knows
The Korean EVs are the easiest in my opinion—plug adapter into charge port → boom, outlet.
The Lightning is the “I brought my entire house camping” option. Like, people actually run RV air conditioners off that thing. I don’t even have that many appliances at home.
Anyway, once I realized my car could do it, it changed the way I looked at planning trips. Especially after this next story.
The Trip My EV Literally Saved
Last spring, I took my family camping. The forecast said mild weather. The forecast lied. Dropped to almost freezing at night. The kids are shivering. My wife looks at me like this trip might be the end of the marriage.
Then I remember I tossed a tiny ceramic heater into the trunk “just in case.”
I plug it into the car, run it in the tent for 20–30 minutes before bedtime, then again in the morning.
We survived. The kids actually called it “warm sleeping in the forest.” We used maybe 5% of the battery. No generator, no noise, no propane drama.
That was the moment I went:
“Okay yeah, EVs might be the best camping vehicles ever.”
No Noise = Actual Peace
If you’ve ever camped near someone with a gas generator, you already know the trauma. It’s always:
brrrrRRRRRRRrrrRRRrrRRRRR
at 6:00 AM because someone “can’t function without hot coffee.”
With an EV?
Silence.
Absolute, beautiful silence.
I’ve had people walk past my campsite and ask where my power bank was. I’d just point at the car. They look confused every single time.
What You Actually Need (and What I Bought That I Regret)
Because yes, you DO need a bit of gear.
✔ The V2L Adapter
Most EVs come with one. Mine did. Found it buried under the emergency tire goo kit.
✔ Heavy-duty extension cords
Do NOT use your cheap indoor cord. I tried. It got warm. Too warm.
Get a 12-gauge or even a 10-gauge outdoor cord. Bonus if it’s bright orange so you don’t trip at night like I did.
✔ Weatherproof power strip
The V2L outlet isn’t waterproof. Found out the hard way during a drizzle.
$25 outdoor power strip = problem solved.
✔ Plug-in power meter
This thing honestly changed everything.
Most camping gear varies hugely in power draw:
LED camp lights → almost nothing
Electric cooler → about 60–100 W
Coffee maker → 1000–1500 W
Space heater → 1500 W and HUNGRY
With the meter, you can see exactly what’s happening instead of guessing and blowing a fuse in the middle of cooking.
✔ Sleeping bags that don’t suck
Not electrical but VERY important after my winter trip.
What You Can Power (My Reality vs Expectations)
The Easy Stuff (You’ll barely notice the power draw)
Lights
Phones
Laptops
Projector (yes outdoor movie nights are a thing now)
Fans
Heated blankets on low
These barely move the battery percentage.
Middle Stuff (Totally fine, just don’t go crazy)
Electric cooler
Coffee maker
Induction cooktop
Drone batteries
e-bike chargers
Manageable. You just keep an eye on it.
Heavy Hitters (Respect them or regret it)
Space heater
Air fryer
Air conditioner
Electric grill
Use sparingly unless you have a Lightning or Rivian. Trust me.
During one trip, I accidentally tried to run a heater AND electric cooktop at the same time. The car politely said “nope” and shut the outlet off.
My food was half-cooked and the heater turned cold. Lesson learned.
How Long the Battery Actually Lasts
People assume the battery drains instantly. But a 70 kWh battery is MASSIVE compared to typical camping needs.
I did a trip once where I:
Ran lights every night
Cooked with induction daily
Charged phones and cameras
Ran a cooler 24/7
Total over 3 days?
About 15–20% battery.
If you’re reasonable, you could camp for a week without needing to charge.
Cold weather is a different beast, though. On my February trip, the battery heaters + space heater use meant I burned closer to 35–40%. Still fine, but noticeable.
How Do You Recharge While Camping? (Because you will eventually)
1. RV Parks (the underrated hero)
Book an RV site, plug into the 240V pedestal, get 7–8 kW charging overnight.
Cheap. Easy. Works everywhere.
2. Fast Chargers Nearby
Perfect if your campsite isn’t too far from town.
I’ve done the “go into town for lunch while the car charges” trick so many times now.
3. 120V Outlets at Campgrounds
This is very slow, like 1–2% per hour. But if you’re staying multiple days, it adds up.
4. Solar (the dream… someday)
Everyone asks about it.
Realistically: you need a LOT of panels to make a dent in EV charging.
Possible? Yes.
Convenient? Not quite yet.
Stuff I Learned the Hard Way (So You Don’t Have To)
Here’s my honest “please learn from my mistakes” list:
Always set a minimum battery limit (20–30%) for V2L.
Don’t run a heater + cooktop at once unless you enjoy darkness and disappointment.
Keep the adapter in a place you remember.
Heavy-duty cords matter more than you think.
Always check weatherproofing. Rain + electricity = bad combo.
Check your campsite rules. Some places weirdly still think all “car power use” = generators.
But the biggest lesson?
EVs make camping so much more comfortable without ruining the nature part.
I still do the classic stuff—fire, tent, weird snacks—but being able to boil water in 3 minutes instead of struggling with damp firewood?
Game changer.
Conclusion (if this even needs one)
Using my EV as a power source started as an accident—forgot my propane, felt like a fool, saved by technology. Now it’s just part of how I camp.
Is it for everyone?
Honestly, maybe not. Some people LIKE suffering. Or pretending they’re in a survival show.
But if you enjoy comfort without the generator noise, or want the convenience of a tiny silent power plant you already own… EV camping is kind of incredible.
And the funniest part?
People still walk by and ask:
“How are you powering all that?”
And I just point at the car.
