Energy Talks – When the Grid Goes Dark: Can Electric Cars Save the Day in a Disaster?

As the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) increases, so too do concerns about the performance of these vehicles during crises and emergencies. Being fueled by electricity, EVs can’t rely on the same disaster planning that’s been taking place for combustion-engine vehicles for decades since EVs rely so heavily on the wider electric grid for their continued operation. However, EVs also find themselves in the unique position of essentially being batteries on wheels. This means these vehicles can be deployed to hospitals, power plants, and other critical locations during disasters to keep these facilities operational and help disaster-stricken communities access crucial services.