GM recently launched an energy storage option for electric vehicle (EV) owners in the U.S. that gives owners the ability to transfer energy from the grid and the option to integrate solar power equipment. The GM Energy PowerBank is a stationary product that comes in 10.6 KWH and 17.7kWh battery capacity variants, a GM press release says. The storage device can power a home when there is an outage or help to offset higher electricity rates during peak demand, it says.
Solar energy can also be stored and used with additional equipment without the presence of an EV in the home. An American home could be supplied enough power for up to 20 hours with the use of two 17.7kWh GM Energy PowerBanks, the release said. “One of the core differentiators of GM Energy’s portfolio is its modularity,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy, in the release.
“The flexibility of our energy management tools, combined with one of the market’s largest lineups of vehicle-to-home-capable EVs, gives our customers more control over their energy use, helping to mitigate the impact of power outages, integrating renewable energy options and unlocking additional values.”
The PowerBank will be accessible via GM’s brand mobile apps for energy management, the release said. GM says the PowerBank is available for purchase as a part of its GM Energy Home System bundle. This includes a GM Energy PowerShift charger and GM Energy Vehicle-to-Home Enablement kit. Customers who already purchased the bundle can add a PowerBank.
