How One Homeowner Turned Their EV into an Infrared Heating Source
A homeowner in the UK bought a 50-year-old bungalow with no mains gas, the property relied on electric storage heaters which are inefficient and expensive to run.
With developments in heating technologies and climate change becoming reality, much research led them to Herschel Infrared heating panels.
Heating with Herschel Infrared Panels
Five years ago, they installed Herschel Infrared heating panels throughout the bungalow, eight panels in total, plus a mirror bathroom heater and a conservatory heater.
To complement the heaters, the homeowner added solar panels connected to a GivEnergy AC-coupled system with 10kWh of battery storage. In spite of these improvements, some very cold British winters, combined with limited sunlight and light winds meant that sometimes heating demand and electricity costs were higher than expected.
A New Home Power Station
With developments in the EV market and the launch of the Hyundai Inster Cross, a compact EV with a 50kWh battery, far in excess of their normal travel demand, the homeowner identified an opportunity. Its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability allows it to output 240V AC power up to 3.6kW, essentially turning the car into a portable home generator.
Attempts to connect V2L directly with the GivEnergy system were unsuccessful due to limited compatibility and the technology was relatively new. Rather than wait for further developments, an alternative approach emerged. Alternative uses for the 30-40kwh of cheap AC available from the Inster batteries were investigated; using the EV to power the heaters directly.
Turning an EV into a Heat Source
A simple test confirmed the idea. A portable under-desk Herschel heater worked flawlessly when plugged into the car’s internal socket. With help from a local electrician, a cable was installed from the garage to dual manual changeover switches, allowing the heating to switch seamlessly between mains and vehicle power.
The bungalow has two heating zones, front and back, so either zone can now be powered entirely by the EV. Individual rooms are controlled via the SmartLife App, allowing unoccupied spaces to remain off, ensuring optimal energy efficiency.
If demand exceeds the EV’s capacity, the car automatically shuts off V2L ensuring a simple, safe solution.
Smart, Simple, and Cost-Effective
The straightforward routine supplies electricity on a cheap EV tariff (as low as £0.07 per kWh). This is used to fully charge the GivEnergy batteries and large immersion heater and power the heaters from the EV during the day.
This allows the home to remain comfortably warm at ultra-low electricity rates, while solar generation and battery storage continue to supplement the system.
75% saving on heating cost from utilising EV heating
GivEnergy data for 2024 showed approximately 5000kWh imported in the 7 cooler months after deducting 200kWh/month for non-heating power.
A snapshot of the savings:
- Heating season use: ~5000 kWh
- Normal electricity cost: £1,400 (£0.28/kWh standard rate @ 5000kWh)
- EV-powered cost: £350 (£0.07/kWh EV rate @ 5000kWh)
Using the cheaper tariff available on the EV results in a possible 75% reduction in heating costs. This saving is even before accounting for solar export revenue or fuel savings on petrol car (~£700/year).
The future home with EV heating
This story highlights what’s possible when electric vehicles, renewable energy, and smart heating work together. Rather than waiting for large-scale “vehicle-to-home” solutions, which will no doubt come in time, this homeowner innovated with existing technology and some out of the box thinking.
The result? A warm, sustainable home powered by sun, batteries, and the family electric car. An inspiring example of energy ingenuity which others may wish to investigate further in their own journey to create a sustainable, all-electric home.
