Australian Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUVs will come with a socket and an expected 1500W of output to power appliances away from the grid, from next year.
While already available in Japan, the first batch of Eclipse Cross PHEVs that went on sale in Australia during September didn’t have this vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.
V2L technology taps into energy in the PHEV’s 13.8kWh drive battery and supplies it to appliances like coffee machines and camping equipment. When using AC power, the engine will start and charge the drive battery if low.
Mitsubishi Australia hinted it would roll out this feature a few months ago when it used an Eclipse Cross PHEV to power a popup coffee machine in downtown Adelaide. That popup campaign will indeed preview reality.
“As we develop our vehicle specifications for next year, we’re interested in understanding the value drivers place upon these kinds of technologies. We look forward to hearing their feedback,” said Mitsubishi Motors product manager Tim Clarke at that time.
We since checked in with the company and a spokesperson told us that, indeed, “the Eclipse Cross PHEV will have this capability become available from the next model year”.
Supply constraints due to semiconductors are a factor here, so precise timing for the new model year deliveries is to be confirmed.
A new Outlander PHEV hits Australia next year and seems a likely candidate to have V2L too.
V2L, plus vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) are hot-button issues in the electric car space. See the two links below, and our video with a Hyundai Ioniq 5’s 3.6kW output, for more info!
MORE: V2L, What is it and what are the benefits?
MORE: Nissan Australia takes part in vehicle-to-grid trials
