How does the MG 4’s vehicle-to-load functionality work?

Electric cars are loaded with innovative technology, but perhaps the most practically useful is something called 'vehicle-to-load' functionality, enabling them to function as mobile batteries that can power external devices.

"Electric vehicles are pretty much energy storage on wheels," says Kate Cavanagh, a transport electrification team leader at CSIRO.

RELATED: Which cars offer V2L in Australia?

"More people should be talking about the benefits they can get from driving an electric vehicle – number one, using them as an energy storage device."

An electric car's energy storage capabilities can serve consumers in two ways: vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which allows them to power other devices, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality, which enables EVs to feed power back into the electricity grid, potentially powering entire households.

"There are not a lot of vehicle-to-grid capable cars in Australia, but once more models come into the market in Australia there will be lots of benefits for the household," Ms Cavanagh explains.

While V2G is still growing in prevalence, several electric cars sold in Australia already offer V2L – including the new MG 4 electric hatchback.

All grades of the MG 4 offer vehicle-to-load functionality, accessible with the purchase of a $250 vehicle-to-load adaptor cable that plugs into the car's AC charging port.

Any appliance under 3000 watts or 13 amps will be available to work on the MG 4, such as a household heater, television, hair dryer, laptop, phone charger or lamp.

MG has even managed to use the V2L functionality in its MG 4 and MG ZS EV models to power a racing simulator (as pictured at the top of the story), home cinema and cook a full English breakfast.

So once you have the cable, how do you access V2L on the MG 4? Here's MG's handy six-step guide:

Note: The process for activating V2L may differ depending on make and model.