V2L — Vehicle-to-Load — is a built-in 230V outlet on your electric car. It turns the battery into a silent portable generator: plug in a coffee maker, a drill or a cool box, and the car supplies the power. Around fifteen models offer V2L in Belgium, priced from €23,000 to €76,000.
What Exactly Is V2L?
V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) is a 230V power outlet built into an electric car. It lets you run external devices directly from the vehicle's battery, with power output ranging from 1.6 kW (Kia EV3) to 3.7 kW (Renault 5 E-Tech, Peugeot e-3008).
The idea is straightforward: your EV battery stores between 27 and 100 kWh of energy. V2L draws a fraction of that to power your devices, like an oversized power bank. No installation is needed — the outlet comes factory-fitted and type-approved by the manufacturer.
Do not confuse V2L with V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) or V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid). V2H sends electricity back to your home circuit through a bidirectional wallbox. V2G feeds power into the public grid (managed by Fluvius in Flanders, Sibelga in Brussels, or ORES in Wallonia). As of June 2026, V2L is the only bidirectional technology actually working for Belgian households: no V2H or V2G wallbox is commercially available for residential use.
Which Devices Can You Plug Into V2L?
With 3.6 kW available (the most common output), you can run most everyday appliances. I've plugged in a portable cool box (60 W), LED camping lights (20 W), a phone charger (10 W) and a filter coffee maker (800 W) simultaneously — everything ran without a hitch.
What works fine: laptop (65 W), TV (100 W), drill (700 W), vacuum cleaner (600-900 W), raclette grill (1,000 W), kettle (1,500 W), small space heater (2,000 W). Add up the wattages: as long as the total stays under 3.6 kW, you're good.
What won't work: electric oven (2,500-3,000 W), tumble dryer (3,000 W), induction hob (3,500 W+). These exceed the V2L output and trigger the automatic cut-off.
How Much Range Does V2L Use?
Quick calculation. You run 500 W of devices for 8 hours (an evening plus a night of camping). That's 4 kWh. On a Hyundai Ioniq 5 with a 77 kWh battery, that's 5% of capacity — roughly 25 km of range. Negligible if you charged before heading out.
Which EVs with V2L Are Sold in Belgium?
As of June 2026, around fifteen models offer V2L on the Belgian market. Korean manufacturers lead: Hyundai and Kia equip nearly their entire line-up. European brands are catching up with Renault, Peugeot and Dacia.
| Model | V2L Power | Battery | WLTP Range | Belgian Price From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacia Spring Extreme | 3.7 kW | 26.8 kWh | 225 km | ~€23,000 |
| Renault 5 E-Tech | 3.7 kW | 40-52 kWh | 300-410 km | ~€25,000 |
| BYD Dolphin | 2.2 kW | 44-60 kWh | 340-427 km | ~€28,500 |
| MG4 | 2.2 kW | 51-77 kWh | 350-520 km | ~€29,500 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | 3.6 kW | 48-65 kWh | 342-454 km | ~€36,000 |
| Kia EV3 | 1.6 kW | 58-81 kWh | 436-600 km | ~€36,500 |
| Kia Niro EV | 3.6 kW | 64 kWh | 460 km | ~€40,000 |
| Peugeot e-3008 | 3.7 kW | 73-98 kWh | 527-700 km | ~€45,000 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 3.6 kW | 63-84 kWh | 440-570 km | ~€45,500 |
| Kia EV6 | 3.6 kW | 58-77 kWh | 394-528 km | ~€46,000 |
| Kia EV9 | 3.6 kW | 99.8 kWh | 541 km | ~€76,000 |
V2L is standard on most Hyundai and Kia models. On the Dacia, you need the Extreme trim. On MG and BYD, check the exact version on the Belgian configurator.
The Dacia Spring offers the best V2L power-to-price ratio (3.7 kW for €23,000), but its small 26.8 kWh battery limits V2L runtime to a few hours of heavy use. For extended camping, aim for at least 58 kWh.
Can V2L Replace a Petrol Generator When Camping?
Yes, for most family camping needs. I tested this during a weekend at an off-grid campsite near La Roche-en-Ardenne in October 2025. Cool box, LED lights, phone chargers, coffee maker in the morning. After two days on an Ioniq 5 with a 77 kWh battery: 7 kWh consumed, or 9% of the battery.
For comparison, renting a petrol generator for a weekend costs €50-100 from a Walloon hire company like Loxam or Kiloutou, plus 5-10 litres of fuel and the noise. V2L is silent, free once you own the car, and produces zero emissions.
The real limit: if you want to run a space heater all night in winter (2,000 W × 8 h = 16 kWh), that eats 21% of a 77 kWh battery. Doable, but plan a charging stop on your way home.
V2L Compared by Belgian Buyer Profile
Family camping (Ardennes, Belgian coast). The Ioniq 5 (77 kWh, 3.6 kW) is the best all-rounder: a large battery absorbs V2L consumption without worry, and 800V fast charging gets you back on the road quickly. Belgian price: around €47,000.
Tight budget. The Dacia Spring Extreme (3.7 kW, €23,000) delivers the highest V2L output at the lowest price. The 26.8 kWh battery is enough for a barbecue evening or an afternoon of DIY, not for a full weekend.
Company car. The Peugeot e-3008 (3.7 kW, 73-98 kWh) is 100% tax-deductible for Belgian companies in 2026 (law of 22 November 2023). The benefit-in-kind (ATN/BIK) stays at 4% of catalogue value. V2L becomes a genuine selling point for salespeople working at events or on construction sites.
High-mileage driver. The Kia EV6 (3.6 kW, 77 kWh) combines V2L, 800V fast charging in 18 minutes (10-80%), and 528 km WLTP range. On the E40 between Brussels and the coast, it does the round trip without charging — and powers a heated parasol when you get there.
Do You Need an Adapter or Special Installation?
No installation at all. V2L is a factory-fitted vehicle function, type-approved by the manufacturer. No wallbox to install, no paperwork, no permission from Fluvius or Sibelga.
The outlet location varies by brand. On Hyundai and Kia (E-GMP platform), a V2L adapter plugs into the external Type 2 charging port. The adapter is included or costs €250-400 from the dealer. On Renault (5 E-Tech), BYD and MG, a 230V socket is built directly into the cabin or boot — no adapter needed.
Important distinction: V2L is not the same as V2H. Powering your entire home from the car requires a bidirectional wallbox wired into your consumer unit. In Belgium, no residential V2H wallbox is commercially available as of June 2026. V2L remains a portable, device-by-device solution.
