Some electric vehicles can do something gas and diesel-powered vehicles cannot. You might think of a few things, but specifically, EVs can charge other electric cars when properly equipped with an onboard charging system. The new Ford F-150 Lightning advertised its capability with an onboard charger, but the GMC Hummer EVs didn’t have the same capability until now.

How much power did previous GMC Hummer EVs provide?

The early versions of the Hummer truck and SUVs carried an 11.5-kW onboard charger. This wasn’t enough to effectively provide vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. At this power level, the Hummer EVs can only provide power to smaller accessories, according to InsideEVs.

How much power will the new GMC EVs include?

The new 2024 GMC Hummer EVs, both truck and SUV models, will receive a new Level 2 onboard charger as part of its standard equipment. This enables bidirectional charging from these GMC vehicles. This new charging system will include a 19.2-kW Level 2 AC onboard charger. The new feature will come standard on the SUV Edition 1, 3X, and 2X trims while also being offered for the pickup 3X and 2X versions.

“you could not effectively take power from the battery into this vehicle and put it into another vehicle. So, in ’24, we are enabling that. The 19.2-kW charger, Level 2 AC charger, that we have on board, that is really the key change that enables this.” – Aaron Pfau to Automotive News

New Hummer models could offer support during power outages

Regardless of where you live, a natural event could occur to knock out your power. When this happens, many homeowners scramble to find solutions and save the food in their refrigerators, provide heat when it’s cold, or power entertainment items.

Another accessory GMC offers in the 2024 Hummer EVs will provide up to 3-kW of power for these appliances. Next time your power goes out, you’ll have the juice to keep your refrigerator and freezer operating through this bidirectional charging system.

Better late than never for the GMC EVs

The GMC Hummer EV truck was one of the first full-size electric vehicles offered. This truck revolutionized the market and reset our expectations of EVs. Until the Hummer arrived, we weren’t certain EVs could do much more than run cleanly in small packages. GMC took a massive leap with incredible off-road capability (Crab Walk Mode), amazing acceleration (Watts to Freedom), and impressive obstacle solutions (Extract Mode). It seems this truck should have already included a proper V2L system.

When the Ford F-150 Lightning arrived, it included the option of a 19-kW onboard charger to power home appliances or other vehicles, despite not inkling the same battery size as the Hummer. The 212-kWh battery pack of the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 certainly has the load potential to deliver V2L charging, and now it will have this capability.

This new onboard bidirectional charging system could change the game when the 2024 GMC Hummer EVs are out on the trails. Do you think this new system will make a difference to most Hummer EV owners?