---
title: "Four Ways to Charge an Electric Vehicle During a Blackout: From Towing to Portable Power Stations"
description: "Ukrainian expert Yevhen Mudryi and RBC-Ukraine outlined four practical ways to charge an electric vehicle during a blackout: towing with regeneration, portable power stations, solar panels, and generators. These methods require preparation but work in practice."
date: 2026-11-13T09:02:26.685Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/four-ways-to-charge-ev-during-blackout
tags: [electric-vehicle, ev-charging, blackout, ukraine, portable-power-station, regenerative-braking, solar-panels]
author: "Roman V."
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Four Ways to Charge an Electric Vehicle During a Blackout: From Towing to Portable Power Stations

![Black electric vehicle charging from a portable power station in a bright modern home garage](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/13/chetyre-sposoba-zaryadit-elektromobil-v-blekaut/chetyre-sposoba-zaryadit-elektromobil-v-blekaut-1.webp)

## Key Points

- EV owners in Ukraine have adapted to blackouts and use alternative charging methods
- Towing with regeneration yields about 1 kWh per km, but manufacturers do not endorse the method
- Portable stations like EcoFlow/Bluetti with 2,000–4,000 Wh capacity are suitable for charging via a Type 2 cable
- Solar panels, generators, and home batteries are solutions for private homes requiring preparation

Massive power outages, which have become a routine part of daily life in Ukraine, at first glance should have buried the very idea of owning an electric vehicle. However, practice has shown the opposite: there are visibly no fewer battery-powered cars on city streets, and owners have successfully adapted to the new conditions. As Ukrainian EV expert and Autogeek founder Yevhen Mudryi notes, the key survival factor for electric transport during blackouts is the owner's "certain flexibility." Many already have a so-called "Plan B"—charging the car in a neighboring district, at their workplace, or at night when the load on the power grid decreases. Furthermore, modern electric vehicles have learned to charge quickly, allowing owners to replenish their energy reserves even when power outage hours alternate with short periods of electricity availability.

### Towing with Regeneration: A Controversial Yet Working Method

One of the simplest and most controversial charging methods is towing an electric vehicle with another car in Drive mode with the accelerator released. The control electronics perceive the situation as standard regeneration (coasting downhill, and the traction motor acts as a generator, feeding energy back into the battery). The main downside: EV manufacturers do not endorse this method and in some cases explicitly prohibit it. The risk is that standard regeneration is designed for short durations, and prolonged towing can cause the electronics to overheat. Nevertheless, real-world owners share positive experiences: a popular Nissan Leaf was charged from minimum to 73 km of range in ten minutes of towing; a Tesla replenished its battery from 0% to 9% over 6 km of towing; another case involved a Tesla gaining a charge from 14% to 55% over 40 km of towing, meaning the battery added 65 kWh of energy while the tow vehicle pulled the setup at speeds exceeding 110 km/h. On average, a standard electric vehicle gains about 1 kWh of energy for every kilometer towed. Experts recommend reviewing feedback from owners of specific models before applying this method.

### Portable Power Stations: A Power Bank for Your Car

The second method, which raises no objections from either auto manufacturers or portable electronics makers, is connecting the electric vehicle to a portable power station (such as EcoFlow or Bluetti), which Ukrainian residents have been using en masse in apartments during blackouts. The car is connected via a standard Type 2 cable to the station's outlet and perceives it as a regular household electrical grid. Any electric vehicle supporting alternating current (AC) charging will work. However, there is an important nuance: the station must be sufficiently powerful and capacious—around 2,000–4,000 Wh, whereas most home power banks do not exceed 1,000 Wh. Even with a serious power station, it will not provide extensive driving range, but it is quite sufficient for a top-up of several dozen kilometers in a critical situation.

### Solar Panels, Generators, and Home Batteries

The third and fourth charging methods involve alternative energy sources, which are particularly relevant for private house owners. Solar panels allow the car's battery to be replenished during daylight hours when the grid is down, while a generator provides stable power for charging at any time of day. A home battery acts as a buffer: it stores energy during hours when electricity is available or from a generator, and supplies it to the electric vehicle during a blackout. All these solutions require advance preparation and certain financial investments, but in practice, they often work and make the electric vehicle a truly autonomous mode of transport.

### Eco-Driving as Part of the Strategy

An important accompanying factor emphasized by experts is the driving style itself. A mindful EV driver tries not to let the battery drop to absolute depletion, which is critical for executing unconventional energy replenishment methods. The higher the remaining charge, the easier and safer it is to apply any alternative method. Combined—flexibility in choosing charging location and time, having a "Plan B," fast-charging capabilities, and a sensible approach to battery consumption—these elements form a sustainable strategy for owning an electric vehicle amid regular blackouts, making battery transport not vulnerable, but rather more autonomous compared to fuel-powered vehicles.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- [Нет света – есть варианты: как зарядить электромобиль в блекаут](https://auto.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nemae-svitla-e-varianti-zaryadzhaemo-elektromobil-1794427545.html) - Primary source. Contains all facts, figures, and expert quotes used in the article. Methods of towing, portable stations, solar panels, and generators are described with concrete examples.
- [Как зарядить телефон без света: спасительные способы, если нет повербанка](https://www.obozrevatel.com/tehno-oboz/kak-zaryadit-telefon-bez-sveta-spasitelnyie-sposobyi-esli-net-poverbanka.htm) - Contextual source on alternative electronics charging during blackouts. Contains no contradictions with the main material, nor does it add new EV facts.

## FAQ

### Can an electric vehicle be charged by towing it with another car?

Yes, with Drive mode engaged and the accelerator released, the electronics perceive towing as regeneration, and the traction motor acts as a generator. The average result is about 1 kWh per km. However, manufacturers do not endorse this method due to the risk of electronics overheating during prolonged towing.

### What portable station is suitable for charging an electric vehicle?

The station must have a capacity of around 2,000–4,000 Wh (e.g., EcoFlow, Bluetti). Connection is made using a standard Type 2 cable to the station's outlet. Most home power banks under 1,000 Wh are insufficient for this task.

### What should an EV owner in a private house do during a blackout?

For private homes, solar panels, generators, and home batteries are relevant. These solutions require advance preparation but allow for autonomous recharging during outage periods.

### Why haven't electric vehicles disappeared from the streets during blackouts?

According to expert Yevhen Mudryi, owners have adapted: they use a "Plan B" (charging in a neighboring district, at work, at night), utilize alternative energy sources, and take advantage of modern models' fast-charging capabilities. The key is flexibility.