Montreal-based dcbel have recently unveiled the r16 energy management unit. It uses solar power to charge your car, which can then be used as a plug-in power source for your home.

Anyone looking for a more energy efficient lifestyle, or who is regularly affected by power shortages, can benefit from these advancements in car technology.

Read on to learn more about the r16 and find out how

Jerry

can save you hundreds of dollars on

car insurance

Charging your electric car at home could soon help power your house.

How does the dcbel r16 work?

As explained by

Mashable

, smart home energy systems are becoming increasingly popular, promising to save energy (and money) over the long term.

dcbel’s solution appears to be more affordable than those offered by rivals like Tesla, with the r16 priced at $4,999, plus installation.

Crucially, it enables you to use an electric vehicle (EV) to provide electricity to your home in the event of a blackout. Tesla’s Powerwall can’t do this yet.

The r16 can charge two EVs simultaneously, as quickly as 60 miles of range per hour. Unless you are driving all day, your electric car will have a charged battery most of the time.

CEO Marc-Andre Forget explains that dcbel customers will be able to use this stored energy to supplement their everyday power use, and it will automatically turn on in the event of a power outage.

A fully charged car battery can supply up to 12 hours of electricity to an average household.

MORE:

How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?

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Will the r16 be available to everyone?

dcbel will launch the r16 in California first, thanks to the relatively high electric car ownership there. Availability should expand along with increasing EV ownership in other states.

The r16 can be used to charge any EV, but in order to use your car as a backup power source, it needs to have bi-directional charging.

Currently, this technology is limited to the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander, but your options will expand quickly.

Several carmakers have promised these capabilities within the next couple of years, suggesting mass adoption is expected.

Save on electric car insurance

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5 Cool Electric Cars Coming Out in 2022

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Written By

Alex Healey · Expert Insurance Writer

"Alex Healey is an insurance writer specializing in car insurance and personal finance. Alex’s mission is to create informative, just-in-time content for car owners and buyers. Alex has written articles for Jerry on topics ranging from hybrid vehicle rankings to used car costs. Before joining Jerry, Alex worked as a digital content specialist and editor for brands including InsuranceHotline.com, Rates.ca, and Booking.com. When not writing for Jerry, Alex continues to build his freelance digital content portfolio in the insurance and automotive industries. "

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