General Motors wants its EVs to power homes

General GM wants to use its electric vehicles as backup power sources.

On Tuesday the carmaker announced a pilot program with Northern California's Pacific Gas and Electric Company to test out bidirectional charging from vehicles to homes. The other way around would be if you plug your car into an outlet.

GM's charged up electric vehicles would serve as a power source for homes and as a backup generator. Rick Spina said in a media briefing that he considers EV to be mobile batteries. The battery from a vehicle like a Chevy Bolt EV could power the average Northern California home for about two days during an emergency, according to a VP of business development from Pacific Gas and Electric.

It will start as a small pilot with a few vehicles to deliver power to a home. The pilot will be expanded to more customers by the end of the year.

GM's electric vehicles are not capable of delivering energy to a home or another vehicle. The upcoming Hummer EV and Chevy Silverado EV pickup will be able to charge equipment, supplies, or even another EV.