BYD electric vehicle powers voting machines during Paraná blackout

During the 2026 elections in Salto de Lontra, Paraná, a BYD electric vehicle provided critical backup power to an electoral office after a storm caused a blackout. Utilizing Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, the car acted as a mobile power source, allowing electronic voting machines to remain operational and ensuring the continuity of the democratic process.

V2L technology enables electric vehicles to convert stored battery energy into alternating current, effectively serving as a large-scale power bank for devices ranging from computers to complex machinery like voting terminals. While other cities in the region, such as Francisco Beltrão and Umuarama, had to rely on flashlights and batteries during power outages, the use of the electric vehicle in Salto de Lontra provided a more stable technical solution.

Experts note that this capability is increasingly relevant for emergency resilience. Several models currently sold in Brazil, including the BYD Dolphin Mini and Geely EX2, feature this technology. In such applications, power supply is typically cut when the vehicle's battery reaches a 20% threshold to ensure the car remains drivable.