By KATIE DOLLARD
A savvy British couple who drive an electric vehicle have told how they powered their household using their car battery during Storm Goretti.
Tina Griffin and her husband John were stuck when the severe storm knocked out the power in their area earlier this month, leaving them without electricity.
But while their neighbours were pushed to the brink by the blackout, the quick-thinkers came up with a solution to save their frozen food, revive their phones and keep their lights on.
The ingenious retirees plugged their household essentials into their electric Renault 5 E-tech.
The Newquay, Cornwall-based couple were able to call loved ones, use a hairdryer and iron, and more – all requiring just 30 per cent of the car's battery.
Tina Griffin, 67, and her husband John, 72, were stuck when the severe storm knocked out the power in their area, leaving them without electricity. But their Renault 5 EV came to the rescue
'We had received a phone alert telling us this very severe storm was approaching,' said Tina, 67, who used to work in HR for the NHS.
'It wasn't until branches and acorns started bashing against our windows, and plants started flying around the garden, that we realised how bad it was going to get.
'We just tried to stay as calm as possible, and remained inside.'
Tina and John, a 72-year-old ex-police officer, say it was at around 7pm on 8 January that the raging tempest really took hold, wreaking havoc outside.
Tina said: 'The wind was picking up more and more and before we knew it, all of our electricity went out.
'I'm not normally an anxious person but this was a really fast-moving storm, it was so scary.
'We were also worried about the trees surrounding us – plus our garden, plants and hot tub.
'Although we were trying to keep calm and laugh it off, it did get worrying.
'We pulled out head lights, candles and re-chargeable torches to help us navigate the darkness.'
The ingenious retirees plugged their household essentials into their electric Renault 5 E-tech. The Newquay, Cornwall-based couple were able to call loved ones, use a hairdryer and iron, and more – all requiring just 30 per cent of the car's battery
While their neighbours were pushed to the brink by the blackout, the quick-thinkers came up with a solution to save their frozen food, revive their phones and keep their lights on
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) has become a common feature in the latest electric cars. Using a three-pin adapter that plugs into the cars' charging sockets, owners can tap directly into the lithium-ion battery's supply to power household devices
After a gloomy night – and with their phones now dead – the morning brought an incredible bolt of inspiration for the pair.
Out of nowhere, Tina came up with the idea of plugging an extension lead into their Renault – using its Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) tech for the very first time.
V2L has become a common feature in the latest electric cars. Using a three-pin adapter that plugs into the cars' charging sockets, owners can tap directly into the lithium-ion battery's supply to power household devices.
She said: 'I just remembered that there was an adaptor in the boot of the car.
'And I'd charged the vehicle the day before – so I knew the battery was full.
'We went out, plugged in the extension lead and fed it through the garage.
'Then we were able to charge our phones and put the WiFi back on, which was a huge relief.
'It was like magic, we were so happy – and we were both surprised that I came up with the idea!'
If that weren't impressive enough, Tina was able to get some housework done, too.
Tina said: 'I plugged the iron in, my hairdryer and some lamps so we didn't have to sit in darkness.
'John also plugged in the freezer which I didn't even realise and it saved our food.
'It was a lifesaver – and above all, it was so great that we were able to use our phones to contact people and let them know we were OK.
'Our neighbour was amazed – he eventually evacuated his home as he needed power.
'If it wasn't for the car, we would've had to do the same.'
Tina says they purchased the Renault a few weeks ago after hearing from a friend how 'reliable' electric cars are.
She explained: 'I used to always think it'd be a hassle and really expensive.
'But compared to my old petrol car which would cost me £180 a month in fuel, this only costs me £35 a month.
'It also has a feature which tells you where the closest charging points are – but I've got the biggest battery version which keeps it going for ages, anyway.'
Tina said: 'I plugged the iron in, my hairdryer and some lamps so we didn't have to sit in darkness. 'John also plugged in the freezer which I didn't even realise and it saved our food. 'It was a lifesaver – and above all, it was so great that we were able to use our phones to contact people and let them know we were OK'
Tina said their neighbours were forced to evacuate their homes due to the lack of power. But the little electric Renault spared them from doing the same
Having avoided any damage to their property, or having to decamp to a hotel, the pair has spoken about the huge gratitude to their nifty, eco-friendly motor
The storm raged until Sunday, but the duo got their power back on Saturday, which brought their heating back on and returned comfort to their home.
They hadn't had to leave their house at all during the dangerous weather – and when they saw how little battery had been drained from the Renault, they were stunned.
Tina said of the charge-up: 'Amazingly, we'd only used 30 per cent of the battery.
'We'd plugged everything in Friday morning and unplugged most of it in the evening as I was worried we might need to drive away.
'But it only used a really small amount of energy. John and I were both flabbergasted.
'It is a super handy car as well and I've fallen in love with it – mine is a beautiful shade of yellow!'
Having avoided any damage to their property, or having to decamp to a hotel, the pair felt huge relief – and gratitude to their nifty, eco-friendly motor.
Tina added: 'We are both OK, as well as our house and car, which feels like a miracle as we are surrounded by big old oak trees.
'None were blown down but they're now being cut and shortened in case similarly strong winds return.
'We feel extremely lucky and fortunate that we're fine.
'And we would definitely use the Renault in a storm again if we needed to.'
The Renault 5 E-Tech qualifies for the Government's Electric Car Grant, with prices starting from £21,495.