Photo: Toyota
The huge snow storm crossing North America now cut off thousands of families from the electricity grid, letting those without a generator in darkness. But not this Canadian retired engineer who found a way to use his Prius for powering the house.
Retired Air Force engineer Bob Osemlak living in Thornhill had no electricity for almost a whole day on December 21st. Using his experience as a mechanic and engineering, Bob adapted his home’s power grid to drain electricity from his Toyota Prius.
After the power went out, Bob conserved his hybrid vehicle’s battery to use it for heating up his house and power electric appliances like the TV or fridge.
"When the furnace comes on, and the house gets up to temperature, I go to the thermostat and shut the furnace off," he said. "Now I can plug something else in: the TV, the fridge or the floor lamp."
After nine hours of using the Prius to power his house, the vehicle’s battery meter went down by almost a bar, representing a gallon of gasoline. However, Bob warned others not to use their hybrids to power the house if they have no engineering experience.
Story via Toronto Star
After the power went out, Bob conserved his hybrid vehicle’s battery to use it for heating up his house and power electric appliances like the TV or fridge.
"When the furnace comes on, and the house gets up to temperature, I go to the thermostat and shut the furnace off," he said. "Now I can plug something else in: the TV, the fridge or the floor lamp."
After nine hours of using the Prius to power his house, the vehicle’s battery meter went down by almost a bar, representing a gallon of gasoline. However, Bob warned others not to use their hybrids to power the house if they have no engineering experience.
Story via Toronto Star
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