Challenge
- Frequent grid outages and limited solar production caused by the series of atmospheric river storms disrupted Steve Parani and his wife's work and life.
- High household energy demand from remote work, gaming, streaming, etc.
Solution
- Installed the FranklinWH System with an aPower 2 battery (15 kWh).
- Integrated V2L through the aGate, turning their Ford Lightning EV into a second battery.
Result
- Enhanced energy resiliency by transforming the EV into a core part of the home’s energy ecosystem.
- Achieved uninterrupted power for family and business during extended outages.
In Northern California, while an advanced home energy system can offer whole-home power backup during outages, many homeowners are seeking greater flexibility to enhance energy resiliency during prolonged outages. For Steve Parani, a homeowner and the owner of Solar Pro Energy Systems, that flexibility is realized in the form of vehicle-to-load (V2L) integration with the FranklinWH System.
Steve and his wife both work remotely, running businesses and careers from their home office. With two kids gaming and streaming, plus a plug-in hybrid family car and his Ford Lightning EV work truck charging at home, electricity demand is really high. “We’re constantly using power,” Steve admits. “We couldn’t afford interruptions.”
Limited Solar Generation During Extended Storms
Atmospheric river storms bring frequent grid outages in the place where Steve lives. For most households, that would mean work disruptions, spoiled food, and evenings in the dark. For Steve, who depends on constant uptime for his solar business, it risked lost revenue and credibility with clients.
At the same time, California’s shift in net metering policies made traditional solar exports far less valuable. Home batteries become essential not only for power protection but for peak shaving, that is, storing solar power during the day and using it when electricity rates spike at night.
Even with FranklinWH’s powerful aPower 2 battery delivering 15 kWh of storage, Steve needed a way to extend his resiliency during long storms with limited solar production.
The FranklinWH V2L Solution
The answer was V2L. Integrated through the FranklinWH aGate intelligent controller, Steve can plug his Ford Lightning directly into his FranklinWH System, turning the EV into a second battery source.
“With V2L, I can fuel the house and recharge the FranklinWH battery from my truck,” Steve explains. “It’s seamless, I mean, the aGate manages the power flow of all the sources, so the home keeps running without us even noticing the grid is down.” This integration transforms the EV from a transportation tool into a mobile energy reserve.
Energy Autonomy, Zero Disruptions
During the storm season, when overcast skies constrained solar generation, the V2L system proved its worth. Steve’s family enjoyed uninterrupted power for days, supported by the combination of the FranklinWH aPower 2 battery and the Ford Lightning’s large onboard battery pack.
“The lights don’t flicker. My wife keeps working in her office. I keep working in mine, and the kids keep playing their games,” Steve recalls. “We only know there’s an outage because the app tells us.”
The Advantage of V2L over Traditional Diesel Generators
Steve is quick to point out the advantage of V2L over traditional standby generators. “If you’ve gone solar, you’re probably environmentally conscious. Why burn gas when your electric vehicle already has a massive battery sitting in the driveway?”
With the FranklinWH System, the transition is automatic and seamless. Once the EV plugs into the aGate, it powers the house alongside the aPower 2. There’s no fuel to buy, no noise, and no maintenance cycle. There is just clean power.
Conclusion
For Steve Parani, FranklinWH’s integration of V2L technology has redefined what energy resiliency means. His EV is beyond a car for now. It has become a critical part of the household’s energy ecosystem, managed through the aGate and the FranklinWh App.
“The FranklinWH didn’t just give me an intelligent energy management system and a battery,” Steve concludes. “It gave me the ability to turn my electric vehicle into the ultimate backup solution. That’s a game changer for my family, for my business, and for the freedom of my life”.