This Chevy Cruze supplied power to a house for five days during an emergency blackout.

      Dre Dan on YouTube

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      If you find yourself facing a major storm without backup power ready to go, securing a generator at the store might prove challenging. They tend to sell out quickly when the power goes out, and assembling a generator yourself can become complex. However, if you have the right tools available—which, surprisingly, could include a 2012 Chevy Cruze—you can maintain power for essential functions for five days (or even longer).

      A couple of weeks ago, in mid-August, Valparaiso, Indiana, was declared a disaster area. The storms that swept through northern Indiana left thousands without power. One resident resorted to using their car for emergency electricity and shared their setup on their YouTube channel.

      The vehicle in question is a 2012 Chevy Cruze equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. While not particularly large by car standards, it's sufficiently powerful for use as a stationary generator. The limitation of this Bowtie sedan lies in its electrical supply capacity. However, the owner clarifies that this compact car is actually well-suited for this role compared to others.

      This specific Cruze is equipped with an H7 AGM battery, which is an enhancement over the standard flooded lead-acid battery, along with a factory 130-amp alternator. With the battery connected to a 2,000-watt pure sine wave inverter, capable of handling surges up to 4,000 watts, the car was able to power several household appliances. It managed to provide electricity to two full-size refrigerators, a full-size upright freezer, a television, lighting, and office gear like a printer, laptop, and external monitor. Quite impressive!

      Running for days, the car maintained a consistent voltage range of 12.2 to 12.8 volts for the most part. It typically dropped to around 11.8 volts under heavy loads, with a recorded low of 10.9 volts. While this could pose a risk of tripping a circuit, the owner reported no damage to their appliances or devices. In fact, the car automatically increased its idle speed to 1,000-1,200 rpm to assist in powering the alternator.

      After more than 120 hours of idling, the Cruze went through several five-gallon gas containers. The owner estimates it consumed .22 gallons per hour, which isn’t too bad. He would periodically get in the car to rev the engine, but otherwise, it required minimal maintenance. To be cautious, they sent in an oil sample for analysis to check if the five-day operation had any adverse effects on the engine.

      I Powered My House With a Chevy Cruze for 5 Days

      I’m not suggesting you go out and buy a Chevy Cruze solely for this reason. But if you happen to own one already? You might want to consider investing in any additional equipment you need to make this feasible in an emergency.

      Have a tip or question for the author? Reach out directly at caleb@thedrive.com.