GM V2H Bundle - GLOSSARY; Frequently Used Terms and Acronyms

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GM Energy V2H Bundle User Manual
GLOSSARY
Frequently Used Terms and Acronyms
This glossary is a quick-reference guide to terms you may encounter in this guide, while talking to a provider
or referencing other GM Energy resources.
Alternating Current (AC) – An electric current that alternates direction at regular intervals. Homes run on AC power
Amp (A) – Short for ampere, a unit used to measure electric current (i.e., how fast an electric current ows).
Usually used in the context of EV charging (e.g., a 50-amp EV charger)
Automatic Backup Power – A setting found on your Compatible GM EV’s mobile app (myChevrolet, myBuick, myGMC or
myCadillac); it must be enabled (switched on) in order for a GM EV to discharge power to a home using the GM Energy
V2H Bundle
Battery electric vehicle (BEV) – A vehicle powered purely by a high-voltage battery. There is no gasoline engine and,
therefore, zero tailpipe emissions
BDI – Abbreviation for bidirectional inverter, referred to here as the GM Energy Inverter. This is a component in the
GM Energy V2H Bundle that makes Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) charging possible
Bidirectional – Refers to the ability of an inverter to direct power two ways — that is, from the power grid to the
Compatible General Motors Electric Vehicle (EV) or from the GM EV to the home (V2H). This only works on Compatible
GM EVs equipped with bidirectional technology
Charging – Replenishing an EV battery with electricity from an external source
Charging Coupler – The device attached to the cord that connects the GM Energy PowerShift Charger to a GM
EV. Might also be referred to as a charging outlet or charging plug. It functions much like the hose and nozzle on a
conventional fuel pump (In technical documents, this may be referred to as a CCS, which indicates it is a standard
Combined Charging System)
Charging Holster – The wall-mounted unit that holds the Charging Coupler when it is not in use, included with the
GM Energy PowerShift Charger
Charging Session Duration – Generally refers to the amount of time it takes for an EV to be fully charged, starting from
the moment it is plugged into an EV charging station until the charging process is completed
Compatible GM EV – A GM electric vehicle that is equipped with discharging capability. For compatibility details, refer to
the GM Energy website
Combined Charging System (CCS) – This conguration on the Charging Coupler enables DC fast charging capability
Commissioning – The step in the install process that turns the system on, updates system settings and connects the system
to your wireless network. Final approval to operate may be dependent on inspections by local jurisdiction representatives
Direct Current (DC) – An electric current owing in a single direction. EV batteries store energy as DC power
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) – Any equipment, such as a wall-mounted charger or a portable cord set,
used to charge an EV. The GM Energy PowerShift Charger is an EVSE
GM EV – A General Motors electric vehicle
GM Energy – An ecosystem of energy management products and services for home, commercial and GM EV customers
offering a network of charging stations, dedicated back-up home power and a suite of new products to help create
a more resilient grid
GM Energy Dark Start Battery – The unit responsible for providing low-voltage power to the GM Energy V2H system during
grid outages, designed to “wake up” the system if a power outage lasts more than 10 minutes and the Compatible GM EV is
not plugged in
GM Energy Home Hub – The Microgrid Interconnect Device that acts like your home’s electrical panel and circuit
breakers to manage and distribute electricity from your GM EV to predetermined points in your home when there
is a power outage
GM Energy Inverter – The unit that converts direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) and controls how much
power is being drawn from the vehicle and sent to the home. It is designed to intelligently manage multiple sources
of off-grid power, such as from a power bank or solar panels. In some technical documents, it may be referred
to as a BDI (Bidirectional Inverter)
GM Energy PowerShift Charger – The wall-mounted unit that delivers bidirectional charging to your Compatible GM
EV and, in the event of a power outage, to your properly equipped home. It is part of the GM Energy V2H Bundle. In
technical documents, it might be referred to as the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE)
ISC – Short Circuit Current
Kilowatt (kW) – A measurement of power (1 kW = 1,000 watts)
Kilowatt-hour (kWh) – A measurement of energy — how much power (kilowatts) can be supplied over a period of time (hours).
This stored energy can be used/consumed at different rates. For example, 50 kWh stored in a battery could deliver:
• 2 hours of 25-kW power
• 5 hours of 10-kW power
• 50 hours of 1-kW power