Stranded EV Driver Powers Up Using Gas Generator

Running out of battery power far from a charging station is every electric vehicle owner's nightmare, but one creative solution is turning that fear into a manageable inconvenience.

A GMC Sierra EV driver recently found himself stranded at a gas station parking lot with a dead battery. Nevada-based emergency roadside assistance company Sparkcheck911 arrived with a surprising fix: a portable gas generator that delivered power to the all-electric truck right where it sat.

The scene captured on video shows a flashing green light on the Sierra, confirming the truck was successfully charging from the generator. While it might seem ironic to use gasoline to power an electric vehicle, the solution offers real peace of mind for EV drivers worried about range anxiety.

Not all generators charge at the same speed. A standard generator with basic three-prong outlets can take nearly 36 hours to significantly charge a large EV battery. However, specialized generators equipped with Level 2 charging capabilities work much faster.

The Apex generator, which runs on either gasoline or propane, can output 11.5 kilowatts of power. That's enough to fully charge a standard Tesla Model 3 from empty in about five hours, comparable to home charging speeds.

For comparison, a Kia Niro EV sitting at one percent battery would need nearly nine hours on a portable generator to reach full charge. That's still faster than the two and a half days it takes on a standard home outlet, though slower than the 45 minutes required at a DC fast charging station.

The Bright Side

This portable charging solution addresses one of the biggest concerns holding people back from buying electric vehicles. While public charging infrastructure continues expanding across the country, mobile rescue services fill a critical gap for drivers who miscalculate their range or encounter unexpected detours.

Companies like Sparkcheck911 are building entire businesses around this need, offering 24/7 emergency charging that comes to stranded drivers rather than requiring expensive towing to the nearest charging station. The service transforms a potentially hours-long ordeal into a manageable wait, similar to running out of gas in a conventional vehicle.

As EV adoption grows, these creative solutions prove that electric vehicle ownership doesn't mean being left helpless on the roadside.