What exactly runs off the 12v battery? Potential for an EcoFlow Alternator Charger while driving

[MassDeduction]

What exactly runs off the 12v battery? Windshield wipers, radio, infotainment display, power windows, cabin light, etc., all do, right? As those are commodity parts used in both ICE and electric cars. What about the heated and ventilated seats? How about the resistance heater for the cabin? The air conditioning? How about the heat pump? I think the HVAC might not run off the 12v battery, but that pretty much everything else does.

I'm curious because EcoFlow has an interesting device (Alternator Charger) that can actually charge the 12v battery from select lithium ion power stations. In theory you could do that while you drive, so that the high voltage battery doesn't need to top up the 12v battery.

It wouldn't be a gigantic difference, but it'd be a fun project to do. And it would have the benefit that it could jump the 12v battery if it died, as the EcoFlow Alternator Charger is a two-way charger.

 

[IanL]

Having seen the cost (over £2k) it doesn't look cost-effective to me.

 

[Butch_DeLoria]

What exactly runs off the 12v battery? Windshield wipers, radio, infotainment display, power windows, cabin light, etc., all do, right? As those are commodity parts used in both ICE and electric cars. What about the heated and ventilated seats? How about the resistance heater for the cabin? The air conditioning? How about the heat pump? I think the HVAC might not run off the 12v battery, but that pretty much everything else does.

I'm curious because EcoFlow has an interesting device (Alternator Charger) that can actually charge the 12v battery from select lithium ion power stations. In theory you could do that while you drive, so that the high voltage battery doesn't need to top up the 12v battery.

It wouldn't be a gigantic difference, but it'd be a fun project to do. And it would have the benefit that it could jump the 12v battery if it died, as the EcoFlow Alternator Charger is a two-way charger.

You’re right that most of the accessory components like wipers, infotainment, cabin lights, and power windows draw from the 12v battery. As for HVAC, components like the heat pump and resistance heater typically run off the main high-voltage battery, not the 12v. However, certain controls related to HVAC could still rely on the 12v. It’s cool that the EcoFlow system could double as a jump starter.