Ford F-150 Lightning can power your house in case of blackout

Most pickups are commonly used for handling physical loads, not electrical ones. Then again, the Ford F-150 Lightning isn’t like most pickups. While it can already supply electricity for power tools and external appliances, it's also a rig that owners can rely on in the event of a power outage at home. 

You heard that right. Ford’s first electric pickup is capable of supplying electricity when the grid is down. The carmaker has partnered with California-based residential solar panel supplier Sunrun to utilize the F-150 Lightning’s battery capabilities in cases of emergency. 

“F-150 Lightning brings new innovations to customers, including the ability to power their homes when they need it most,” said Ford Charging and Energy Services Director Matt Stover. “Teaming up with Sunrun leverages their expertise to bring solar power to even more customers, giving them the chance to turn their truck into an incredible energy storage source.”

Ford's F-150 Lightning uses the Charge Station Pro co-developed with Siemens 

The extended-range version of the F-150 Lightning comes with the Charge Station Pro, along with an available Home Integration System which customers can have installed in their homes. Under normal conditions, the truck is recharged by drawing power from either the electrical grid or the power reserves gathered by Sunrun’s solar panels. 

When a power outage occurs, the truck engages its built-in Ford Intelligent Backup Power to reverse the process, functioning as a generator by supplying electricity to the house. Once power is restored, the system switches back to the default setting and charges the vehicle again.  

The electric truck's extended-range version has a 131 kilowatt-hour battery

Ford says that the F-150 Lightning’s 131 kilowatt-hour battery can power a home for up to three days, at a rate of 30 kilowatt-hours a day (extendable to 10 when alternated with solar power or rationing). Other future updates that Ford is planning include the ability to draw power from the truck to the home during peak hours, and then charging the vehicle when electric rates are lower, reducing dependence on the grid. 

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that 2020 was a record year for power interruptions in America, which makes the Ford F-150 Lightning an attractive proposition for customers. With a country like the Philippines that has its own share of natural calamities and resulting power outages, would it make sense for Ford Philippines to bring this electric pickup here? 

We power your knowledge of automotive developments at Philkotse.com.