Buyers of the Ford F-150 Lightning might be pleasantly surprised to know that their electric truck can serve as an alternative power supply option. Although the power sector in the U.S. is quite reliable, situations like rolling blackouts and scheduled outages for maintenance happen from time to time. The F-150 is designed to power homes whenever there's an outage. Once power is restored, the truck instantly reverts to charge mode if it was charging before the blackout occurred. As EVs attempt to sway more consumers in the market, use cases like this will tip the scale in favor of electric drivetrains.
Announced in 2021, the F-150 Lightning is the first in the F-150 series to come with a battery pack. Although the F-150 Lightning depends on an electric motor instead of a traditional gasoline engine, the body style hasn't changed. Even with the EV, buyers are promised the mean look and towing capabilities of an F-150 truck. Ford joins the list of automakers offering electric variants of gasoline-powered trucks. Chevrolet recently added an electric Silverado to its fleet, the first in the model’s history. Tesla is expected to launch the much-awaited Cybertruck soon, providing pickup lovers with more electric truck options. The F-150 Lightning faces stiff competition from new releases like the GMC Hummer EV and the Rivian R1T truck.
One thing that EVs have managed to accomplish in recent times is offering a driving experience that's identical to that of a gasoline vehicle. EVs also increase their service delivery by offering advanced driver-assist features as witnessed in Tesla’s Enhanced Autopilot package and the F-150 Lightning’s BlueCruise package. The F-150 Lightning supports an innovative solution called Intelligent Backup Power that enables the Ford truck to power homes whenever power is cut off. To experience the Intelligent Backup Power system, drivers need to have two components aside from the truck. These include a Home Integration System and a Ford Charge Station Pro which enables the F-150 Lightning to supply power during blackouts.
Backup Power For Up To 10 Days
Ford has partnered with Sunrun, a major solar energy provider in the U.S., to operate the Intelligent Backup Power system. Ford has developed the system while Sunrun’s employees install its components which include the Ford Charge Station Pro, home inverter, and the Home Integration System. Buyers can also access other services like solar energy installations which would facilitate the use of alternate energy to charge the F-150 Lightning. The F-150 Lightning is the first Ford vehicle to support this system which uses bi-directional power to transform the pickup into a standby generator. The system can supply up to 9.6 kW to the home which means that households can enjoy three days of uninterrupted power. If properly rationed, the truck can supply power for up to 10 days.
Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power isn't restricted to the home as the technology can be used anywhere the duo of Ford's Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System are installed. The backup system can also be turned on using a smartphone app. Buyers of the F-150 Lightning (extended battery pack) will receive the Intelligent Backup System and the Charge Station Pro for free. However, those that got the Ford F-150 Lightning (standard battery variant) will need to buy the Charge Station Pro and pay installation costs.
Source: Ford