Ford F-150 home backup option starts around $1,100
Ford is selling a meter-connected backup power setup for certain F-150 trucks as automakers push further into home energy.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
3 min read
Ford F-150 home backup power is now available through a new setup that lets some pickup owners connect their trucks to a home electric meter during outages, the Associated Press reported. The system starts around $1,100 and gives Ford another way to use electric and hybrid vehicle technology as grid demand rises and EV sales cool.
The option works with F-150 PowerBoost hybrid pickups and F-150 Lightning electric trucks. Ford developed a short adapter with Global Power Products that plugs into a 240-volt outlet on the vehicle, then connects by cable to a transfer switch installed at the electric meter.
From there, a homeowner can choose which circuits to power from the breaker box. Ford’s Amanda Roraff told AP the pitch is that many compatible-truck owners already have the power source sitting in the driveway.
How does Ford F-150 home backup work?
The system turns a compatible F-150 into a backup power supply for selected parts of a home during an outage. It requires professional installation at the meter, and the owner manages which appliances or systems receive power by switching breakers on or off.
AP reported that Ford estimates an F-150 Lightning can power a home for about two to three days, depending on what is running. The PowerBoost hybrid can provide up to five days of power on one tank of gasoline, according to the company.
Ford says the meter-connected option is cheaper than many portable diesel generators or whole-home standby systems, which can cost several thousand dollars after installation. The new setup is limited for now: AP reported it applies to about 200,000 vehicles.
Ford also sells a separate Home Integration System with bidirectional capability. That system can move electricity between the vehicle and the home and can also support power flowing to the grid.
Why automakers are moving into home energy
The Ford program is part of a wider push by automakers to turn vehicle batteries and hybrid systems into tools for homes and utilities. Parth Vaishnav, an assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan, told AP that car companies are looking for other businesses they can sell into.
More than 630,000 vehicles in the U.S. already have some form of this capability, according to estimates cited by AP. Automakers are also working toward broader vehicle-to-grid support, which would allow vehicles to help supply electricity beyond a single home.
Kia and Wallbox have teamed up on backup power and grid-support options for eligible vehicles, AP reported. Tesla offers home connection features through additional hardware, with the Cybertruck able to provide full vehicle-to-home power while other Tesla models can power specific devices or appliances.
General Motors is also building an energy business. AP reported that a GM partnership with WeaveGrid lets some GM EV owners with the proper home system and grid connection enroll in utility reliability programs; GM’s vehicle-to-home technology can disconnect a house from the grid during an outage and begin supplying power from the EV.
What are the limits?
The technology still faces practical hurdles. AP reported that systems need third-party testing for safety standards, vehicles and chargers must be able to communicate, and utilities must approve interconnections, a process that can take years in some cases.
Homeowners also have to understand what their vehicles can safely power and how to manage circuits during an outage. Scott Samuelsen, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine, told AP that the ability to provide electricity during outages could become very popular.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.