Electric pickup trucks are revolutionizing the automotive industry with their impressive capabilities and innovative features. Ford’s latest offering, the F-150 Lightning, unveiled on May 19th, showcases a groundbreaking system that goes beyond torque, horsepower, and transportation. This electric vehicle is equipped with a feature that can provide power to homes during outages, amplifying the potential of pickup trucks.
Supplying Power During Outages: Ford’s F-150 Lightning is not the only vehicle aiming to highlight this unique benefit. Lucid Motors and other companies are also promoting similar features. This becomes especially relevant considering the devastating power outage in Texas earlier this year, which left millions without electricity for several days and tragically resulted in numerous casualties. The F-150 Lightning’s “Ford Intelligent Backup Power” can deliver up to 9.6kW of energy to a home for up to three days, leveraging the fully charged in-vehicle battery.
Seamless Integration and Charging Solutions: Ryan O’Gorman, the head of Ford’s electric vehicle strategy, emphasized this capability during a pre-launch video briefing. He explained that once the F-150 Lightning is plugged in, the Intelligent Backup Power system automatically activates during a power outage, supplying electricity to the home. When power is restored, the vehicle seamlessly resumes charging its battery. To facilitate this integration, Ford has partnered with Sunrun, a leading provider of solar, battery, and energy services. Sunrun offers the Ford Charge Station Pro, an 80-amp charger and home integrated system that accompanies the F-150 Lightning. This comprehensive solution ensures a reliable power supply and charging infrastructure.
Expanded Applications and Versatility: Beyond serving as a home backup power source, the F-150 Lightning Hybrid also features the “Pro Power Onboard” system, which provides 7.2kW to 9.6kW of power. This system enables users to power various devices and equipment, even outdoors. With up to 11 outlets strategically placed on the truck’s loading platform, interior, and front trunk, it can energize everything from bikes to circular saws to jackhammers. The Pro Power Onboard system intelligently manages battery power, alerting the driver via smartphone notifications when the battery level is low and prioritizing power for continued work or the journey home. Moreover, the system automatically shuts off when the battery is close to a charging station, alleviating concerns about range anxiety.
Monitoring and Future Innovations: Ford provides comprehensive information about the battery power consumed by both the Intelligent Backup Power and Pro Power Onboard systems through their dedicated app and in-vehicle infotainment screen. Looking ahead, Ford plans to optimize energy consumption further. They envision charging the vehicle’s battery during periods of low electricity demand, such as at night when rates are lower, and utilizing the in-vehicle battery to power homes during peak consumption hours. This forward-thinking approach aims to reduce electricity bills while promoting sustainable practices.
Conclusion: The F-150 Lightning represents a paradigm shift in the concept of automotive power. With its advanced features, Ford has expanded the capabilities of pickup trucks to include emergency power supply and versatile on-site power solutions. This innovation not only provides convenience and peace of mind to vehicle owners but also contributes to a greener and more resilient energy future. The power of pickup trucks has taken on a whole new meaning with the F-150 Lightning.