Ford said from the get-go that the F-150 Lightning would be capable of serving as a backup power source, and now it reveals that the 131-kWh battery will be able to power the average US home for days on end. When connected via the Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System, the F-150 will automatically take over powering the home if grid power goes down. Using its bidirectional charging capabilities, Ford’s system will send up to 9.6 kilowatts of power into the home. When the grid goes back online, the system automatically switches the home back to electrical grid power.
Estimating average US household consumption at 30 kWh per day, Ford says that the Lightning can meet an average household’s entire energy needs for up to three days. That 30-kWh figure jives with figures from the US Energy Information Administration, which indicates that the average US residential utility customer used 893 kWh per month in 2020, breaking down to 29.3 kWh per day during that particular leap year. Ford further clarifies that the Lightning battery can power a home for up to 10 days when combined with solar charging and/or power rationing strategies.
The US Energy Information Administration reported last year that the average American electricity customer experienced eight hours of cumulative power outage during the course of 2020, a record high. Even if that eight-hour average came during a single event, the F-150 Lightning would be able to comfortably cover it.
Ford has selected Silicon Valley solar provider Sunrun as its preferred Intelligent Backup Power installer. F-150 Lightning Extended Range buyers will receive the 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro automatically, and standard-range buyers can purchase it separately. When combined with the Home Integration System, developed in cooperation with Sunrun, the package adds the power inverter, dark start battery and transfer switch needed for the bidirectional power flow.
Sunrun will begin offering the Home Integration System in spring (Northern Hemisphere), around the time when the first Lightning deliveries get underway. The company will also offer solar options that can be integrated into the system at the time of installation.
In the future, Ford plans to expand bidirectional charging capability to allow F-150 Lightning owners to seamlessly charge the truck when power demand and electricity rates are low, feeding power back into the home grid during high demand. This will potentially save customers money while reducing stress on the electrical grid.
More information can be found at Ford’s dedicated Intelligent Backup Power website.
Source: Ford
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What if you’ve just plugged your almost drained battery into the charger and then the lights go out?
No power for your home and you can’t use your truck to get anywhere.
Gamers remember that Duke Nukem Forever was vaporware for over a decade before it finally came out. I see a lot of talk about what the F-150 lightning can do, but Ford can’t back that up with actual production numbers of quality electric vehicles.
I’m curious if the output of the inverter will include 220VAC? Usually needed for some appliances, heaters, AC.
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