The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the most anticipated new products launches this year. With over 200,000 preorders, this truck is poised to make significant contributions to the move toward electrification. Now, Ford has announced that its all-electric pickup won’t just help you move stuff around or power your tools at work. Yes, the F-150 Lightning will also power your home.
In partnership with Sunrun, a leading solar company, Ford has announced that it will offer an enhanced home energy management system that leverages the 2022 F-150 Lightning’s massive battery pack. This adds a home charging solution installed by Sunrun, which includes an 80-amp Ford Charge Pro charger and a home integration system. This will enable the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning to store and supply power to owners’ homes. Additionally, Sunrun will also offer home solar options to customers interested in leveraging renewable energy sources for their properties.
“F-150 Lightning brings new innovations to customers including the ability to power their homes when they need it most,” said Matt Stover, Charging and Energy Services Director at Ford. “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 storage source — and future truck features can help accelerate the development of a less carbon-intensive grid.”
SEE ALSO: Small business owners should consider the F-150 Lightning Pro extended-range for their business
Ford Intelligent Backup Power makes its debut on the F-150 Lightning. This allows customers to use bidirectional power technology from the truck to provide energy to homes during outages, shelter from storms, or stay cool during a heat wave. The extended range battery is 131 kWh and can deliver up to 9.6 kW of power in a cleaner, more efficient way versus an internal combustion vehicle. When the power goes down, the F-150 Lightning immediately steps in and powers your home, acting as a generator. The truck will immediately stop and revert to utility power when the grid comes back online. Ford says an F-150 Lightning with the extended range battery can power a home for three days on its own or up to 10 days when used in conjunction with solar panels and/or rationing.
Retail and commercial customers must equip their properties with the Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System to benefit from the Intelligent Backup Power. This is composed of a power inverter, a dark start battery, and a transfer switch to allow for two-way flow. Buyers who opted for the extended range battery in their F-150 Lightning immediately get the Ford Charge Station Pro while those who didn’t need to purchase it separately. The Home Integration System will be available for purchase this spring through Sunrun.
WATCH: We tour the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center where Ford builds the F-150 Lightning
In the future, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning will get additional features that will help customers potentially save more money and ease the pressure on the electrical grid, especially in peak hours. One example is that during times when electricity is most expensive, the truck will power the home. Once that period of the day has passed, the truck can then be charged at lower rates or via solar panels. The load shift could also act as a buffer to the grid, reducing carbon the amount of carbon energy being produced without affecting your daily routine or charging schedule.
