There’s been no shortage of excitement surrounding the upcoming 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, as consumers are eager to get their hands on an electrified take of the iconic truck. But now, yet another impressive feature is nudging the truck into the spotlight – the upcoming F-150 will likely be the first electric truck delivered “with the ability to pinch-hit for the electrical grid during an electrical outage.”
In simple terms, the F-150 will have the ability to act as a backup generator using bidirectional charging offered via Sunrun’s home solar intelligent Backup Power system. With this feature, the truck will be able to “add energy independence” for owners, working with home solar to “shift loads off the grid” during peak times. Not only is this a cost-effective solution, but it can help reduce strain on the power grid which leads to outages in the first place.
Apparently, the F-150 Lightning is only the beginning of Ford’s relationship with battery supplier SK Innovation. The joint venture, called BlueOvalSK, promises to produce 60 gigawatt-hours annually by the middle of the decade. The venture also plans to reach 140 GWh of U.S. output later in the decade via an additional BlueOvalSK Battery Park in Kentucky.
Ford isn’t the first automaker to trend in the direction of bidirectional charging, although it appears they will be the first to market with it. Previously, Hyundai has hinted that future EVs would be built on the E-GMP dedicated EV platform and will be “bidirectional-compatible.” The Lucid Air also offers drivers a Connected Home Charging Station on the “basis for stopgap home-energy needs or even off-grid uses like a vacation home.”
