2026 Ford F-150 pickup truck in Centennial, Colo. (David Zalubowski/Associated Press, File)
key takeaways:
- Automakers are expanding home and grid energy services as U.S. electric vehicle sales are projected to decline 23.8% year over year in the first half of 2026.
- Ford and Global Power Products introduced an adapter that allows some F-150 hybrid and electric pickups to power home circuits via a meter-mounted transfer switch.
- Widespread adoption requires safety testing, vehicle-charger communications, utility approvals and customer understanding, while interconnection agreements can take years.
DETROIT – Winter Storm Uri, the multiday freeze that devastated Texas in February 2021 and collapsed the state’s power grid, has been on Kenneth Korver’s mind ever since. Although the resident of New Braunfels, northeast of San Antonio, did not lose power at the time, he was not able to run his septic tank — it is independent from local systems. They had to fill their toilets with water from their backyard pool.
So when Korver, 64, bought a Ford F-150 last fall, his hope was to be better prepared for any new crisis.
“I was interested in trying to find some kind of power backup situation,” he said.
Now, Kovar has a setup from Ford that allows drivers of certain F-150 models to plug their vehicle directly into their electric meter at their home’s power lines during an outage.
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It is the latest example of automakers widely adopting their electrification technologies for the home energy business, especially as demand on the grid increases and electric vehicle sales slow. Car companies are looking to leverage their billions of dollars of EV investments to support backup power and electrical grid resiliency in a promising market for vehicle, home and grid technology.
“They’re trying to find other businesses they can sell,” said Partha Vaishnav, assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan.
Ford’s latest F-150 connects drivers to their meters
Drivers of F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid and F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks can now plug the 1-foot-long adapter into a 240-volt outlet. That adapter – which Ford created with company Global Power Products – adapts the vehicle to plug into a longer, separate cable. That cable connects directly to the transfer switch installed on one’s electricity meter.
A 1-foot-long adapter is shown connected to a 240-volt outlet on a Ford F-150 King Ranch in Southgate, Michigan. (Paul Sancia/Associated Press)
Through an adapter and cable chain, homeowners can essentially connect their vehicle directly to their home breaker box. The homeowner simply turns the breaker switches they want on and off for the appliances they want to operate.
“The way we think about it, especially for customers who already have a compatible vehicle, you already have the power source – it’s in your driveway,” said Amanda Rohroff, Ford’s grid and energy services business acceleration chief.
The Lightning can provide two to three days of power, depending on home appliance usage, and the PowerBoost Hybrid can provide up to five days of power on a single tank of gas.
The 1-foot adapter adapts the vehicle to plug into a longer, separate cable that connects directly to the transfer switch installed on one’s electric meter. (Paul Sansya/Associated Press)
The automaker says its solution is a less expensive way to supply backup power. Traditional, diesel-powered portable generators and full-home standby setups require expensive installation, costing several thousand dollars. This solution, which also requires professional installation at the meter, starts at about $1,100.
This setup only applies to about 200,000 vehicles so far, and it’s also specifically for outages. Ford also offers its Home Integration System for bidirectionality, sending power from the vehicle to the home and from the home to the vehicle, as well as being able to feed the grid.
Other automakers are promoting their energy solutions
According to estimates, more than 630,000 US vehicles already have this functionality, and automakers are rapidly expanding their available options with the goal of full vehicle-to-grid support in the long term.
South Korean auto brand Kia and EV charging company Wallbox have teamed up to help drivers of eligible compatible vehicles get home power backup during outages or periods of high demand to cut down on utility usage. They can send electricity back to the grid.
Tesla’s technology Is similar – allowing drivers of equipped vehicles to connect to their home using additional Tesla hardware. The Cybertruck offers full vehicle-to-home capability, while other Tesla models can only connect to and power specific appliances or devices.
A Pro Power onboard information screen is displayed on a Ford F-150 King Ranch. (Paul Sansya/Associated Press)
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General Motors is also in the energy sector.
For example, a recent partnership with WeaveGrid allows homeowners who drive certain GM EVs – and who have the automaker’s home system and a proper grid interconnection – to enroll in certain grid reliability utility programs. Once an outage is detected, GM vehicle-to-home technology Has the ability to disconnect one’s home from the grid and start supplying power from their GM EV.
“If you can imagine the future as we’re moving forward, there’s the potential – now we have this single platform – that allows our customers to experience our systems, but also have complete control of the energy,” said Wade Schaefer, vice president of GM energy.
A vital lifeline amid a slowdown in EV sales
Not only is this business important amid rising grid demand and increasing power outages, experts say automakers need to move forward with the less active EV market under current US federal policy. Pure EV sales in the US are set to decline 23.8% year over year in the first half of 2026, according to a July Cox Automotive report. This shows how much of an asset EV and hybrid ownership can be.
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Alex Fraser from Cox Fleet discusses how fleets should respond when a roadside breakdown occurs, testing their safety, compliance and customer service systems simultaneously. Tune in by going above or RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
The technology is not without challenges.
On the industry side, these systems are required to undergo third-party testing to meet safety standards, and the vehicle and charger need to be programmed to communicate. It also requires the approval of the utility where the capacity is being used. Interconnect agreement may take years to reach.
On the customer side, homeowners need to understand the capabilities of their vehicles and manage their systems themselves. It also brings another generator of electricity into the home mix.
Still, experts see opportunity, particularly due to increased interest in EV sales outside the U.S.
“We already know the impact, during an outage, on how power is supplied to the home,” said Scott Samuelson, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine. “It’s going to be very, very popular.”
