Automakers Promote Vehicles as Reliable Backup Power Sources
WHO:
ABC News - Kenneth Kovar, a Texas resident, age 64.
ABC News - Amanda Roraff, Ford's grid and energy services business acceleration lead.
ABC News - Parth Vaishnav, assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan.
AP News - Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM energy.
AP News - Scott Samuelsen, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine.
WHAT:
ABC News - Ford's solution for home power backup starts around $1,100, which is less expensive than conventional diesel-powered portable generators and full-home standby setups that can cost several thousands of dollars.
AP News - The setup for Ford's home power backup currently applies to about 200,000 vehicles.
AP News - Over 630,000 U.S. vehicles are estimated to have vehicle-to-home functionality.
ABC News - Ford allows drivers of certain F-150 models to plug their vehicle directly into their electric meter to power their home during an outage.
ABC News - The F-150 Lightning can provide power for two to three days, while the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid can provide power for up to five days on a single tank of gas.
ABC News - The setup costs around $1,100 and requires professional installation at the meter.
AP News - Approximately 200,000 vehicles currently have the Ford setup for home power backup.
AP News - Over 630,000 U.S. vehicles have vehicle-to-home functionality.
WHERE:
ABC News - New Braunfels, Texas, northeast of San Antonio.
AP News - U.S. (general reference for vehicle statistics).
WHEN:
AP News - Pure EV sales in the U.S. year-over-year are down 23.8%, according to a report from July 2026.
WHY:
AP News - Automakers are adapting their technologies to the home energy business due to increasing demand on the grid and slowing sales of electric vehicles.
ABC News - Automakers are adapting electrification technologies to the home energy business due to increasing demand on the grid and slowing sales of electric vehicles.
AP News - The technology is critical amid growing grid demand and increasing power outages.
HOW:
ABC News - Ford's setup allows homeowners to connect their vehicle to their home’s breaker box using a one-foot long adapter and a longer cable that connects to a transfer switch installed on the electric meter.
ABC News - The Ford setup uses a one-foot long adapter to connect to a 240-volt outlet onboard, which then connects to a transfer switch installed on the electric meter.
AP News - General Motors' vehicle-to-home technology can disconnect a home from the grid and supply power from a GM EV during an outage.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 19:26 UTC)
Ford has introduced a home power backup solution that starts at around $1,100, making it a more affordable option compared to traditional diesel-powered generators and full-home standby systems that can run into the thousands. This innovative setup currently applies to about 200,000 vehicles, and it's part of a growing trend as automakers adapt their technologies to meet the increasing demand on the grid. Homeowners can easily connect their vehicle to their home’s breaker box using a simple one-foot adapter and a longer cable that links to a transfer switch on the electric meter.
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(UPDATED July 22, 2026 16:26 UTC)
Ford has introduced a new feature that allows drivers of certain F-150 models to plug their vehicles directly into their electric meter, providing power to their homes during outages, with the F-150 Lightning capable of supplying power for two to three days and the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid lasting up to five days on a single tank of gas. Approximately 200,000 vehicles are currently equipped with this home power backup setup, which costs around $1,100 and requires professional installation. As automakers adapt electrification technologies to meet growing grid demands and counteract slowing electric vehicle sales, General Motors is also developing vehicle-to-home technology that can disconnect a home from the grid to supply power during outages.