You Can Use Your Vehicle to Power Your Home, Check Here How
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
The multi-day freeze that hit Texas in February 2021 and impacted the electrical grid has been on Kenneth Kovar's mind ever since. Although the New Braunfels resident, northeast of San Antonio, did not lose power at that time, he was unable to operate his septic tank because it is independent of local systems. He had to fill the toilets with water from his pool. So, when Kovar, 64, bought a Ford F-150 last fall, his hope was to be better prepared for any new crisis. 'I wanted to try to find some kind of backup power,' Kovar said. Now, Kovar has a Ford setup that allows drivers of certain F-150 models to plug their vehicle directly into their electric meter to power parts of their home during a blackout. This is the latest example of how automakers are adapting their electrification technologies to the home energy business, especially as demand on the grid increases and electric vehicle sales slow down. Automakers are looking to leverage their multi-billion dollar investments in electric vehicles to enter a promising market of vehicle, home, and grid technology, both for backup power and to support grid resilience. 'They are trying to look for other businesses they could sell to,' said Parth Vaishnav, an assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan. Drivers of hybrid F-150 PowerBoost and electric F-150 Lightning trucks can now plug a 30-inch adapter into a 240-volt outlet onboard. This adapter—manufactured by Ford in partnership with Global Power Products—makes the vehicle compatible for connecting to a longer, separate cable that connects to a transfer switch installed directly on the home's electric meter. Through this adapter and cable series, homeowners can essentially connect their vehicle directly to their home's breaker box. The owner simply turns on and off the circuit breakers they want, depending on which devices they wish to power. 'The way we think about it, especially for customers who already have a compatible vehicle, is that they already own the power source; it's in their vehicle,' said Amanda Roraff, Ford's network and energy services business lead. The Lightning could supply power for two to three days, depending on which household devices are being used, while the PowerBoost Hybrid could last up to five days on a single tank of gas. The manufacturer claims that its solution is a less expensive way to provide backup power. Conventional portable generators, powered by diesel, and whole-house backup systems require costly installation, often running into several thousand dollars. This solution, which also requires professional installation at the meter, starts at around $1,100. The setup currently applies only to about 200,000 vehicles and is exclusively for blackouts. Ford also offers its Home Integration System for bidirectionality, sending power both from the vehicle to the home and from the home to the vehicle, with the possibility of feeding the grid. Other manufacturers are enhancing their energy solutions. Estimates indicate that more than 630,000 vehicles in the United States already have this functionality, and manufacturers are rapidly expanding their available options with the long-term goal of achieving full vehicle-to-grid support. The South Korean brand Kia and Wallbox, an electric vehicle charging company, have partnered so that eligible and compatible vehicle drivers can have home backup power during blackouts or periods of high demand, reducing their consumption from the utility company. They can also feed energy back to the grid. Tesla's technology is similar: it allows drivers of equipped vehicles to connect to their homes using additional Tesla hardware. The Cybertruck offers full vehicle-to-home capability, while other Tesla models can only connect and power specific devices or appliances. General Motors is also doing something similar. A recent partnership with WeaveGrid, for example, allows owners driving certain GM electric vehicles—who have the manufacturer's home system and proper interconnection with the grid—to enroll in some utility programs for grid reliability. Once a blackout is detected, GM's vehicle-to-home technology can disconnect the house from the grid and begin supplying power from their GM electric vehicle. 'The future as we move forward will be to give the customer the ability—now that we have this unique platform—to experience our system,' said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy, 'but also to have total control over the energy.' Electric vehicle sales are declining. Experts say this business is not only crucial amid increasing demand on the grid and more blackouts, but manufacturers need to pivot with a less active electric vehicle market under current U.S. federal policy. Sales of fully electric vehicles in the country have dropped 23.8% year-over-year, according to a July report from Cox Automotive on the first half of 2026. This highlights the value of owning an electric or hybrid vehicle. The technology is not without challenges. On the industry side, these systems must undergo third-party testing to ensure they meet safety standards, and the vehicle and charger must be programmed to communicate. It also requires approval from the utility company where the capacity will be used. Securing an interconnection agreement can take years. On the customer side, owners need to understand their vehicle's capabilities and how to self-manage their system. Additionally, it simply adds another power generator to the home mix. Still, experts see opportunities, especially with high interest in electric vehicle sales outside of the United States. 'We already know this has a benefit during a blackout, as it provides electricity to the home,' said Scott Samuelsen, emeritus professor of engineering at the University of California, Irvine. 'This is going to become very, very popular.' This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative AI tool. A Telemundo Digital editor reviewed the translation.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
