How The Ford F-150 Lightning Saved Lives With V2G And Bidirectional Charging

The Ford F-150 Lightning lived a brief life. However for many individuals, it was a lifeline when the going obtained robust.

When a hurricane took energy out at a Florida veterinary clinic final 12 months, the Lightning’s big battery powered it again up. After an aged man was stranded in California as a result of his electrical wheelchair’s battery ran out, a Lightning made it operational once more. And in the course of the devastating Kentucky floods in 2022, Ford deployed two Lightnings as cell turbines to help cleanup efforts.

These are only a few examples of how the Lightning’s high-voltage battery—starting from 96 kilowatt-hours to 131 kWh, relying on the trim—proved invaluable to owners, first responders, folks with disabilities and even pets.

Ford F-150 Lightning powers vet clinic throughout hurricane Helene.

Picture by: InsideEVs

“I used to be very unhappy to listen to Ford is pivoting on the Lightning,” Dr. Erica Lacher, who runs an emergency veterinary clinic in Florida, advised InsideEVs. “I’ve discovered the Lightning to be a superb each day driver and a dependable back-up generator for the clinic on many events,” she mentioned.

Dr. Lacher is aware of that higher than most. When Hurricane Helene knocked out energy at her veterinary clinic final October, she already knew how she would maintain the surgical tools operating: her electrical truck. She parked the Lightning subsequent to her clinic, plugged one finish of the cable into the ability outlet within the truck’s mattress and the opposite finish into the generator switch change. Identical to that, she restored energy inside minutes.

“It undoubtedly saved lives,” Dr. Lacher advised InsideEVs. “Vary anxiousness is a factor, however when you get used to it, it is no huge deal, ask any EV driver.”

Many new EVs include bidirectional chargingthe potential to energy exterior home equipment, properties or places of work, and even to ship energy again to the grid throughout emergencies utilizing the car’s battery. In official phrases, it’s referred to as vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G). And the Lightning supported this lengthy earlier than it turned extra widespread amongst EVs at the moment.

It’s additionally onerous to seek out Lightning homeowners who hated the truck sufficient to cheer its demise. The truth is, the truth is sort of the alternative. Homeowners beforehand interviewed by InsideEVs, together with many lively on on-line boards, say they love Ford’s electrical pickup.

The Lightning offered backup energy that saved animal’s lives in the course of the hurricane.

Picture by: InsideEVs

Tales like hers are straightforward to seek out on-line lately. “We misplaced energy at our cabin, the place we evacuated to (after Hurricane Milton). I had charged to 100% after I arrived. We used the truck to energy the cabin for two days,” one proprietor wrote. Others described operating extension cords to fridges and medical units, and even inviting neighbors over to share energy.

With so many examples of the Lightning at its greatest, Ford’s determination to kill its first electrical pickup after simply three and a half years feels baffling. This previous week, the automaker introduced that it was ending manufacturing of the truck and scrapped plans to construct its next-generation “T3” all-electric mannequin. It will as an alternative add a fuel generator to the following Lightning, turning it into an extended-range EV with over 700 miles of vary.

The automaker attributed the electrical F-150’s demise to “evolving market realities, shopper preferences and the regulatory surroundings.” The tip of the $7,500 federal tax credit score and closely revised gas financial system guidelines now favor fuel vehicles over EVs. The Lightning was America’s best-selling pickup truck, outselling rivals just like the Tesla Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T, however in comparison with its personal gas-powered F-Sequence brethren, its gross sales have been a drop within the bucket.

The F-150 hybrid offered over twice that of its EV cousin in 2024, with almost 74,000 models offered over the Lightning’s 33,150. In the meantime, Ford’s EV enterprise is but to show a revenue, which implies persevering with the Lightning’s manufacturing would imply Ford would proceed to bleed money. Going ahead, the corporate plans to double down on its extremely worthwhile fuel vehicles, whereas shifting its EV technique towards extra reasonably priced fashions constructed on its upcoming Common EV Platform.

That technique shift hasn’t gone over effectively with present Lightning homeowners. Many had been ready for the now-cancelled T3, which presumably would have yielded higher charging speeds, longer vary and extra superior software program.

Others fear that an EREV would undermine one of many Lightning’s greatest benefits: minimal upkeep.

Ford F-150 with Professional Energy Onboard

“Not considering an EREV or a smaller truck. I like F-150s, however I’ve no need to place fuel in a truck once more,” one proprietor commented. “Sustaining the fuel engine is the worst a part of the (EREV). The present truck meets my wants now. It simply wants slightly quicker charging,” one other proprietor mentioned. “I did not purchase the Lightning to have my subsequent truck be a step backwards. That is foolish and reactive,” a Lightning Lariat proprietor added.

Ford says the EREV will retain exportable energy like at the moment’s Lightning whereas delivering “locomotive-like towing functionality,” which ought to deal with the vary and towing issues many F-150 patrons have. However between the EREV and a smaller electrical pickup on the Common EV PlatformFord now has to show that these replacements can be meaningfully higher. And that’s going to be a tricky promote for present homeowners who already really feel like they’ve the truck they needed.

Have a tip? Contact the creator: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com