CMN - 2/20/2021 09:19

Texas Ford F-150 hybrid owners using generator functions to weather the storm. They've been running freezers, TVs and, in one case, the furnace blower.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/02/18/2022-ford-f150-powerboost-hybrid...

The user that kicked off the thread offered the most comprehensive review. He mainly powered household appliances, citing a space heater, toaster oven, coffee maker, lights, TV and refrigerator. He apparently let it run at least 10 hours a day for around three days, mainly for the refrigerator to keep the freezer section frozen. Besides keeping the appliances running, he noted that the truck was significantly quieter than some of his neighbors' power generators. The truck's large fuel tank meant he could run it a long time without refueling, which could have been an issue as local gas pumps weren't working. We would bet that the truck also produces far fewer emissions than those outdoor generators, too.

Two other users chimed in with their experiences. One of them hooked up the house furnace to it the past few days so that the blower and igniter would work. Another was running household appliances like the original poster, and has had it running non-stop for 72 hours. He noted that the truck has gone through a quarter tank of fuel, so he could probably keep relying on it for some time to come.

All of these owners said they had purchased the hybrid with the upgraded 7.2-kW generator capability, though all hybrids come standard with 2.4-kW generator ability. The non-hybrid trucks can provide 2-kW. As cars continue to get more robust electrical systems, we'll be curious if these generator functions will become more common. There are examples of similar features in both current and upcoming vehicles. The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has 1,500 watts of electrical power that can be used when the crossover is switched off, and the upcoming Hyundai, Kia, Ioniq and Genesis electric cars built on the E-GMP platform will be able to provide up to 3.5 kW of power for electrical appliances.

Hybrids adding power to the grid during power outages...what a great idea.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/02/19/ford-loan-generator-f-150s/

Ford asks Texas dealers to loan out F-150s with ProPower onboard generators.The trucks will be used to help those without power in Texas' crisis.

The Blue Oval is mobilizing and telling its dealer network in Texas to loan out their F-150 inventory to people without electricity. Ford reportedly sent a letter out on Thursday to the dealers across the state to kick this process off. The dealers will receive $600 per truck to put any F-150 with the ProPower generator feature into a loaner fleet.