PG&E, Ford to explore electric pickup truck as backup generator for home – TechCrunch

Pacific Gasoline and Electrical Firm (PG&E) and Ford Motor Firm are collaborating to discover how Ford’s new F-150 Lightning electrical pickup truck can present backup energy for patrons’ properties within the California utility’s service space.

Earlier this week, PG&E mentioned it could work with Normal Motors on an analogous pilot that includes testing bidirectional charging capabilities to ship electrical energy from the grid to the EV’s battery and again within the occasion of an outage. The utility firm needed to lower off energy for lots of and hundreds of properties and companies final 12 months to forestall energy traces from sparking wildfires throughout high-risk climate situations, so it’s teaming up with automakers to search out methods to keep away from overstressing the grid.

“At the moment, we’re seeing breakthrough alternatives on the intersection of the power and transportation industries,” mentioned PG&E CEO Patti Poppe in an announcement. “As extra electrical automobiles and new charging expertise turn into accessible, it’s essential that we higher perceive how EVs can work together with the electrical grid and the way we will greatest help our clients.”

Ford introduced plans to construct the Lightning with bidirectional charging capabilities again in Might 2021. The pickup’s 9.6 kW of Clever Backup Energy, an onboard generator that’s making its debut within the Lightning, can present as much as 10 days of energy to properties throughout an outage, relying on residence utilization, says PG&E. Ford had beforehand mentioned it might present full-home energy for as much as three days on a full cost.

Ford’s Clever Backup Energy, which robotically begins powering your property in case your Lightning is plugged in on the time of an outage after which switches again to charging when the outage is over, will see its first installations in spring 2022. They’ll be supported by photo voltaic, battery and power providers supplier Sunrun, which has partnered with Ford to put in the 80-amp Ford Cost Station Professional and residential integration system.

By way of an preliminary deployment with a small variety of clients’ properties, PG&E goals to review Ford’s expertise and be taught the way it connects to the electrical grid and the way it can help buyer resiliency throughout grid outages. Past that, the 2 corporations plan to discover further use instances for bidirectional charging expertise.