Ford F-150 Lightning Owners Can Earn Money with Their Electric Vehicle
Owning a Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup allows one to forget about gas stations forever, although this comes with long charging times. However, the vehicle can serve as a backup power source for the home and even generate additional income when simply parked.
How Does the Energy Rewards System Work?
The Ford Energy Rewards program has been offering bonuses for charging the F-150 Lightning during off-peak hours for some time. Additionally, the system allows using the vehicle’s battery as a backup generator during power outages.
In certain regions of the USA, owners can charge their Lightning when electricity is cheaper (usually at night) and use the stored energy to power their homes during peak grid loads.
Customers can also return excess energy from the F-150 back to the grid and receive incentives from participating utility providers.
Automation and Partnerships
The program was launched in collaboration with DTE Energy in Southeastern Michigan. DTE will provide qualified owners with the means to transfer energy from the electric vehicle to the home. The entire process occurs automatically: software optimizes the energy flow to and from the battery, preserving its health.
Lightning Production Suspension
Despite the innovativeness of the system, it hasn’t changed the overall situation with the Lightning. Although it is the most popular electric pickup in the USA this year, sales still lag behind Ford’s initial forecasts. At the beginning of the month, production was officially suspended without a specified resumption date.
With the cancellation of federal tax incentives for electric vehicles and the relaxation of fuel consumption penalties, Ford appears to be gradually stepping back from the Lightning experiment. The company plans to release over 45,000 additional gasoline-powered F-150s next year, indicating a return to proven solutions.
Energy independence through electric vehicles is becoming increasingly relevant, especially in the context of unstable utility rates. Technologies like the one Ford is implementing could change consumer attitudes towards electric vehicles, transforming them not only into means of transport but also into elements of household energy systems. However, the success of such initiatives will depend on infrastructure development and support from energy providers in different regions.