A $1,458 kit lets an F-150 Lightning power a home — but not every utility allows it

Very rarely do homeowners wish for power outages.

But after one Ford F-150 Lightning owner shared that their utility installed a backup-power switch that allows Vehicle-to-Home charging, they wrote on social media, "Now I can't wait for my power to go out."

Here's what to know

In a post to Reddit's r/F150Lightning community, the owner described purchasing a GenerLink bundle from the utility Gresco for $1,458. The package included an adapter and a 40-foot cable, allowing them to connect their truck to their home for backup electricity.

The equipment took a couple of weeks to arrive, followed by another week to coordinate installation with Jackson EMC. But according to the original poster, the utility then installed the meter-mounted transfer switch for free.

Commenters flooded the thread to express their jealousy and ask questions. The top comment read, "I'm jealous. My utility won't let me install it." Another commenter similarly wrote, "Wish I could get one in an Entergy Texas area."

Before purchasing the same Gresco bundle, owners should always check whether their utility allows the device and whether it is compatible with their electrical service. A website listing or an initial conversation may not be enough to confirm approval.

Several other commenters asked about switch sizes and how much equipment the truck could power. One asked, "what can you run on the truck? Can it truly handle the whole house  or do you have to be super careful?" The OP responded to this, adding, "I don't get many outages where I live and they usually last less than half a day at the longest. I just want the ability to run the first floor of my house and not be totally in the dark."

Where can I learn more?

Using a truck for backup power also means sorting out equipment costs, installation, and what it can run during an outage.

• A Texas Lightning owner considered a $350 battery backup before hearing their truck could work.

• An F-150 Lightning powered a fridge and freezer for 106 hours, retaining 35% charge.

• Tesla's new U.S. Model 3 and Model Y vehicles support backup with Powerwall 3.

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