Meter Attachment Transforms EV Batteries Into Power Stations

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US President Donald Trump has definitely slowed, but definitely not stopped, the vehicle electrification movement. Signs of a rebound keep popping up, particularly in EV-friendly California. Saving money on fuel is the main attraction, of course. With climate-related storms becoming a common occurrence, automakers are also pitching EVs as emergency backup generators. A case in point is Ford, which has just hooked up with the firm Global Power Products to take the hassle out of vehicle-to-home systems.

V2X Is Mainstream Now

The idea of using an EV battery for non-mobility purposes surfaced in the early 2000’s. It makes sense, considering that EV batteries are powerful enough to do many other chores besides moving a vehicle from one place to another.

The US Army was an early adopter, recognizing the potential to deploy EV batteries in remote microgrids. More recently, the V2X (vehicle-to-anything) movement has sprawled in multiple directions, particularly in the vehicle-to-grid space, where EV batteries are recruited to help reduce stress on the grid during periods of high demand.

Vehicle-to-home systems have also become commonplace, with Tesla and GM among those pitching V2H systems alongside Ford. Now the hunt is on for new, improved V2H technologies that gain an edge on the competition.

Ford has been pitching its F-150 Lightning EV as a powerful backup generator and mobile power source since it launched in 2021, adding a partnership with the rooftop solar firm Sunrun along the way. Now the company is focusing attention on an ease-of-use improvement provided by GenerLink, a compact power transfer system under the umbrella of the firm Global Power Products.

The system includes the new Ford Vehicle Connector, a 12″ cable developed in collaboration with Global Power that avoids tripping safety sensors on a vehicle while the V2H system is in use.

The GenerLink system fits neatly over a home electricity meter, eliminating multiple extension cords ordinarily needed to hook up EV batteries to various household appliances. “Instead of running cords through cracked windows and doors, you can now run a single connection between your truck’s 240V Pro Power Onboard outlet and a GenerLink transfer switch installed at or near your utility meter,” Ford explains.

“That switch energizes your home’s main electrical panel, so your lights, Wi-Fi, gas furnace, outlets, security system, and other hard-wired essentials can run the way they normally would,” Ford elaborates, while noting that the capabilities will vary depending on an individual’s home and EV battery wattage.

EV Batteries As Backup Power

Anecdotally, F-150 Lightning owners have reported powering a home for multiple days with V2H systems. In an announcement launching the GenerLink option, Ford summarized its own calculations:

“It varies by usage, but it’s estimated that 2021-2026 F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid and 2022-2025 F-150 Lightning trucks that are equipped with 240V Pro Power Onboard outlets can provide power to an average home for up to five days (2021-2026 F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid) and up to two to three days (2022-2025 F-150 Lightning Standard/Extended Range) using the Pro Power Onboard feature.”

Lightning owners, if you have ever used your vehicle for emergency backup, share your experiences in the discussion thread.

Meanwhile, you can check out the GenerLink details here. Ford notes that it trialed the system in multiple states before bringing it to market, and hundreds of utilities have already pre-approved it for direct meter installation. That runs about $1,100 for the equipment including the Connector, with the average cost of installation in the range of $250 to $450.

GenerLink can also be installed as a meter-adjacent system in areas where utility approval for direct installation has not materialized. The equipment costs the same, but the installation runs an average of $1,000 to $1,500.

Whatever Happened To The Ford F-150 Lightning?

If you caught that thing about a Pro Power Onboard outlet, that’s of particular interest from an EV battery perspective, though Ford offers the Pro Power system in various iterations including some compatible with internal combustion engines and hybrids.

That helps resolve the question of why Ford is pitching a new V2H system for its F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. While the company officially stopped production of the 100% battery version late last year, plans are in the works to re-generate the model as a plug-in hybrid with a range extender.

“Leveraging advanced Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology, the next-generation F-150 Lightning will offer the best of both worlds: the seamless, instant power of an electric powertrain and the freedom of a generator-backed estimated range of more than 700 miles,” Ford proclaimed last December, when it discontinued the all-electric version.

“Unlike a traditional hybrid, the F-150 Lightning EREV is propelled 100 percent by electric motors,” Ford emphasized (if that rings a bell, it’s the same idea pioneered in the early 2000’s by GM in its long-gone Chevy Volt).

Whether or not the EREV F-150 ever emerges remains to be seen. In the meantime, though, Ford has repeatedly affirmed its intention to bring a mid-sized, 100% battery electric pickup truck to the US market. The to-be-named truck has been under development since 2024 through Ford’s secret, not-so-secret “skunkworks” team, with production reportedly to begin in 2027.

Follow The Money: More EV Batteries For The EVs Of The Future

While Ford and other US automakers have pulled back on their electrification plans for now, a fresh round of activity in the EV battery space indicates that a broad rebound in EV sales will be forthcoming.

Keep an eye on the EV battery materials startup Sila, which has just nailed down $300 million in funding. The round was spearheaded by Atreides Management, and Sutter Hill Ventures, with 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Matrix Partners participating, among others.

“The raise will accelerate U.S. production of Sila’s silicon-carbon (Si/C) anode technology, Titan Silicon® and support a planned Phase 2 expansion at Sila’s plant in Moses Lake, Washington,” the company explains.

Sila has its eye on defense applications, but EVs are also in its sights. “Sila’s team pioneered the modern silicon-carbon (Si/C) anode, a breakthrough technology that delivers 20-40% higher energy density than traditional graphite, enabling batteries that are smaller, lighter, and capable of ultra-fast charging,” the company says of itself.

Keep an eye on GM, where interest in new silicon EV battery formulas has been running hot. Back in 2024 GM hired former Sila VP (and former Tesla battery team leader) Kurt Kelty as its new VP of Batteries, right around the time the automaker retired the “Ultium” branding for its EV batteries.

Photo: A new meter attachment makes it easier to deploy EV batteries as home backup power generators in case of an outage (screenshot courtesy of Ford Motor Company).