Ford Truck Built-In Generators Power Texas Homes After Winter Storm That Caused Power Outages



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Some pickup truck owners in Texas have been able to comfortably weather power outages from winter storms with the generators built into their vehicles.

Ford 2021 F-150 trucks are equipped with the “Pro Power Onboard” function, generating 2, 2.4 or 7.2 kilowatts depending on the engine.

Randy Jones was one of the millions of Texans who lost power this week. A resident of Katy in the Houston suburbs, he had ordered a new F-150 in November in part because he wanted the generator on board, and he had just received the truck on February 6.

“He arrived just in time,” he said.

Ford 2021 F-150 trucks are equipped with the “Pro Power Onboard” function, generating 2, 2.4 or 7.2 kilowatts depending on the engine. (Ford)

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Jones told Fox Business his power was cut from Sunday night to Wednesday night. During this time, he ran the F-150 sound generator for 10 to 12 hours each day and turned it off at night. He used it to power his fridge and freezer to keep food from spoiling, and also operated conveniences like lamps, coffeemakers, toasters, and televisions.

“It was very convenient,” he says.

According to Ford, F-150 models with the lowest electric wattage can generate enough power to run power tools or portable equipment for a tailgating party. The most powerful model can run an entire team framing a home or a day at the all-terrain vehicle fleet with two electric off-road motorcycles, an electric hotplate and a portable air compressor simultaneously.

Some pickup truck owners in Texas have been able to comfortably weather power outages from winter storms with the generators built into their vehicles. (Ford)

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Even Jones’s neighbors were able to take advantage of his truck’s generator. They had tried to charge one tablet or one phone at a time, sitting in their car.

“When they saw the lights on my house, they decided to come and see what was going on,” he said.

Jones installed a power strip so that entire families in his neighborhood could charge their devices.

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He was not the only one who used one of the trucks for power during the blackouts that followed the storm. Ford sent a letter to dealers in Texas this week asking them to loan F-150 trucks to people without electricity so they can use the generators, Automotive News reported.

“Our communities in Texas need all the support they can get right now,” the letter says. “You can make a significant difference in our community by providing help during these very difficult times.”

Jones said he was glad he got the truck before the breakdown.

“It saved us a lot of misery and gave us comfort that we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” he said.

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