Ford Shows Off Vehicle-To-Vehicle Charging, Turning EVs Into Power Stations
On Tuesday, Ford unveiled a stunning new feature for the 2022 F-150 Lightning and F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid: power sharing, or vehicle-to-vehicle charging.
This will allow the vehicles, through ‘Pro Power Onboard’, to transform into a mobile charging station for other electric vehicles. And that’s not limited to just Ford ones, either; other manufacturers’ EVs can benefit from this too.
Just like with a regular charging station, a car low on range just needs to connect to the F-150 Lightning or F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid with a Ford Mobile Power Cord charger.
According to the press release, the technology is capable of delivering Level 2 charging, and it’s estimated that it can add an average of 20 miles per charging hour to a Ford Mustang Mach-E with extended-range battery.
It might not be a full charge, but it could just be that little bit extra needed in order for the depleted vehicle to make it to the nearest charging station for a larger boost.
“Taking power on the road or having extra energy at home brings a lot of convenience and security,” explains Patrick Soderborg, Ford e-powertrain systems engineer. “Using the F-150 Lightning or F-150 hybrid to top off a friend’s electric vehicle or help them during an outage is one of the many new benefits our customers gain from our Built Ford Tough electrified trucks.”
Teslarati reports that apart from just charging other vehicles—impressive in itself—the F-150 Lightning is a pretty versatile power source, and can even be used as a backup generator for home electricity.
“This really hit home during the Texas power crisis last February,” recalls Soderborg. “F-150 Hybrid helped many Texans keep warm and powered up during those difficult times thanks to Pro Power Onboard—and we’re trying to do even more with F-150 Lightning.”
Currently, the 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid has a 7.2-kilowatt generator, but it’s planned to scale up in the 2022 model, which will come with a 9.6-kilowatt power source. It’s also the first full-size battery electric pickup by the brand.
