Duke Energy investigating two-way potential for Ford F-150 Lightnings on grid

Duke Energy recently announced plans to launch a research and development pilot program in Florida to test and evaluate the potential for Ford F-150 Lightnings to serve as grid resources, thanks to the all-electric trucks’ two-way grid charging capabilities.

While much has been made of the draw additional electric vehicles could put on the grid, the potential for these same vehicles to transform the energy system by giving back during peak times has been less explored. As part of testing, Duke Energy will add five Ford F-150 Lightning trucks to its fleet and utilize the Ford Charge Station Pro and Intelligent Backup Power Home Integration System to feed and draw energy from the grid. The focus will be on homes with solar energy and stationary storage, noting how the vehicles interact with other customer-owned distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar panels.

“We’re continually testing clean energy innovations to gauge how they perform in complex real-life scenarios,” said Lon Huber, Duke Energy’s senior vice president of pricing and customer solutions. “Like our customers, we’re excited about the prospects of these advancements, and we’re working to evaluate them in controlled environments so we can find ways to maximize their value and benefits.”

Other items of interest to researchers include how the truck’s battery can perform if tasked with powering homes during outages and peak usage times, as well as how using the battery in this way might impact its lifespan and capabilities. Ford has touted the truck’s ability as an electric power generator on wheels, offering more capacity for energy storage and use. The company stated that the truck could even power a customer’s home for up to 10 days during a power outage with the Intelligent Backup Power System.

“Ford’s electric vehicles are unlocking new possibilities in energy management for our customers, becoming valuable energy storage sources that are changing the game on the benefits an EV can deliver,” said Steven Croley, chief policy officer and general counsel for Ford Motor Company. “Alongside Duke Energy and our mutual customers, we’re working to fine-tune and expand these capabilities that will not only power their lives but also accelerate the development of a less carbon-intensive grid.”

The F-150 Lightning is, in all, a mobile 10-kW smart distributed energy device.