Automakers are increasingly leveraging their investments in electric vehicle (EV) technology to offer home energy solutions, allowing owners to use their vehicles as backup power sources during outages. This pivot taps into a growing market driven by rising grid demand and the need for power resilience, while also seeking to bolster revenue streams amid a slowdown in EV sales.
Kenneth Kovar, a Texas resident, found a solution for his post-Winter Storm Uri concerns with Ford's F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks. A new setup allows these vehicles to power parts of a home during an outage by connecting directly to a home's electric meter via a special adapter and cable system. Ford developed this system with Global Power Products, enabling homeowners to power selected devices through their home's breaker box.
"The way we think about it, especially for customers who already have a compatible vehicle is, you already own the power source, it’s in your driveway," said Amanda Roraff, Ford's grid and energy services business acceleration lead. The Lightning model can provide power for two to three days, while the PowerBoost Hybrid can extend that to five days on a single tank of gas. Ford positions this as a more affordable alternative to traditional generators, with installation starting around $1,100, excluding the professional meter installation.
This capability is currently available on approximately 200,000 Ford vehicles and is exclusively for outage situations. Ford also offers a Home Integration System for bidirectional power flow, allowing energy transfer between the vehicle, home, and potentially the grid. Over 630,000 U.S. vehicles are estimated to already possess this functionality, with automakers actively expanding these options, aiming for full vehicle-to-grid support in the future.
Other manufacturers are also entering the home energy space. Kia, in partnership with EV charging company Wallbox, offers eligible vehicle owners home power backup and the ability to send power back to the grid. Tesla provides similar capabilities with additional hardware, enabling its Cybertruck and other models to power homes or specific appliances.
General Motors is also active in this sector, with a partnership with WeaveGrid allowing owners of certain GM EVs to enroll in grid reliability programs. GM's vehicle-to-home technology can disconnect a home from the grid and supply power from the EV during an outage.
"If you can think of the future as we go forward, it's having the ability — now that we have this single platform — that allows our customer to experience our system, but also can have the full control of the energy," said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM energy.
This diversification is seen as critical as grid demand rises and power outages become more frequent. It also comes as pure EV sales in the U.S. have seen a year-over-year decrease of 23.8% in the first half of 2026, according to a Cox Automotive report, highlighting the asset that hybrid and EV ownership can represent beyond personal transportation.
However, challenges remain. Industry-wide, these systems require third-party testing for safety standards, and the vehicle and charging equipment must be programmed for interoperability. Utility approval and interconnect agreements can also be time-consuming, potentially taking years. For consumers, understanding vehicle capabilities and managing these systems adds another layer of complexity.
Despite these hurdles, experts anticipate significant growth, particularly with strong EV interest outside the U.S. "We already know during an outage, its impact, providing electricity to the home. This is going to become very, very popular," said Scott Samuelsen, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine.