Ford and Global Power Products launch vehicle-to-home (V2H) battery backup solution, enabling EV fleets to provide grid services and facility resilience.

Ford and Global Power Products have introduced a vehicle-to-home backup power solution, with more than 800 electric utilities now approving GPP's GenerLink transfer switch for use on their meters. The system enables homeowners to draw backup power for outlets and hardwired appliances directly from compatible Ford trucks.

The total cost to consumers ranges from $1,350 to $1,550, accounting for variable installation expenses. The hardware—comprising the GenerLink transfer switch, a 20-foot GenerLok extension cord, and a 12-inch Ford Vehicle Connector—costs approximately $1,100. Professional installation of the transfer switch typically runs $250 to $450.

Approved utilities span investor-owned entities such as Commonwealth Edison and Central Maine Power, larger municipal systems like Austin Energy (serving parts of Texas's capital region), and hundreds of smaller rural electric cooperatives and public power utilities in remote areas where grid reliability is an ongoing concern. Some utilities may offer free or discounted transfer switch installations.

"If you're on well water and you don't have a device like this, you can't plug in your well pump," explained a Ford representative. "You can't flush your toilet if you don't have power."

For customers of utilities that have not yet approved the GenerLink, an alternative exists: connecting to a secondary meter box adjacent to the main meter. This option costs approximately $1,000 more on average after installation.

Both approaches prove significantly more economical than traditional alternatives. The conventional backup setup can exceed $10,000 per installation, while standalone standby generators typically range from $7,000 to $15,000 depending on sizing, location, and other factors.

David McCreadie, Ford's director of EV grid energy services, suggested the partnership could accelerate adoption of Ford's electrified vehicles by demonstrating benefits beyond transportation. "People who have never bought an electrified vehicle before may not realize that these products go beyond just transportation and can add real value to other areas of your life that an internal-combustion vehicle could never think of doing," he said.

McCreadie declined to confirm whether Ford's smaller all-electric pickup, launching in 2027, will include the same vehicle-to-load capabilities as the F-150 Lightning and PowerBoost Hybrid. Ford discontinued the all-electric F-150 Lightning in December following declining sales, redirecting some battery production to stationary energy storage. The model will return as an extended-range plug-in hybrid.