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Kenneth Kovar, a resident of New Braunfels, northeast of San Antonio, has been acutely aware of power grid vulnerabilities since Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.

During the multiday freeze that crippled Texas, Kovar, despite not losing main power, found his septic tank inoperable, forcing him to fill toilets with water from his backyard pool.

This experience profoundly influenced his decision last fall to purchase a Ford F-150, hoping to be better prepared for future crises.

"I was interested in trying to find some sort of power backup situation," he explained.

Kovar now utilizes a Ford system that enables drivers of specific F-150 models to directly connect their vehicle to their electric meter, powering parts of their home during outages.

This innovation exemplifies a broader trend among automakers, who are increasingly adapting their electrification technologies for the home energy sector.

This shift is particularly pertinent as grid demand escalates and electric vehicle (EV) sales experience a slowdown.

Car manufacturers are keen to leverage their substantial EV investments to tap into the burgeoning market of vehicle, home, and grid technology, offering solutions for both backup power and enhanced electrical grid resiliency.

Winter storm Uri brought historic cold weather and power outages to Texas (Getty)

Parth Vaishnav, assistant professor of sustainable systems at the University of Michigan, noted, "They’re trying to look for other businesses that they might sell into."

The Ford system allows drivers of the F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks to plug a one-foot adapter into a 240-volt onboard outlet.

This adapter, developed with Global Power Products, then connects to a longer cable that attaches to a transfer switch installed directly on the home’s electric meter.

This setup effectively links the vehicle to the home’s breaker box, allowing homeowners to select which devices to power.

Amanda Roraff, Ford’s grid and energy services business acceleration lead, articulated the company’s perspective: "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."

The Lightning can provide power for two to three days, while the PowerBoost Hybrid can last up to five days on a single tank of gas, depending on usage.

Ford touts this solution as a more affordable backup power option, starting around $1,100 for professional installation at the meter, compared to the several thousands required for conventional diesel generators or full-home standby systems.

Currently, this specific setup is available for approximately 200,000 vehicles and is exclusively for outages. Ford also offers a Home Integration System for bidirectional power flow, enabling power transfer between the vehicle and home, and even to the grid.

Beyond Ford, other automakers are also advancing their energy solutions.

Over 630,000 U.S. vehicles reportedly already possess similar functionality, with manufacturers rapidly expanding options toward full vehicle-to-grid support.

South Korean brand Kia, in partnership with EV charging company Wallbox, offers home power backup for eligible vehicles during outages or peak demand, allowing users to reduce utility consumption and even send power back to the grid.

Tesla’s technology provides similar capabilities, enabling equipped vehicles to connect to homes via additional Tesla hardware.

The Cybertruck offers full vehicle-to-home functionality, while other Tesla models can power specific devices. General Motors is also active in the energy space, with a recent partnership with WeaveGrid allowing owners of certain GM EVs, equipped with the automaker’s home system and proper grid interconnection, to participate in grid reliability programs.

GM’s vehicle-to-home technology can disconnect a home from the grid and supply power from the EV upon detecting an outage. Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM energy, envisions a future where customers have "full control of the energy" through a unified platform.

This burgeoning business is seen as crucial amidst increasing grid demand and a rise in power outages, especially as the EV market faces a slowdown under current U.S. federal policy.

A July Cox Automotive report indicated a 23.8% year-over-year decline in pure EV sales in the U.S. during the first half of 2026, underscoring the potential value of EV and hybrid ownership as a power asset.

However, the technology faces challenges. Industry-wide, these systems require rigorous third-party testing for safety standards, and vehicles and chargers must be programmed for communication.

Utility approval for interconnection can also be a lengthy process, potentially taking years. For consumers, understanding vehicle capabilities and managing the system effectively adds another layer of complexity to home power management.

Despite these hurdles, experts remain optimistic, particularly given strong international interest in EV sales. Scott Samuelsen, engineering professor emeritus at the University of California, Irvine, predicts, "This is going to become very, very popular," highlighting the significant impact of providing home electricity during outages.