Sunrun and Ford Launch First Vehicle-to-Home Program With F-150 Lightnings

Sunrun, a provider of clean energy subscription services in the United States (U.S.), has launched the nation’s first vehicle-to-home power plant utilizing customer-owned Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicles (EVs).

This program developed in partnership with Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), marks a major step forward in leveraging EVs to support the power grid and enhance energy resilience. In detail, the initiative, which started on June 1 and will run through September 30, 2024, involves three Sunrun customers in BGE’s service territory in Maryland.

Each participant owns a Ford F-150 Lightning equipped with a Ford Charge Station Pro and Home Integration System, sold exclusively through Sunrun. This setup enables bidirectional charging, allowing the EVs to both draw power from the grid and send stored energy back to homes.

According to Sunrun, during peak demand hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, the enrolled F-150 Lightnings will share stored energy with the grid. Participants are projected to receive payments estimated at $800 over the program’s four-month duration, based on the amount of energy shared.

Sunrun CEO Mary Powell expressed the importance of this proof of concept stating, “This exciting partnership lays the foundation for the power grid of the future where electric vehicle owners can contribute to grid resiliency and utility price stability for everyone. The summer heat can be especially stressful on our power grid, which is why proving the use of stored energy in electric vehicles for capacity is so important.”

This program also builds on Sunrun’s existing partnership with Ford Motor Company, where Sunrun serves as the preferred installer for Ford Intelligent Backup Power. This system allows F-150 Lightning owners to use their vehicles as a backup power source during outages, potentially providing up to 10 days of power depending on home energy usage.

State Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo praised the collaboration, stating it a “game-changing moment for electric vehicles in Maryland and nationwide.” As a result, the program demonstrates vehicle-to-home capabilities and aims to study EV owner behaviors and preferences with plans to explore expansion and develop direct vehicle-to-grid capabilities in the future.

Electric Grid Demand And Resilience

The program is part of a larger effort to address grid demand and enhance energy system resilience. BGE, awarded grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, partnered with Sunrun to develop this regulator-approved program. Mark Case, Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at BGE, noted the importance of leveraging EV power storage in achieving net-zero emissions goals.

As the first operational bidirectional EV power plant in the U.S. using customer-owned vehicles, this initiative represents a major milestone in the integration of EVs into the broader energy ecosystem. With this program in progress, it showcases the potential for EVs to not only serve as transportation but also as valuable assets in supporting grid stability and advancing clean energy goals.

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