Some F-150 owners have been running freezers, TVs and, in one case, the furnace blower – all through the generator functions built into the 2021 Ford F-150 hybrid pickup truck. The truck’s “PowerBoost” onboard generator – new for 2021 – “gives you the ability to use your truck like a mobile generator,” according to Ford.
One owner apparently let his truck run for least 10 hours each day for around three days, mainly to power his refrigerator and to keep the food in his freezer frozen. Besides keeping the appliances running, he noted that the truck was significantly quieter than some of his neighbors’ power generators. The truck’s large fuel tank meant he could run it a long time without refueling, which could have been an issue as local gas pumps weren’t working. It would be safe to assume the truck also produces far fewer emissions than those outdoor generators, too.
One owner hooked up the house furnace to it the past few days so that the blower and igniter would work. Another was running household appliances as well, and has had it running non-stop for 72 hours. He noted that the truck has gone through a quarter tank of fuel, so he could probably keep relying on it for some time to come.
All of these F-150 owners had purchased a special trim of the F-150 – the hybrid with the upgraded 7.2-kW generator capability. Though all hybrids come standard with 2.4-kW generator ability. The non-hybrid trucks (such as the 5.0-liter V8 variant) can only provide 2-kW.
