Ford has partnered with Global Power Products to make its GenerLink transfer switch compatible with the 240V Pro Power Onboard outlet on F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid and F-150 Lightning trucks, letting owners power their home directly from the vehicle during an outage. The switch adapts transfer-switch technology that Global Power Products says has been used with portable generators for more than 20 years. Ford worked with Global Power Products to bring the GenerLink transfer switch to market after piloting the product in several states. The rollout follows years of requests from owners such as Kenneth Kovar, a New Braunfels, Texas, resident who wanted a reliable way to keep his home running after the state’s 2021 winter storm.
Highlights
- GenerLink pairs with the 240V Pro Power Onboard outlet on 2021–2026 F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid trucks (7.2 kW) and 2022–2025 F-150 Lightning trucks (9.6 kW).
- Ford estimates the setup can power an average home for up to five days on PowerBoost Hybrid, or two to three days on Lightning Standard/Extended Range, based on 30 kWh of daily household use.
- The equipment bundle — GenerLink switch, GenerLok cord, and Ford Vehicle Connector — costs about $1,100; meter-mounted installation typically adds $250 to $450.
- More than 800 U.S. utilities currently approve GenerLink for direct meter-mounted installation.
Why Ford Built the System
Kovar’s home held onto power during the 2021 storm, but the experience — including several days without water — changed how he thought about backup power. He worried about his daughter’s family losing power for an extended stretch, particularly with a hardwired septic system to maintain.
“If we lost power and my daughter lost power, I wanted to be able to provide a place for her to stay as well,” he said.
Kovar wanted a plan that didn’t depend on gas cans or a generator starting on demand: “It’s just so much easier if I’ve got a truck with a plug.”
Ford says the pattern is common, particularly in rural areas, where a failed well pump, septic system, or sump pump can turn an outage into an emergency. Extension cords can keep a refrigerator running, according to Ford, but they can’t power appliances wired directly into a home’s walls.
How the Transfer Switch Works
Plugging a generator-style outlet directly into a home panel can trip a truck’s built-in safety sensors and cut power unexpectedly, according to Ford. To prevent that, Ford engineered a 12-inch cable — the Ford Vehicle Connector — with Global Power Products to ensure a single, consistent connection between the vehicle and the home.
With the system installed, owners run one connection between the truck’s 240V Pro Power Onboard outlet and a GenerLink transfer switch mounted at or near the home’s utility meter. That switch energizes the home’s main electrical panel, powering lights, Wi-Fi, a gas furnace, outlets, a security system, and other hardwired essentials within the combined wattage limits of the truck and home, Ford says.
This builds on Ford’s earlier work connecting the F-150 Lightning to home power, including the Intelligent Backup Power system introduced in 2022.
Installation Options and Costs
Installation requirements vary by local utility — some utilities install the system directly, while others require a licensed electrician, according to Ford.
| Installation Type | Equipment Cost | Installation Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Meter-Mounted | ~$1,100 | $250–$450 |
| Meter-Adjacent | ~$1,100 | $1,000–$1,500 |
More than 800 utilities across the U.S. currently approve GenerLink for direct meter-mounted installation, Ford says, and the company says it continues working to expand approval to more markets.
Estimated Backup Runtime
Ford’s runtime estimates are based on an average household using 30 kWh of electricity per day, consistent with U.S. Energy Information Administration data as of January 2024:
- F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid (2021–2026, 7.2 kW Pro Power Onboard): up to five days
- F-150 Lightning Standard/Extended Range (2022–2025, 9.6 kW Pro Power Onboard): up to two to three days
Actual runtime depends on household energy use, according to Ford.
For Kovar, the peace of mind is no longer hypothetical. He says the next time a storm rolls through New Braunfels, he plans to plug in and use Pro Power Onboard rather than check gas cans or wait on a generator to start.
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