Skip to main content

Ford, Vendor Step Up to Explore Using EVs To Help With Home Energy Management

Ford will use two-way charging capability with vendor smart tech to help with home electric management.
Posted: December 15, 2023 - 2:50PM
Author: Marc Stern

 

Today, Ford and Resideo Technologies, Inc. have announced a joint simulation project to explore vehicle-to-home (V2H) energy management called the “EV-Home Power Partnership.”

Program Explores Potential Of EVs in Home Energy Management

The program is designed to explore the potential of using electric vehicle batteries to support optimal home energy management. The project will explore, test, and quantify the customer benefits of pairing bi-directional EV charging with a Resideo smart thermostat to help customers potentially save money on monthly electric bills, reduce strain on the U.S. electric grid, and enable the use of cleaner energy while helping ensure homeowner comfort.

Ford was the first in the U.S. to introduce a full-size electric truck capable of bi-directional charging for homes in North America. Resideo is a global provider of solutions for home comfort. Also, First Alert Security and Safety, a leading utility residential load management program provider, is exploring home energy management value for customers never before possible with internal combustion engine vehicles.

E-Scooter firm owner gets charge from his Lightnings

The F-150 Lightning can power the home in an outage through available Intelligent Backup Power.

The EV Home Power Partnership project will simulate the integration of Resideo's smart thermostats with the energy stored in the battery on the F-150 Lightning, which can be smartly coordinated to help power the home's heating and cooling systems.

Uses Lightning's Bi-directional Energy Capability

The project is designed to assess how the coordination of a bi-directional EV and a smart thermostat can reduce the overall energy needed by the home during times of electric grid stress while minimizing energy usage during the most expensive hours each day by automating the home to match a consumer’ Time-of-Use (TOU) electricity rate.

Having a tougher time, Ford Cuts Lightning Output

Additionally, it will assess how the coordination between the battery and smart thermostat can enable a system to leverage cleaner energy from the grid if renewable energy is readily available.

“Driving electric is unlocking an entirely new world of personal energy management that could not only save our customers time and money but also help support a more sustainable energy grid,” said Bill Crider, head of global charging and energy services at Ford Motor Company.

“Successful vehicle-to-home energy management solutions would give Ford EV drivers as well as utilities and power companies the confidence to accelerate future vehicle-to-grid services never-before thought possible with traditional vehicles,” he continued.

Ford Bronco Sport rated best winter SUV

Electric vehicle battery storage can play an integral role in helping stabilize the electric grid, allowing homeowners to remain comfortable during power outages or other energy events and save customers money by utilizing stored energy during peak demand when energy costs are higher.

Day When EVs, Homes Share Same Source Envisioned

Ford and Resideo envision the day when electric vehicles and homes can share the same energy source and smartly interact to benefit the customer and the electric grid.

"The two largest contributors to an individual's carbon-emission footprint are usually their car and the heating and cooling of their home," said Dana Huth, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer, Resideo.

New Video Shows Tesla Cybertruck rescued by Ford F-150

"With this EV Power Partnership project, we can discover new ways for F-150 Lightning owners to utilize their EV battery to power their home's heating and cooling and to help build a home energy management strategy that can optimize their home's comfort and energy use. By creating energy-efficient ecosystems between trusted global brands, our Resideo Grid Services team can help ensure a more resilient electric grid for the community, prepare it for more renewables, and deliver energy savings for consumers."

Completion Expected In 2024

Project work has begun and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024.

Ford Motor Photo

Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, and Special Interest Autos. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.