Winter Storm Uri
Coverage of Winter Storm Uri in the Nexus archive.
- Ford’s F-150 now doubles as a $1,100 home backup generator
Ford’s F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and Lightning electric trucks can now serve as home backup generators via a $1,100 setup that connects to a home’s electric meter. The system allows users to power specific home devices during outages, leveraging Ford’s electrification technology to address grid reliability concerns and support home energy needs.
- Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
Automakers are promoting vehicles as backup power sources. A resident of New Braunfels, Texas, experienced difficulties running his septic tank during Winter Storm Uri, forcing him to use water from his backyard pool for toilets.
- Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
Ford offers backup power solutions for homes using F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and Lightning electric trucks, allowing vehicle-to-home energy transfer via a transfer switch on electric meters. The setup costs around $1,100, cheaper than traditional generators, and provides 2-5 days of power depending on the model. Automakers are expanding EV technologies into home energy markets to address grid resilience and backup power needs.
- Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
Ford offers backup power systems for F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and Lightning electric trucks, allowing homeowners to connect their vehicles directly to their electric meters during outages. The setup, developed with Global Power Products, costs around $1,100 and aims to provide cheaper, grid-resilient energy solutions compared to traditional generators.
- Need backup power? Automakers want you to look no further than their vehicles in your driveway
Ford offers a backup power system for F-150 PowerBoost hybrid and Lightning electric trucks, allowing homeowners to connect their vehicles directly to their electric meter during outages. The system, designed for grid resilience and cost-effectiveness, costs around $1,100 and can power homes for up to five days with the hybrid model.
- 10th Circuit affirms federal law preempts Kansas ratepayer price gouging claims
The 10th Circuit ruled that Kansas ratepayers cannot sue natural gas wholesalers under state consumer protection law for price spikes during a 2021 winter storm, citing federal preemption under the Natural Gas Act. The court found that wholesale price controls fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which investigated but took no enforcement action.
- Dusting a Dirt Road: How The United States Can Break the Cycle of Failing Military Infrastructure
Winter Storm Uri caused $50 million in damage to aging barracks at Fort Hood, Texas, due to burst pipes and frozen systems. The Department of Defense reports the U.S. operates over 700,000 aging facilities across 5,000 domestic and international sites.
- Electric sector needs firm gas supply to protect grid reliability, gas industry report says
A report for the Natural Gas Council highlighted the need for improved coordination between the gas and electric sectors to ensure grid reliability, despite praising reforms implemented after Winter Storm Uri in 2021.