2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid Truck’s Pro Power Onboard Generator Explained

Since the beginning of hybrid vehicles, engineers, hobbyists and contractors have been scheming and theorizing about how to repurpose some of that electricity-generating capability for uses other than forward motion.

Ford Motor Co. has managed to streamline the power-harnessing process in its 2021 F-150 PowerBoost hybrid pickup that features an onboard AC system called the Pro Power. (AC stands for alternating current, the type of electricity found in homes, different from DC, or direct current, used in vehicles for onboard functions). The Pro Power makes accessing electricity in remote locations as convenient and straightforward as plugging in a kitchen blender to a wall receptacle.

This is not the first attempt at extracting significant amounts of AC from a fossil fuel engine. Tractors and work trucks have for years offered the option of a PTO (power take-off) to drive an external generator or pump. Custom generators integrated into heavy-duty diesel pickups have also been around for some time. But those are crude by comparison, and operation is generally out of the scope and budget of the average user.

The Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid’s Pro Power system uses the trucks existing hybrid technology, reducing the amount of redundant hardware and doubling down on the benefits of its onboard 1.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and 35-kilowatt motor/generator.  

Three Available Levels of Electrical Power

The available Ford Pro Power Onboard will be offered in three strengths rated at 2.0, 2.4 and 7.2 kilowatts, or kW, a measure equal to 1,000 watts. That equates to 2,000, 2,400 and 7,200 watts of electrical output in the three systems. All are designed to provide convenient AC power right from the factory. The two more powerful systems likely offer enough power to eliminate the need for a portable generator.

The 2.0-kW system is available on the F-150’s equipped with a gasoline 2.7-liter, the 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 and the 5.0-liter V8 non-hybrid engines. Power is accessed via two standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets in the bed, nearly identical to the electrical outlets in your home). Its best suited for tailgating, light-load camping or powering small electrical devices. 

The 2.4-kW is standard on the 2021 F-150 when equipped with the 3.5-liter V6 hybrid “PowerBoost” engine. Electricity is accessed through two standard 120-volt, 20-amp outlets in the bed, and Ford claims an 85-hour run time on a single tank of gas. For people who often go off-the-grid, the 2.4 kW system could eliminate the need to lug around a noisy and thirsty standalone portable generator.

The 7.4-kW system is optional on the 2021 F-150 PowerBoost. It offers four bed-mounted 120-volt outlets and a dedicated 240-volt circuit. Ford claims it will run for 32 hours on a full tank. This system is designed for the serious user and is robust enough to run a small construction site or power a mobile mechanic’s toolbox.

What Can the 2.0 Pro Power System Run?

It’s not worth the deep dive into the voltage/amp formulas used to calculate draw, as the factors vary when devices with resistive loads, capacitors, induction motors and other variables are introduced.

Instead, consider this tailgating scenario in the most practical of terms. A 120-volt blender like the Kitchen Aid Ultra Power draws 4.8 amps. That’s a draw of approximately 576 watts, meaning the even the base 2.0 Pro Power system has more than enough juice run the blender. That’s a good thing because tailgating without margaritas is a fool’s task. What’s more is that after bartending there’s approximately 1,424 watts of excess power for other devices such as a TV (generally around 150-200 watts for modern 40-inch LED), speakers or other necessities.

For work around the house, the 2.0 kW will provide enough to run an average circular saw or drill, but likely not at the same time. The good news is most tool manufacturers are dumping AC cords altogether in favor of self-contained rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These battery chargers typically draw between 50-150 watts each so the base system has more than enough current to keep all batteries topped off.

In the case of the Pro Power 2.0 kW system, the electric energy comes from the vehicle’s existing 12-volt battery, converted to AC by an onboard HD inverter. It’s pretty basic stuff and operates similarly to what’s readily available in the aftermarket, but comes fully integrated and warranted from the factory. Although functional, the 2.0 system lacks the robust properties of hybrid-based systems.  

What are the Best Uses for the Larger 2.4 and 7.2 Pro Power Systems?

The 2.4- and 7.2-kW Pro Power systems are in an entirely different league. Both leverage the F-150 PowerBoost’s existing hybrid hardware, including the liquid-cooled 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. (A standard 12-volt battery is reserved for starting the vehicle.)

When activated, current travels from the battery to an onboard inverter that converts it to AC. If the battery charge gets low or demand spikes, the vehicle’s engine will start and recharge the battery via the drivetrain’s integrated 35-kW (47 horsepower) electric motor, which also functions as a generator (remember, it’s a hybrid).

While the standard 2.4-kW system is functional, the 7.2 kW levels up with nearly triple the output. It’s best for contractors, mobile mechanics and hardcore adventurers. With 7,200 kW of onboard AC, a user can power multiple saws and an air compressor while simultaneously recharging batteries for half a dozen hand-held tools.

This version also has a 240-volt circuit, accessed by a NEMA L-14 30-Rn twist-lock connecter (think ship-to-shore dock cable or HD RV power hook up). That’s the kind of power required by many two-stage air compressors and welders. Ford points out it has enough juice to power 28 average refrigerators; although the metric is slightly absurd, that kind of ability could provide critical strategic support during a power outage in the wake of a natural disaster or crisis.

The Downside

Creating all that electrical energy comes at a price, and the bill is paid in terms of the cost of gasoline and additional wear and tear. Although the majority of the drivetrain and braking system are unaffected, the additional run time on the engine and generator can quickly add up.

Tailgaters and computer users will likely escape without extracting much of a toll on the hardware or their wallet, but users who plan to rely heavily on the system will want to weigh its effects versus a traditional towable generator.

As a bonus, in the improbable off-grid scenario where the owner of an F-150 PowerBoost equipped with the 7.2-kW generator encounters a new 2021 Mustang Mach E in desperate search of charge, the system can produce enough energy from its 240-volt outlet to feed the Mach E’s standard Ford mobile charger. While it does little to solve the snake eats tail energy consumption conundrum, it will at least get you down the road far enough to pick up a six-er and a bag of chips.   

Look for the new 2021 Ford F-150 to hit showrooms in the fall of 2020. Pricing will be revealed at a later date.