The Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the most exciting EVs of the year, or any year, for that matter. While it will face stiff competition from the Rivian R1T, the F-150 is an American hero and will likely be trusted by existing pickup truck owners for its workhorse capabilities and, importantly, some affordability.

Ford also touts its flexibility in case there is some sort of apocalypse. When purchased with an extended battery pack, Ford claims that the F-150 Lightning can power a home for up to three days. As Wired reported, the Lightning uses a system called vehicle-to-grid, which allows electric vehicle owners to get power from their cars when they need it.

The F-150 Lightning can provide as much as 9.6 kW of power to connected homes. This is more than enough to run a basic level of appliances in a crisis situation where the power supply to the home is interrupted. With this amount of output, they would be able to turn on lights, watch TV, and cook, and would be invaluable in a brief power outage.

It would have been extremely helpful in the recent power outage in Texas, where as many as 5 million people were without power at peak times. This alone is not a reason to buy an EV, but it is another feature that makes the F-150 Lightning more attractive.

Ford's approval of this feature may eventually allow electric utilities to use electric vehicles to power the grid during peak electricity demand. A large enough electric vehicle network could probably provide power when it is needed, perhaps in exchange for a fee paid to the vehicle owner. For electric utilities, this could be cheaper than purchasing power from elsewhere or generating their own power.

For those looking for a commercial vehicle, the F-150 Lightning has many other bonuses. It is ideal for operating power tools and accessories used in daily operations. It is also useful for camping, as long as there is a public charger available.