Houstonians have been going through this recently, as countless storms ravaged the city. Hurricane-force winds hit the city last week, killing several people and cutting power to nearly a million homes. Electric trucks serve Texans well amid the chaos by helping restore power during downed lines.
This weekend produced several stories that run counter to the usual jokes imposed on EV owners. “What will you do when the power goes out?” The usual refrain goes. “My gas truck will stay running while yours runs out of electric power!”
This time, that was not the case. This is not the first time that electric trucks have proven their ability to overcome crises.
Cybertruck to the rescue
As reported Teslarati, One Tesla Cybertruck owner has managed to flip the script on its head. It appears that the electric truck was able to restart the gas station at least nominally using power plugs in the bed.
@misssbaaah #Cyber_truck coming after Houston Tornado. #fyp #xyzbcafypシ #houstontx #crazyweather #tornado #storm #outage #houstonweather #thunderstorm #tesla @ABC13 Houston
♬ original sound – Misbah
The video is from a TikTok user misses He points out that the entire store was running out of the Cybertruck, including the pumps, ATMs and everything. We’re treated to a view of the bed, which has two extension cords plugged into two 110-volt outlets. We also see what appears to be loose wires attached to a 240V receptacle below.
It’s difficult to verify that the Cybertruck was actually able to bring the entire gas station back into operation, including the machinery needed to actually pump the gas. But it’s not entirely unlikely.
The dual 120V outlets can provide a total of 20 amps combined (or about 2400 watts). There are two others in the cabin that can supply an additional 20 amps independently as well. For reference, 2,400 watts is enough to power several cash registers and maybe even a refrigerator or two. However, starting a full gas station refrigerator would likely trip the breaker quite easily due to the high inrush current. Not to mention the gas pumps.
The Cybertruck’s 240-volt outlet is much more capable, providing up to 40 amps, or 9,600 watts. However, they do not stack above 110V outlets. The truck can deliver up to a maximum of 9,600 watts just through its bed outlets. The Cybertruck can provide up to 11.5 kW of AC output, but only through a vehicle-to-home (V2H) charger setup, not bedside outlets.
Given the high output of the 240V outlet, it’s plausible that the Cybertruck would be able to bring a lot of equipment online, including gas pumps. From the wiring shown in the video, it appears that the bedside outlets are being used together, with both a 110V and 240V outlet connected. It is possible that the 110V outlets were used to bring the logs back online while the 240V outlet was used to power the pumps. Even at a maximum continuous draw of 9.6 kilowatts, a fully charged Cybertruck will theoretically be able to power the shop for more than 10 hours, thanks to its 123 kilowatt-hour package.
However, the video shows a large number of cars visiting the store to get fuel. The lights are also off indoors, which makes sense if you’re trying to cut down on unnecessary power consumption. Assuming it’s legit, it’s ironic that gas cars rely on electric cars in a crisis, and not the other way around.
The lighting strikes again
Ford made news in a big way in 2021 when an F-150 Hybrid equipped with a Pro powertrain was able to save a wedding party from a major power outage. The storms in Houston generated a very similar story, with F-150 Lightning owners relying on their electric vehicles to get them through.
Happy to hear that. Be safe! https://t.co/KDkkvLL4nu
– Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 17, 2024
Michael Kahler was able to power his home with his F-150 Lightning, catching the attention of Ford CEO Jim Farley in the process. Kahler noted that Lightning was able to operate his microwave during the storm. He also posted a screenshot showing that the Pro Power Onboard was delivering 3,000 watts to his home.
Similar to the Cybertruck, the F-150 Lightning is capable of delivering up to 9.6 kilowatts via its Pro Power Onboard plugs. Kahler noted that his family’s needs only used about 10% of the Lightning’s battery capacity overnight. He was able to drive around using a fast charger to charge the battery in the morning, then return to power his home and a neighbor’s home via extension cables.
You have an SR truck, only used 10% overnight. I went and loaded the truck in the morning. Now I power my house and the neighbors extension cord. pic.twitter.com/dYBER1XfUP
– Michael Kaler (@MichaelKaler) May 17, 2024
I used Lightning to power the refrigerators, but fortunately the power was restored after several hours. pic.twitter.com/ff41e6R4Y8
– Evgeny Kashtanov (@Novosilicon) May 17, 2024
On a smaller scale, F-150 Lightning owner Yevgeny Kashtanov relied on his truck for just a few hours. He was able to run an extension cord to power his refrigerator while the grid was dark.
It’s true that homes are wired to draw much more power than the 9.6-kilowatt output of the F-150 Lightning or Cybertruck. However, if you’re careful what you use, that’s more than enough power to keep a few fridges, computers and lights on. If you are We are You’re constantly drawing more than 10 kilowatts in your home, and either you’re running your furnace or HVAC system at a very good rate, or you forgot to turn off your pool heater.
Ultimately, EV trucks could be very useful in such experiments. They are able to efficiently provide electricity, whether you want to keep your refrigerator running or just recharge some phones. In contrast, trying to do the same thing with a gas-powered truck can be quite wasteful in comparison.
If you live in a disaster-prone area and are purchasing an electric vehicle, consider getting the best drive-thru or AC outlet option you can afford. It can give you much convenience next time you experience a long power outage. You might even be your neighborhood hero if you can turn on a TV to watch the big game. Stay safe out there!
Image credits: Tesla, Misssbaaah via TikTok screenshot
