Electric Pickup Trucks Help Power B.C. Homes During Prolonged Outages Following Severe Windstorms
Emma MacLeod
11/13/20265 min read
Electric pickup trucks have become an unexpected source of emergency power for some British Columbia residents after severe windstorms damaged electrical infrastructure and left thousands of homes and businesses without electricity for several days.
In communities surrounding Prince George, where extensive damage to power lines and utility equipment complicated restoration efforts, several electric vehicle owners found themselves relying on their trucks to keep essential household appliances operating.
Among them was Bobbi Carpino, who operates the Salmon Valley campground north of Prince George.
Carpino's property lost electricity during a powerful windstorm that swept through the region on Friday, November 6, leaving the campground without conventional power throughout the weekend.
Rather than relying exclusively on a portable generator, Carpino and her family connected several household appliances directly to their Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck.
The vehicle supplied enough electricity to keep their refrigerator, deep freezer and lights operating during the outage.
Carpino said the truck even allowed her to use an espresso machine, providing a small comfort while the family dealt with the disruption.
Electric Truck Keeps Essential Appliances Running
Carpino said the family's experience demonstrated how useful the electric pickup could be in an emergency.
Using the vehicle's built-in electrical outlets, they were able to keep food refrigerated and frozen while maintaining lighting inside their home.
Despite operating several appliances, Carpino estimated that the equipment consumed only about three per cent of the vehicle's battery capacity each day.
Other electric truck owners who shared their experiences during the outages reported similarly modest battery consumption when powering a limited number of household essentials.
The exact amount of electricity used depends on the appliances connected, how frequently they operate and the capacity of the vehicle's battery.
For Carpino, the experience showed that the truck could serve a purpose beyond transportation.
She said her family is now considering additional equipment that would make it easier to connect the vehicle to the home's electrical system.
However, she also acknowledged an important limitation: the truck cannot continue supplying electricity to the property if it needs to be driven elsewhere.
That means conventional generators and other backup systems may still be useful, particularly during extended outages.
How Electric Vehicles Can Provide Emergency Power
Some newer electric vehicles include technology that allows electricity stored in their batteries to power external equipment.
The Ford F-150 Lightning offers a feature known as Pro Power Onboard, which enables owners to connect compatible appliances and devices to electrical outlets built into the truck.
Depending on the vehicle's configuration, the system can supply up to 9.6 kilowatts of power.
This makes it possible to operate equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, lighting and certain household electronics without requiring electricity from the utility grid.
The Lightning can also support whole-home backup power when connected through compatible equipment that safely isolates the home's electrical system from the grid.
Ford has advertised that properly equipped models with an extended-range battery can power a home for up to three days under specified usage conditions.
Actual performance depends on the household's electricity consumption, the battery's available charge and the equipment being operated.
The distinction between powering individual appliances and supplying an entire home is important.
While compatible devices can be plugged directly into a truck's outlets, connecting a vehicle to household wiring requires appropriate equipment and professional installation.
For residents living in rural communities, where electrical repairs may take several days, the technology provides another potential source of emergency electricity.
Windstorms Leave Extensive Damage Across Central Interior
The use of electric trucks for backup power comes after a series of damaging storms swept across British Columbia beginning November 6.
Strong winds brought down trees and branches, damaging power lines, utility poles and other infrastructure.
Prince George and surrounding rural communities were among the hardest-hit areas.
BC Hydro reported that approximately 490,000 customers across the province had experienced outages during the series of storms by November 11.
Although electricity was restored to most affected customers relatively quickly, repairs proved more difficult in parts of the Central Interior.
The utility reported extensive damage involving hundreds of spans of electrical wire, broken poles and damaged equipment.
Some affected locations were difficult for repair crews to reach because of fallen trees, debris and challenging ground conditions.
The most complicated restoration work involved rebuilding damaged portions of the electrical system rather than simply reconnecting existing lines.
As a result, some rural households experienced outages lasting several days.
BC Hydro Crews Work Around the Clock to Restore Service
BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer said crews had been working continuously to repair damaged infrastructure, supported by contractors and additional resources from other regions.
The utility prioritized restoring major electrical lines before moving toward smaller outages affecting fewer customers.
That approach allowed electricity to be restored to larger numbers of residents while crews continued addressing more complicated repairs in remote locations.
More than 180 workers were involved in restoration efforts across the Northern and Central Interior, according to the utility's updates.
Specialized equipment was required in some locations to remove damaged trees, replace infrastructure and restore electrical connections.
Despite substantial progress, BC Hydro acknowledged the frustration experienced by customers who had remained without electricity for an extended period.
The utility has continued encouraging residents to prepare emergency supplies capable of supporting a household for at least 72 hours.
Recommended preparations include accessible flashlights, batteries, drinking water, food that does not require cooking and fully charged communication devices.
Homeowners Warned to Check for Electrical Damage
As crews continued restoring service, BC Hydro issued an additional warning concerning electrical equipment located on private properties.
The utility advised homeowners to examine visible components such as meter bases and service masts, where overhead power lines connect to houses, for potential storm damage.
These components are generally the homeowner's responsibility.
If they are damaged, a licensed electrician must complete the necessary repairs before BC Hydro can safely restore electricity.
The utility asked customers who notice damaged equipment to contact BC Hydro so crews can arrange a safe disconnection before electrical work begins.
Residents were also reminded to keep at least 10 metres away from fallen, damaged or low-hanging power lines and to call emergency services if they encounter a dangerous situation.
Storm Experience Highlights Value of Backup Power Options
For residents like Carpino, the extended outage provided an opportunity to evaluate how well existing emergency preparations worked.
Her family discovered that an electric pickup truck could reliably operate several important appliances while consuming a relatively small portion of its battery.
The experience has encouraged them to explore additional equipment that could expand the vehicle's usefulness during future outages.
However, the family also recognizes that a truck used for backup power must remain available at the property, making a combination of emergency power options potentially more practical.
The recent storms have demonstrated the challenges faced by rural communities when damaged utility infrastructure requires extensive repairs.
They have also shown how electric vehicles equipped with external power capabilities can offer households another way to manage temporary disruptions.
As BC Hydro continues completing repairs across the region, residents are taking lessons from the prolonged outages and considering how best to prepare for future severe weather events.
For Carpino, the experience has provided a new appreciation for a vehicle that proved useful not only for getting around but also for keeping essential comforts running when the electricity went out.
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