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Vyas Shenoy, a Ford engineer behind the advanced Pro Power Onboard technology on the Ford F-150 Lighting electric truck, says the feature is more important to him than just having portable energy.
Ford sent shockwaves throughout the auto industry with the introduction of its all-electric F-150 Lightning. If you haven’t seen one of these in the wild yet, just wait. They’re a match.
The Lightning continues to win over customers, selling a record 2,436 in October to remain the best-selling electric truck across the US despite mounting competition. A total of 11,196 Lightning pickups have been sold through October 2022 as Ford ramps up production next year.
Lightning drivers are discovering that their electric truck is more capable than their gas-powered counterparts could ever dream of, which is why Ford calls it the “smartest, most innovative F-150.”
The Ford F-150 Lighting includes an innovative feature called Pro Power Onboard that essentially turns the vehicle into a powerful mobile energy power bank.
With up to 9.6 kW of power spread across 11 outlets, drivers can “tap in” whenever and wherever energy is needed. Drivers have found convenient ways to use power, for example:
- When thousands of customers lost power during Hurricane Nicole, Bob Hathaway used his Ford Lightning to make the most of it by powering the coffee maker and toaster (he even let the neighbors tap in for energy).
- Remy Oktay, a student from Lafayette High School, needed help getting his electric plane to Pennsylvania, so several Ford F-150 Lightning owners stepped up, charging at plane between hours.
- A film crew turned to Ford electric vehicles to power their film set (everything down to the coffee maker) set deep in the forest.
Meanwhile, the mastermind behind the technology, Vyas Shenoy, a Ford engineer, said the electric truck’s portable power capabilities are “a perfect testament to life coming full circle” after growing up with electricity being a luxury.
Ford Engineer – F-150 Lightning Pro Power an “emotional feature”
Shenoy grew up in a small village in Southern India where electricity could go out for weeks at a time. In a LinkedIn post on Ford’s page, Shenoy explained:
Where I grew up in India, we had mandatory power cuts every day. And during the rainy season, we had to live without electricity for several weeks because the trees fell, and we were flooded. No infrastructure is built to support the grid because all the power goes to the big cities.
Even everyday items for many of us, like battery-powered flashlights, are hard to come by. Shenoy said, “those were real goods,” adding in grade 11, “we started getting a 12-volt battery — a portable charger with a 12-volt battery and two fluorescent tubes that could be used for student.”
Meanwhile, he added, “they are very expensive and a luxury that can be afforded.”
Determined for a better life, Shenoy earned a Bachelor of Engineering and Diploma DME (GL) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal University in India.
He wants more. Shenoy wanted to pursue higher education in the US, but again, it was expensive.
Imagine someone struggling to get a battery for schooling now investing in a higher education in America.
To help his son achieve his dreams, Shenoy’s father gave him property rights to the family home. Shenoy seized the opportunity, took a loan against the property and went to the US anonymously.
My mission is zero to hero.
Shenoy earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan and then took a job at Ford, where he helped develop Pro Power Onboard in the F-150 Lightning.
Shenoy’s parents visited him last summer, and aware of their plight, he brought Ford’s electric truck home to show them what he had been working for. He said, “my parents are on cloud 9.”
Thinking back, Shenoy feels a great deal of pride in what he did with the Lightning, adding:
I’ve seen what it’s like to grow up without electricity, studying under that kerosene lamp. And now to be on this aspirational journey working with an amazing team on a technological breakthrough product at Ford that can deliver up to 9.6 kW of power through an electric truck is a perfect testament to coming full circle . I’ve seen the other side of life without electricity, and I’m contributing to a future where we don’t have to worry about things like this.
Electrek’s Take
We’ve closely followed Ford’s electric journey this year as drivers try new ways to use innovative features like Pro Power Onboard in their new Lightning trucks.
Listening to Shenoy’s story gives new meaning to “coming full circle,” and the automaker’s electric journey is just beginning. Ford’s Pro Power Onboard shows another strength in which electric vehicles can benefit users with portable power.
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