F-150 USED TO HEAT TEXAS HOME

Residents of the Lone Star State have been shivering their way through February since cold winter blasted the region with ice and snow. But for at least one resourceful Ford F-150 owner, it wasn’t too much of a hassle, thanks to a new feature on the truck introduced this year. The F-150 pickup truck can be fitted with a Powerboost hybrid powertrain, combining an electric motor with a turbocharged V6 engine. Part of its appeal is the ability to serve as a 7.2-kw generator for powering tools and appliances. The owner, who posted his story on the F150gen14 forum, said it provided “power to some lights, coffee pot, 75-inch TV, toaster oven, space heater and refrigerator.” He ran it for 10-12 hours each day and was able to keep the food in his freezer frozen.