If you haven’t had a chance to turn on the news, Texas has spent the last week dealing with some pretty serious weather. And when I say serious, I’m not talking hurricanes. I’m talking snow, ice, and frigid temperatures, all of which have resulted in some severe power outages. But some Texans? Well, they’re getting creative. Particularly those that own the Ford F-150 Hybrid. Because unlike other trucks, the Ford F-150 Hybrid is standard with an onboard generator that boasts enough power to heat a home and power appliances during a blackout.

Texans are using the Ford F-150 Hybrid’s onboard generator to stay warm

Many Texans have suffered without heat, lights, or even the ability to run appliances in their homes for days. But for Randy Jones of Katy, Texas? Well, CNBC reports that while Jones never expected to be using his new pickup to power his home during a historic winter storm, he definitely has been. 

Jones explained to CNBC that he originally bought the truck because of its onboard generator but didn’t anticipate using it until hurricane season came around. Then, when his power went out Sunday night, he decided to put the F-150 Hybrid’s generator to the test.

“Without it I would have been in the dark and cold like everybody else in the neighborhood,” Jones said, adding that neighbors also used the onboard generator to charge their phones and laptops. “Quite a few of the neighbors said, ‘Hey, I’m getting one,’ like, ‘I’m trading my Dodge or GMC,’ because, South Texas, with hurricanes and things like that, we’re always having power outages.”

Jones isn’t the only one putting his Ford F-150 Hybrid to good use, either. Dan Basile of Bryan, Texas, told the Detroit Free Press on Thursday that while he hasn’t had the time to put license plates on the new Ford F-150 he recently purchased, he has been using it to heat his home during rolling blackouts. And while his power has since been restored, Basile told the Detroit Free Press he wasn’t confident about how long it would stay on.

Jones and Basile are just two of many F-150 Hybrid owners utilizing the truck’s onboard generator too. Ford F-150 forums are currently rife with Texans doing the very same thing. And why not? If your pickup has the potential to keep you and your family safe and warm during a historic winter storm, then you would be wise to plug it in and put it to work.

Ford asks Texas dealerships to step in and help

And for those Texans who don’t own a Ford F-150 with an onboard generator? Automotive News reports that Ford sent a letter to dealers in Texas, asking them to loan F-150 models to residents without electricity so they can use the trucks’ onboard generators to power their homes. Ford says there are roughly 415 generator-equipped pickups currently on Texas dealers’ lots.

“For well over a century, Ford Motor Co. and our dealer partners have been there to support and serve our communities in time of need,” the letter said. “Our Texas communities need all the support they can get right now. You can make a significant difference in our community by providing assistance during these very tough times.”