Ford engineer behind Lightning EV tech explains why Pro Power Onboard is an emotional feature
Vyas Shenoy, a Ford engineer behind the advanced Pro Power Onboard technology on the Ford F-150 Lighting electric truck, says the feature means more to him than just having portable energy.
Ford has sent shockwaves across the auto industry with the introduction of its fully electric F-150 Lightning. If you haven’t seen one of these out in the wild yet, just wait. They are something.
The Lightning continues winning customers over, selling a record 2,436 in October to remain the best-selling electric truck across the US despite rising competition. A total of 11,196 Lightning pickups have been sold through October 2022 as Ford ramps production going into next year.
Lightning drivers are finding their electric truck has more capabilities than their gas-powered peers could dream of, which is why Ford calls it the “smartest, most innovative F-150 yet.”
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 power spread across 11 outlets, drivers can “tap in” whenever and wherever energy is needed. Drivers have found convenient ways to utilize the 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 the plane in hour intervals.
- A film crew turned to Ford’s electric vehicles to power their movie set (everything down to the coffee maker) placed deep in the woods.
Meanwhile, the brains behind the technology, Vyas Shenoy, a Ford engineer, says the electric truck’s portable power capabilities “is a perfect testimony 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 the electricity could be out for several weeks at a time. In a LinkedIn post on Ford’s page, Shenoy explains:
Where I grew up in India, we had mandatory electricity cuts every day. And during a monsoon, we had to live without electricity for weeks because the trees had fallen, and it was flooded. There was no developed infrastructure to support the grid because all the power was going to the big cities.
Even everyday items for many of us, like battery-powered flashlights, were hard to come by. Shenoy says, “those were real commodities,” adding around grade 11, “we started getting 12-volt batteries – a portable charger with a 12-volt battery and two fluorescent tubes that could be used for study.”
Meanwhile, he added, “they were very expensive and a luxury to afford.”
Shenoy was determined for a better life, earning a Bachelor of Engineering and Diploma DME (GL) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal University in India.
He wanted more. Shenoy wished to pursue higher education in the US, but again, it was expensive.
Imagine a person struggling to get a battery for studies 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 house. Shenoy hopped on the opportunity, taking a loan against the property and making his way to the US without knowing anyone.
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 with Ford, where he has helped develop Pro Power Onboard on the F-150 Lightning.
Shenoy’s parents visited him over the summer, and knowing their struggle, he brought Ford’s electric truck to the house to show them what he has been working on. He said, “my parents were on cloud 9.”
Thinking back, Shenoy feels immense pride in what he has accomplished with the Lightning, adding:
I’ve seen what it is to be without electricity growing up, getting my education under that kerosene lamp. And now to be on this aspirational journey working with a fantastic team on a technological breakthrough product at Ford that can provide up to 9.6 kW of power through an electric truck is a perfect testimony to life 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 that.
Electrek’s Take
We have followed Ford’s electric journey closely this year as drivers test new ways to use innovative features like Pro Power Onboard in their new Lightning trucks.
Hearing Shenoy’s story gives a new meaning to “coming full circle,” and the automaker’s electric journey is just starting. Ford’s Pro Power Onboard showcases another strength in which electric vehicles can benefit users with portable power.
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Robinhood has officially closed its $200 million acquisition of Bitstamp, bringing one of the world’s longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges into its fold and signaling a strategic shift beyond retail trading and into the world of institutions.
The all-cash deal, first announced last year, gives Robinhood an immediate international footprint — including more than 50 active crypto licenses across Europe, the UK, and Asia — as well as an established institutional client base, something the retail trading app has long lacked.
For Robinhood, the deal marks a move into deeper waters: institutional crypto flows, lending and staking infrastructure, and white-label “crypto-as-a-service,” products built for hedge funds, fintechs, and registered investment advisors — all of which require robust systems for custody, price discovery, and settlement.
“I wouldn’t call it necessarily a pivot,” Robinhood Crypto General Manager Johann Kerbrat told CNBC. “For us, it’s combining the strengths of the two businesses. We are one of the largest retail marketplaces in the U.S. … They have products that we don’t have, like order books, crypto as a service, advanced API and lending and staking and thanks to that, we will be able to get into this space, not starting from scratch.”
Robinhood, which launched crypto trading in 2018 and helped drive the meme-coin mania of 2021, has in recent months worked to rebrand itself as a serious player in the next phase of digital asset finance — one that’s increasingly defined by regulation, institutional capital, and cross-border competition.
“Now that we’re starting to see the regulatory clarity coming from Congress and the administration, more and more institutions are going to want to get into crypto,” added Kerbrat.
The Bitstamp deal gives it a head start.
Founded in 2011, Bitstamp is known for its deep liquidity, compliant reputation, and minimalist approach. While not flashy, Bitstamp has weathered multiple market cycles and built longstanding relationships with institutional partners across Europe and Asia — something Robinhood plans to leverage.
Earlier this month, Robinhood also acquired Canadian crypto firm WonderFi to tap into Canada’s established user base.
“Robinhood is a marketplace. We don’t match orders. And with Bitstamp, we will have a robust product offering that will really allow us to build more on the active trader and advanced trader side of things,” Kerbrat said.
“That’s going to be a big step for us and really diversify our crypto business, not just from retail in the U.S. — to a global offering,” he said.
It also gives Robinhood a regulatory on-ramp to Europe, where crypto rules are clearer compared to the fragmented approach in the U.S.
The company confirmed it will maintain Bitstamp’s existing interfaces and operations for now, while exploring deeper integration over time. Bitstamp is already being used behind the scenes for smart order routing through Robinhood’s institutional web platform, Robinhood Ledger.
“The flow we’re sending to Bitstamp will make Bitstamp more lively — and attract more institutions,” Kerbrat said.
The acquisition closes at a critical moment for Robinhood.
The fintech player has continued to expand aggressively, including listing new tokens, launching staking, and teasing international product rollouts. Bitstamp’s regulatory track record and licensing portfolio may offer a measure of insulation as Robinhood pushes further into new international markets.
Kerbrat didn’t rule out the possibility of other acquisitions.
“If we can find a way to accelerate by at least 18 months or two years — and we have a lot of great reason to believe this is a great acquisition — it’s something that we’ll definitely look at,” he said.
America’s best-selling electric pickup has been hit with a recall. Ford is recalling certain 2024 and 2025 F-150 Lightning electric pickups over a faulty suspension that could cause a loss of control. Here’s how you can get the fix.
Ford is recalling 29,501 F-150 Lightning pickups
After it was outpaced by the Tesla Cybertruck last year, the Lightning reclaimed its title as the best-selling electric pickup in the US in the first quarter.
A letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week shows Ford is now recalling 29,501 F-150 Lightning electric pickups.
The recall impacts 20,528 2024 and 8,973 2025 model years. In the letter, Ford stated that certain Lightning models may have an improperly torqued nut on the ball joint of the front upper control arm. Due to this, the arm can separate from the knuckle assembly, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Ford estimates only 1% of the vehicles recalled have the defect. If you hear a “clunk or rattle noise” while the suspension moves, it could be that the ball joint is loose or missing.
As of May 16, the company is only aware of one incident related to the issue. In early March, a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning was towed to a dealership after a customer reported that the front wheel had failed while driving.
After an investigation, Ford is recalling F-150 Lightning pickups produced between February 14, 2024, and April 14, 2025.
Owners will be notified by mail to take their vehicle to a dealer for inspection. If the unit fails, dealers will replace the knuckle and nut, free of charge.
Notification letters are expected to be mailed out on June 9. If you have any questions, you can contact Ford’s customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s recall number is 24S76.
You can also call the NHTSA hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit the NHTSA website here. The NHTSA recall number is 24V949.
2025 Ford F-150 Lightning trim |
Starting Price | Range (EPA-est miles) |
| XLT | $62,995 | 240 |
| Flash | $67,995 | 320 |
| Lariat | $76,995 | 320 |
| Platinum | $84,995 | 300 |
| Platinum Black | $92,995 | 300 |
Despite adding several new charging features, an improved BlueCruise, and a new “Dark Elements” design package, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning still starts at $62,995 with a 240-mile range.
Upgrading to the Flash trim, which features 320 miles of range, a 15.5″ touchscreen, added technology, and more, costs $67,995.
The 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT is listed for lease at just $379 per month (24 months) right now. Ready to try the electric pickup for yourself? You can use our link to find offers on the F-150 Lightning at a dealer near you today.
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