[davidf560]

The built-in generator options don't output any more power than a generator that you can buy at any home improvement store for several hundred dollars. Sure, having it integrated into the vehicle might be a nice feature, but I don't see anything special about the power output.

This just replaces a free-standing generator strapped down in the back of the truck. Those tend to be noisy but they're relatively cheap. I doubt most jobsites care that much about the noise, but I suppose tailgaters might like it. On the other hand, tailgaters tend to prefer inverter generators which are very quiet and use very little gas.

In fact, thinking more about it, I wouldn't want to be at a tailgate with an F150 running all day spewing exhaust all over. A small portable generator and an extension cord can be located relatively far away from the gathering - that's a lot harder to do with the truck itself.

[caymanjim]

The article mentions most of these points and provides some compelling reasons why one might prefer an integrated system. I'd certainly rather have one powered by the truck's engine. It's vastly more fuel-efficient, quieter, and vastly more environmentally-sound than a loud-ass 2-stroke portable generator could ever hope to be, and if you're the kind of working person who'd benefit from this, it's a godsend.

[rootusrootus]

A 2000W inverter generator is much, much quieter than the construction generators you're used to seeing. Still louder than an F150, but quiet enough so it's not very bothersome. 50-60dB or so.

[plasticchris]

Depending on the generator it can be quieter than an idling f150

[rootusrootus]

That would depend more on the state of the exhaust of the F150. I have the quietest Honda inverter generator (which AFAIK is the quietest generator) and I have an F150 with the most powerful motor available. The generator is quiet for a generator, but much louder than the F150 at idle. It might be pretty close on a hot day during the times when the high speed fan cycles on, though.

[syshum]

>>vastly more environmentally-sound than a loud-ass 2-stroke portable generator

Agree with your points, however it is clear you have never used a Honda portable...

[CydeWeys]

The truck has ~$1k worth of emissions scrubbers in its exhaust, maybe more. You're not going to beat that performance with a portable generator. The Honda generator doesn't even have a catalytic converter.

[hedora]

Yeah, but the scrubbers don’t help CO2, which is the most important pollutant these days.

The hybrid truck could run an inverter off battery (in theory), and cycle the engine on and off. A dirt cheap generator (Predator 8750 from harbor freight) runs 8–12 hours on ~5 gallons (the spec sheet doesn’t give tank capacity)

How many gallons per hour does an idle truck burn?

[bob1029]

Honda portable generators are some kind of magic. 90% of that thing must be a muffler, but I've never seen a tear-down. I knew a bunch of people into flying model airplanes, and every single person would have one of these out at the field. Until someone pointed one out to me, I had no idea 5+ generators were actively running around me.

[caymanjim]

Fair enough. A four-stroke Honda generator sounds pretty nice.

[fanatic2pope]

And it's one less thing to worry about in terms of maintenance, fuel and cargo.

[munificent]

And theft, which tends to be a problem at work sites.