Ford Details Home Backup Power For Fathom Electric Truck
Ford says its upcoming Fathom pickup will be able to power a home, though reports differ on the expected cost of the equipment required.
Ford says its upcoming Fathom electric pickup will be able to send electricity to a home during an outage and participate in programs that return power to the grid. The truck will deliver more than 10 kilowatts of power, according to TechCrunch. Owners will need additional Ford equipment to use those capabilities, and TechCrunch and The Verge report different expected prices for the home-backup package.
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How the truck will supply power
According to The Verge, Ford is putting an inverter inside the Fathom rather than relying on the large external inverter used with the discontinued F-150 Lightning. The built-in component converts battery power into household electricity. That could let the truck run appliances, back up a home or send energy to the grid when paired with the appropriate equipment.
TechCrunch says the Fathom’s output could serve as an alternative to a small standby generator. It would not necessarily power every device in a typical U.S. home, the outlet reports, but could keep essentials such as a refrigerator and air conditioner running for about half a day. What works in any given house will depend on its electrical setup and the equipment being powered. Appliances that draw a brief surge when starting may require additional measures, TechCrunch notes.
Equipment costs remain unsettled
Ford’s Home Power Station will let owners charge the truck when electricity is cheaper and use that energy at home when rates rise, according to TechCrunch. Adding a Home Backup Panel will let the vehicle supply a home during a blackout. Both reports say the new station is expected to cost roughly half as much as Ford’s existing equivalent charger.
The outlets disagree on the backup package’s expected price. TechCrunch reports a target of about $650 for the Home Power Station and $2,100 for the package with the backup panel. The Verge says Ford is aiming for approximately $3,123 for that package and that final prices are pending. Neither estimate includes the full cost of getting a home ready: The Verge points to permits, electrician work and wiring, while TechCrunch says installation costs for existing bidirectional systems can vary substantially.
Grid programs and rollout
TechCrunch reports that both charger options will support participation in virtual power plants, which coordinate connected energy devices. Owners who enroll and keep their trucks plugged in could sell power to the grid, although Ford has not said what Fathom owners might earn.
Ford has also worked with five North American utilities—PG&E, American Electric Power, BC Hydro, Consumers Energy and Exelon—on simpler procedures and shared technical approaches, according to The Verge. The outlet says the Fathom’s official reveal is still months away. TechCrunch reports a starting truck price of $28,350; The Verge describes it as a sub-$30,000 pickup.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.