Ford’s $30K Fathom EV powers homes without extra inverter — SkimNews
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- Ford is developing the Fathom electric truck, priced under $30,000 and set to launch in 2027, which will be the first US-made EV in that price range capable of delivering over 10 kW of AC power to a home without an external inverter.
- Ford integrated a bidirectional inverter directly into the Fathom’s E-box after acquiring startup Auto Motive Power in 2023, reducing part count and system cost compared to traditional wall-mounted inverters.
- Ford says its new Home Power Station will cost about half as much as its first-generation bidirectional charger, and the full home backup setup will cost at least 60% less than earlier equipment.
- Fathom owners will access two power modes: Home Power Management for shifting energy use to off-peak hours and Home Backup Power to sustain homes during outages, both requiring Ford’s new hardware.
- Ford formed a working group with American Electric Power, BC Hydro, Consumers Energy, Exelon, and Pacific Gas and Electric to align utility processes with bidirectional charging standards ahead of the Fathom’s 2027 launch.
- Ford designed the Fathom’s system to meet UL 1741, IEEE 1547, and SAE J3068 standards, aiming to simplify grid interconnection and support future virtual power plant participation.
Why it matters: Home backup power could become dramatically more affordable: pairing a sub-$30K truck with equipment costing 60% less than Ford’s prior setup lowers the entry barrier for EV-powered resilience, especially for households in outage-prone areas or on time-of-use electricity plans.
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