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Ford Fathom will be the cheapest American EV capable of powering a house

MobilityOctober 27, 20262 min read

Ford announced two new home chargers for its coming Fathom electric pickup truck. The chargers let the truck send power back to a house or the power grid, and they cost much less than Ford's older versions.

What happened

Ford said its upcoming Fathom pickup truck will start at $28,350. It also unveiled two new chargers that let the truck act like a big battery. The truck can send power to a home or to the electric grid. Ford says the new chargers cost about half as much as its older equivalent products, so more families may be able to afford them.

Key numbers

Fathom starting price: $28,350
Fathom can deliver "over 10 kW" to a home, enough to run a fridge and air conditioner for about half a day
Home Power Station charger: about $650, roughly 50% less than Ford's first charger
Home Backup Power package: about $2,100, roughly 60% less than Ford's first product
Installation is extra and can cost up to $10,000 for existing V2X chargers

What the chargers do

V2X means "vehicle-to-everything." It is a way for an electric car to send power out, not just take it in. The Home Power Station can save money by charging the truck when electricity is cheap and sending power back to the house when it is expensive. The Home Backup Power package adds a second device, the Home Backup Panel, so the truck can power part or all of a home during an outage. Which appliances work depends on the house and the installation.

Why it matters

Home power from an electric vehicle has been seen as a big plus for EVs, but few models offer it and the chargers have been expensive. Lower prices could bring this feature to more households. Owners can also join virtual power plants, which link many energy storage devices, like EVs, to help the grid during busy times. Owners may earn money for this, with payouts that can reach $1,000 per year, though Ford did not say what Fathom owners could expect to earn.

What to watch

Which installers will work with Ford. Ford has not named any yet.
The full installation cost, which is not included in the chargers' prices
How much Fathom owners really earn from virtual power plants
More details on the Fathom's release date and features

Glossary

V2X: Vehicle-to-everything: a way for an electric car to send power to a home or the grid, not just receive it.
Fathom: Ford's upcoming electric pickup truck, which starts at $28,350.
Home Power Station: Ford's charger that stores power when it is cheap and sends it home when it is expensive.
Home Backup Panel: A second Ford device that lets the Fathom power parts or all of a home during an outage.

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