Ford’s Affordable Electric Truck Doubles as Home Backup Power
WHO:
TechCrunch - Ford is introducing two chargers with vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capability, allowing a vehicle to power a home or the grid.
The Verge - Ford’s Fathom is the automaker’s first next-generation electric vehicle and its first vehicle on the Universal Electric Vehicle Platform.
The Verge - Ford partnered with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), American Electric Power (AEP), BC Hydro, Consumers Energy, and Exelon on bidirectional-charging practices.
The Verge - The five power companies collectively serve millions of customers in the United States and Canada.
WHAT:
The Verge - Ford said the Fathom’s official reveal is still a few months away.
The Verge - Ford described its effort to make the Fathom affordable as central to the automaker amid supply-chain constraints and trade upheaval.
TechCrunch - Ford is rolling out two new chargers capable of powering a home or sending power to the grid.
The Verge - Ford announced bidirectional charging for the Fathom, a pickup priced at $28,000 and described as sub-$30,000.
The Verge - The Fathom’s onboard E-box contains an inverter that converts battery power into standard household electricity. It can supply up to 10 kW of power to appliances, a home during an outage, or the grid.
The Verge - Sending power to the grid requires Ford’s Home Power Station. Ford is targeting a price 50 percent below the existing $1,310 Ford Charge Station Pro.
The Verge - Whole-home backup requires the Home Power Station and a backup panel. Ford estimates the combination at $3,123, compared with a typical cost of around $5,205—a roughly 40 percent reduction. Final package prices remain pending.
The Verge - The Fathom’s platform is designed to improve aerodynamic range and reduce production costs, helping Ford make a profitable EV. Ford has called the effort its “Model T moment.”
The Verge - The utility companies agreed to reduce paperwork for basic storm backup, use common plugs and software, and make grid programs automatic.
WHERE:
The Verge - The five utility partners operate across the United States and Canada.
WHY:
The Verge - Ford aims to make bidirectional charging simpler and less expensive than existing options, which it describes as potentially costing $10,000.
The Verge - Ford said the utility partnership addresses regulatory and paperwork barriers to vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-load charging.
HOW:
The Verge - The Fathom’s onboard inverter can output over 10 kW of AC power.
The Verge - Unlike the discontinued F-150 Lightning, which required an external DC-to-AC wall inverter, the Fathom integrates its inverter into the vehicle’s E-box.
The Verge - Home installation may also involve permitting, electrician labor, and heavy-gauge wiring, adding costs beyond the charging equipment.
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 19:06 UTC)
Ford is introducing vehicle-to-everything charging for its upcoming Fathom pickup, a roughly $28,000 electric truck that can send battery power to appliances, a home during an outage, or the grid. Its built-in inverter can provide more than 10 kilowatts of power, while Ford’s new chargers are designed to make home backup and grid connections simpler and less expensive. Ford is working with five utilities in the United States and Canada to streamline installation and grid programs, and says the Fathom’s official reveal is still a few months away.
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(UPDATED October 27, 2026 16:16 UTC)
Ford is adding bidirectional charging to the Fathom, its first vehicle on a new electric-vehicle platform, allowing the pickup to power appliances, a home during an outage, or the grid. Its built-in inverter can provide up to 10 kilowatts, while grid power and whole-home backup require additional equipment; Ford estimates the backup setup could cost about 40 percent less than a typical system, though final prices are pending. To simplify access, Ford is working with five utilities serving customers across the United States and Canada to standardize equipment and software, reduce paperwork, and make grid programs automatic.