Ford is preparing to make one of the most useful electric vehicle technologies more affordable. The upcoming Ford Fathom electric pickup will offer bidirectional charging, allowing its battery to supply electricity to a home without requiring a separate wall-mounted inverter.
Expected to start below $30,000, the Fathom is scheduled to arrive in 2027. Ford says its integrated power electronics and lower-cost home charging equipment could make it one of the most affordable electric trucks capable of providing home backup power.
The system is designed to do more than keep essential appliances running during an outage. It could also help owners reduce electricity costs by charging the truck when power rates are low and sending electricity back to the home when rates rise.
Ford Fathom Brings Bidirectional Charging to a More Affordable EV
Bidirectional charging allows electricity to flow in both directions between an electric vehicle and an external power source. Instead of simply drawing electricity from the grid, a compatible EV can send energy stored in its battery back to a home.
The technology has been available on some electric vehicles, but the additional equipment and installation costs have limited its appeal. Ford aims to address that problem with the Fathom’s electrical architecture.
The truck will feature an integrated inverter housed within its electrical system, eliminating the need for a separate wall-mounted inverter for home power delivery. Ford says the setup is designed to supply more than 10 kilowatts of AC power to a home.
That approach reduces the number of components required and could lower the overall cost of installing a bidirectional charging system.
The technology was developed with input from Auto Motive Power, a company Ford acquired in 2023, as part of the engineering work behind its new Universal EV Platform.
Ford plans to offer two main ways to use the Fathom’s bidirectional power capabilities.
1. Lower Electricity Bills Through Smart Energy Management
The first application is home energy management. Owners will be able to charge the Fathom when electricity is cheaper, such as during off-peak hours, and use energy stored in the truck’s battery when electricity prices are higher.
Depending on local electricity rates, utility rules and the amount of energy used, this approach could help reduce household energy costs.
The system will require Ford’s Home Power Station, which is expected to cost approximately half as much as the company’s first-generation bidirectional charging equipment. An active Ford plan or trial will also be required.
Savings will depend on the owner’s electricity tariff, charging habits and how much energy remains available in the truck after daily driving.
2. Backup Power During an Outage
The second application is home backup power. During an electricity outage, the Fathom could supply power to a home’s electrical system, offering an alternative to a conventional gasoline or diesel generator.
For this functionality, owners will need both the Home Power Station and Ford’s Home Backup Power Panel. The panel is expected to cost at least 60% less than Ford’s first-generation backup hardware.
The integrated inverter is particularly important here because it removes the need for a separate wall-mounted inverter, one of the components that has made bidirectional EV installations expensive.
The system could provide a useful backup option during severe weather, grid failures or other unexpected interruptions. Actual backup duration will depend on the truck’s battery capacity, its state of charge and the home’s electricity consumption.
Price is one of the most important parts of Ford’s strategy.
The company expects the Home Power Station and Home Backup Power Panel together to cost approximately $2,255, based on the currently announced estimates. That figure excludes installation and subscription costs, which have not yet been fully established.
With the Fathom expected to start at $28,350, the combined vehicle and home power equipment could have a starting cost of approximately $30,605 before installation and applicable fees, assuming Ford’s announced estimates remain unchanged.
This would make the system substantially less expensive than some earlier bidirectional charging solutions.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning, which was discontinued after the 2025 model year, previously offered home backup capability through additional equipment. Its original charging and home integration package cost approximately $5,205 before installation.
The Fathom’s proposed equipment pricing represents a significant reduction compared with that earlier setup.
Other electric vehicles also offer or are preparing to offer bidirectional charging, but the additional hardware can add thousands of dollars to the total cost. Ford’s approach could help bring the technology to buyers who cannot justify a more expensive EV and home energy system.
More Than 10 kW of AC Power Without a Separate Inverter
The Fathom’s integrated power inverter is central to the system’s design.
Electric vehicle batteries store electricity as direct current (DC), while household electrical systems use alternating current (AC). Converting between the two typically requires power electronics, which can add cost and complexity to a home installation.
By integrating the necessary inverter into the truck, Ford is aiming to simplify the equipment required to transfer electricity from the battery to the home.
Ford says the system is designed to deliver more than 10 kW of AC power. That output could support a range of household electrical needs, although which appliances can operate simultaneously will depend on their individual power demands and the home’s electrical configuration.
The technology does not mean that every home can be powered indefinitely. Battery energy is finite, and using the truck as a home power source will reduce the energy available for driving until the vehicle is recharged.
Ford Is Working With Utilities to Make Home Backup Easier
Hardware costs are only part of the challenge. Connecting a vehicle to a home’s electrical system and the wider grid also involves utility requirements, electrical codes and local approval processes.
Ford has established a working group with five major utility companies: American Electric Power, BC Hydro, Consumers Energy, Exelon and Pacific Gas and Electric. The goal is to help clarify the processes required for bidirectional EV charging and home backup applications.
Simplifying those requirements could help more customers adopt the technology as electric vehicles increasingly become part of home energy management.
Availability and installation requirements will still depend on local regulations, utility approval and the equipment offered in each market.
2028 Ford Fathom: What to Expect
The Fathom is part of Ford’s broader effort to develop more affordable electric vehicles using its Universal EV Platform. The truck is expected to use a rear-mounted electric motor and a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack in its base configuration, a chemistry commonly used to help control battery costs.
Production is planned for Ford’s Louisville, Kentucky, facility, which is undergoing a major retooling for the company’s next generation of lower-cost EVs.
Ford has indicated that the Fathom will start below $30,000 and enter production in 2027. However, bringing a new vehicle to market at its targeted price and production volume remains a challenge, so final specifications, equipment availability and pricing should be confirmed closer to launch.
The company has not yet finalized all installation and subscription costs associated with the home power system.
