Ford Fathom promises cheaper EV home power

Ford is promising to roughly halve the cost of hardware needed to power a home from an electric vehicle with new bidirectional charging technology developed for its upcoming Fathom ute.

Due in North America in 2027 with a starting price of US$28,350 (about A$40,000), the mid-size electric pick-up will offer bidirectional AC power, with projected output exceeding 10kW to a household.

Integrating that equipment into the vehicle removes the need for an expensive external inverter, potentially making it cheaper for owners to use their EV battery to manage electricity bills or provide backup power during blackouts. 

Ford has not confirmed the Fathom for Australia, but it has not been ruled out either.

Bidirectional charging allows electricity stored in an EV battery to flow back out of the vehicle.

Depending on the vehicle, connected equipment and approvals, that energy can power a household through vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology or be exported to the electricity grid using vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality.

EV batteries store direct current (DC), while household appliances use alternating current (AC). An inverter converts the electricity between the two.

Ford’s previous home backup system for the F-150 Lightning required an external inverter as part of the equipment installed at the property.

The Fathom instead incorporates the inverter into an electronic control module called the E-box, one of five major modules in its electrical architecture.

Developed following Ford’s acquisition of electronics specialist Auto Motive Power in 2023, the arrangement combines functions into fewer components to reduce complexity and cost.

Owners will be offered two home power functions.

Home Power Management will allow them to charge the vehicle when electricity is relatively cheap, then use that stored energy to supply their home when tariffs rise.

It requires a new Home Power Station, which Ford expects to cost approximately half as much as its first-generation bidirectional charger. An active Ford service plan or trial and utility approval will also be required.

Home Backup Power will allow the ute to supply a household during a blackout.

That function requires both the Home Power Station and an additional Home Backup Power Panel. Ford says the home backup hardware is expected to cost at least 60 per cent less than its first-generation equipment.

Those savings relate to equipment, with installation costs and final retail prices yet to be announced.

Ford is also working with North American electricity utilities to simplify the process of connecting bidirectional vehicles to the grid.

A working group established in July 2026 brings together five major utilities to develop more consistent connection procedures.

The company says the Fathom’s system has been designed to meet relevant North American interconnection standards, but commercial V2G functionality has not been confirmed for launch.

Ford is also investigating virtual power plants, which coordinate electricity stored in multiple vehicles to help support the grid.

For Australia, the technology offers a potential way to reduce the upfront expense of using an EV as household energy storage.

However, local deployment would require compatible vehicles and equipment, manufacturer support and compliance with Australian electrical and network requirements.

Bidirectional charging is already being introduced here, but equipment costs, vehicle compatibility and regulatory approvals remain obstacles to widespread adoption.

Ford has not indicated whether the Fathom’s North American home power system will be adapted or certified for Australian use.

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