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Ford announces chargers to power homes with the Fathom
Ford is presenting bidirectional equipment for using the battery of its upcoming Fathom pickup at home or on the grid. The announced prices exclude installation. Usable power and economic value will depend on the home, its electrical equipment and the conditions for participating in the grid.
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Ford is announcing chargers that will allow its upcoming Fathom electric pickup to supply energy back to a home or the grid, according to TechCrunch. The automaker presents this equipment as less expensive than its existing equivalent products. The announced amounts remain distinct, however, from the total cost of an installed system.
The Home Power Station is announced at around 650 dollars. It is intended to allow the vehicle to charge when electricity is cheaper, then power the home when rates rise. The Home Backup Power system, announced at around 2,100 dollars, combines this station with an additional panel to supply electricity during an outage.
These prices exclude installation. TechCrunch reports that installing existing bidirectional chargers can cost as much as 10,000 dollars, depending on the electrical work required. That amount therefore does not constitute a quote for Ford’s new equipment. Which appliances are actually powered will also depend on each home and the characteristics of its electrical installation.
The chargers are also intended to enable participation in virtual power plants, which use software to coordinate distributed batteries. Enrolled owners can thus sell electricity back to the grid by leaving their vehicle plugged in. Ford does not specify the expected revenue for Fathom owners. The economic value will therefore need to be assessed case by case, taking installation, rates and participation conditions into account.