Ford announced today the launch of two new electric vehicle charging devices that will allow its upcoming Fathom pickups to be used as batteries to supply power to households or the grid.
Ford stated that the price of these two new charging devices is approximately half that of the company's existing similar products, which may make this technology more affordable for more families. Ford mentioned that the starting price of the Fathom itself is $28,350.
Ford stated that Fathom will be able to supply “more than 10 kilowatts” of electricity to households. This is sufficient for this electric vehicle to replace a small standby generator. For most American families, this is not enough to meet all their electricity needs, but it can keep the refrigerator and air conditioner running for about half a day.
This capability has always been regarded as an advantage of electric vehicles over fossil fuel-powered cars, but there are not many electric vehicles that are truly fully equipped with it. Moreover, the charging equipment required to use a vehicle for the ( V2X ) service is usually quite expensive.
Two devices from Ford offer similar, but not exactly identical, features.
Home Power Station This device can help users charge Fathom when electricity prices are low, and send electricity back to their homes when prices are high, thereby reducing electricity bills. Ford says that this device costs about $650, which is about 50% cheaper than its first-generation bidirectional charger.
Another option is the Home Backup Power package, which combines Home Power Station with a second device Home Backup Panel, allowing Fathom to supply power to some or all areas of the home even during a power outage. Ford states that the price of this package is approximately $2,100, which is about 60% cheaper than its first-generation product.
The above prices do not include installation costs. For the existing V2X charging devices, the installation cost can be up to $10,000, depending on the amount of work required for electrical modifications in the home. Ford has not announced any cooperation with installers, but a spokesperson told TechCrunch that Ford will disclose more details later on.
Fathom can power various loads, but this will vary depending on the household circumstances and the specific installation method. For example, air conditioners and refrigerators usually require a large initial current surge when they are turned on, after which the load decreases. So-called soft-start devices can help to mitigate this surge, but they also increase the installation cost.
Both of these charging devices will allow Fathom users to participate in the virtual power plant ( VPP ). A virtual power plant controls a group of distributed energy storage devices, such as electric vehicles, through software.
As the pressure on power grids increases due to artificial intelligence data centers, utility companies have been exploring whether VPP can help alleviate congestion in marginal areas.
Owners of Fathom who join the program and keep their pickups plugged in to the power source can sell electricity back to the grid, usually at a premium as well. Ford has not specified exactly how much money owners of Fathom can earn, but depending on the grid's demand and level of participation, the annual return could be over $1,000.
Automobile manufacturers, including Ford, are making a major entry into the energy storage field as the demand for such services is surging. The virtual power plant driven by Fathom is Ford's latest attempt in this market, but it is likely not to be the last.
