Ford’s Fathom electric pickup will offer home backup power from 2027, with the hardware expected to cost about $2,080 before installation. The midsize truck, priced at $28,350, will be capable of sending more than 10 kilowatts into a home without the separate wall-mounted inverter required by the first-generation F-150 Lightning system.
Ford has not released exact prices for the Fathom system. Instead, it said the backup equipment would cost about 60% less than its first-generation equivalent, while the everyday home power management system would be roughly half the price of the earlier charger.
Using Ford’s published prices for the Lightning, the estimated cost of the backup hardware is about $2,080. The previous Charge Station Pro cost $1,310, while the complete system needed for backup, including the Home Integration System, was priced at $5,205.
The separate home power management charger is estimated at about $655. Neither figure includes installation or potential upgrades to a property’s electrical panel, which may be required in older homes.
Installation for the Lightning system was considerably more expensive than the equipment alone. Sunrun quoted customers about $8,900 to $9,400 for an all-in installation, including labour and electrical work.
Ford says the Fathom will provide more than 10,000 watts at once, enough to run a refrigerator, lights, Wi-Fi and a television, as well as either a microwave or coffee maker. The company has not yet said how long a fully charged battery would power a home, promising more detail closer to launch.
Home backup power as a selling point
Ford said it does not currently expect to make money from grid fees or a share of utility payments. Instead, a spokesperson said: “We see it as a compelling reason to buy Fathom.”
The feature forms part of Ford’s attempt to make its next electric truck more attractive after the company stopped building the F-150 Lightning in December 2025. Ford has lost about $13 billion on electric vehicles since 2023, according to figures reported by The Associated Press.
The Fathom is being positioned as a less expensive electric pickup, with home backup power offering a feature that conventional petrol-powered trucks generally cannot provide.
California programme could offset the cost
The financial case for using the truck to support a home or send electricity back to the grid will depend on local utility rules. Ford formed a working group in July with American Electric Power, BC Hydro, Consumers Energy, Exelon and Pacific Gas and Electric to develop principles for changing interconnection requirements.
“Right now, we are focused on making sure the rules and regulations are in place to support this technology in the first place,” the Ford spokesperson said.
One existing PG&E programme offers a possible example of the incentives available. Residential customers can receive $2,500 upfront, or $3,000 in disadvantaged communities, while the first 250 participants can receive an additional $1,500.
Ford has not said whether the Fathom would qualify for that programme. Applications close on June 30 2027, and the company has not confirmed when the first trucks will be delivered.
Outside California and Maryland, arrangements for vehicles that send power back to homes and the grid remain more limited. California and Maryland have certification routes for two-way charging systems, while proposals in Nevada and Connecticut were still pending in mid-2026.
