New video & photos: Ford Fathom in the Wild (Las Vegas detour during hot weather testing)

[onuiebvbevnulib]

If I had to guess, Ford has the Maverick battery assembled into a fashion that has the battery voltage in the 220-240V range, just as the PID in an earlier post image showed.

So it looks like Ai slop that has the "approximately 450 volts DC" in the Google Search and the 2022-2023 Maverick Hybrid HV Battery Removal Guide (PDF).

 

[Snakebitten]

Ai is going to mislead the masses as the masses become to complacent to do the science for themselves.

Fortunately, Ai has shown itself for what its shortcomings are, so we have no excuse for being mislead. Stay vigilant!

 

[chl]

Yes battery cell composition and safety buffers change the nominal operating voltage of an EV HVB. The Lightning HVB could reach over 390VDC if the system allowed it, however Ford limits with buffers and the nominal voltage is 360VDC plus or minus about 10 volts from what I have read - haven't done any measurements myself.

I think the LFPs Ford uses in other models are configured for about the same nominal voltage give or take so in the neighborhood of 350VDC.

The Maverick was a hybrid, right? So a lower voltage in that pack of around 220VDC makes sense.

I'd be surprised if they varied much from the LFPs CATL made for them in the new vehicle.

I don't see what the rationale for a lower nominal voltage than used in other Ford LFP EVs would be from an engineering stand point. Why would they go for the hybrid battery Maverick level of 220VDC if that is what was suggested?

Lower voltage means higher current and larger wire is required to deliver the same power as a higher voltage system. Reducing wiring and the resulting weight seemed to be a goal of the UEV team. Increased current increases heat losses as well as slowing down charging.

As for the hybrid AC compressor voltage requirement, if you do a search you'll find voltages ranging from 200 to the 450 that AI came up with all the way up to 650.

" A hybrid AC compressor is different. It’s driven by a brushless electric motor powered directly from the high-voltage battery pack — typically between 200 and 650 volts depending on the vehicle. The Prius, for example, runs its compressor at roughly 206 volts nominal. There’s no belt. There’s no mechanical connection to the engine at all...."

https://www.tucsonhybrids.com/hybrid-ac-compressor-explained/

But you know, supply voltages can be stepped up or down as needed.

As an example, in L2 charging the Ford F-150 Lightning, the 240VAC has to be rectified (turned to DC) and stepped up to the nominal 350-450VDC for the HVB charging.

 

[PowerShift]

They've been saying a reveal is in early 2027 but I wouldn't be surprised if they drive this around DTLA during the LA Auto Show.

I'm starting to think the reveal will be at CES, the consumer electronics show that takes place in the first week of January. In the 2010s there were actually several new car reveals there. Although that's trailed off recently, CES still gets a lot of media. Since Detroit is a week after CES, the Fathom will probably be there too, but Detroit gets nearly no media attention these days.

 

[The Electric Duo]

I'm starting to think the reveal will be at CES, the consumer electronics show that takes place in the first week of January. In the 2010s there were actually several new car reveals there. Although that's trailed off recently, CES still gets a lot of media. Since Detroit is a week after CES, the Fathom will probably be there too, but Detroit gets nearly no media attention these days.

We're scheduled to attend both so I hope you are right. I'm leaning more towards the Detroit Auto Show or a separate Ford only event sometime after that. I think Jim Farley and Bill Ford really think this is a game changer for Ford. With that level of importance, it seems like something they'd want to reveal in Detroit. I was initially hoping it would be the LA Auto Show and they'd highlight the connection to their Long Beach EVDC. But now that they are saying early 2027, that feels like it is too perfect for either a Detroit Auto Show or just a Ford only event. Maybe at their new HQ or Michigan Central?

 

[DeluxeStang]

I'm starting to think the reveal will be at CES, the consumer electronics show that takes place in the first week of January. In the 2010s there were actually several new car reveals there. Although that's trailed off recently, CES still gets a lot of media. Since Detroit is a week after CES, the Fathom will probably be there too, but Detroit gets nearly no media attention these days.

I could see a CES and Detroit reveal for each event for maximum exposure.

 

[PowerShift]

I could see a CES and Detroit reveal for each event for maximum exposure.

Yeah, CES for the media, Detroit for the general public. The regional auto show season really ramps up in January and I think they'd want the Fathom at as many shows as possible. My local show in DC is the last week of January and I'm really hoping I get to see it there.