2027 Ford electric truck replaces 12V with 48V zonal architecture

[WXman]

So, ICE vehicles have multiple sources of energy for all of these functions?

Correct. I have two 12V batteries AND a diesel engine onboard. One energy source handles memory, key fob access, and a host of other functions. The other powers the driveline. If one or two batteries die, I can rectify that issue at home in mere minutes and the driveline is back into full operation.

 

[paneubert]

And it hasn't been incorporated in vehicles as of 2026. Pull the negative battery cable on your vehicle for 15 minutes and then hook it back up and see how many settings/presets/features you have to reconfigure.

Is anyone going to actually answer my question?

You asked a question and I provided a possible and completely valid answer. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it any less of an option. You do realize that nobody here can answer your questions with certainty (yet), right? This is a vehicle built on a totally new platform and not many details have been released publicly. Chill out for a bit and wait for details to be released. Until then you are going to have to accept folks giving you hypotheticals. If you don't like that, take a 6 month break from the forum and then come back to enjoy the verified data.

 

[WXman]

You asked a question and I provided a possible and completely valid answer. Just because you don't like it doesn't make it any less of an option. You do realize that nobody here can answer your questions with certainty (yet), right? This is a vehicle built on a totally new platform and not many details have been released publicly. Chill out for a bit and wait for details to be released. Until then you are going to have to accept folks giving you hypotheticals. If you don't like that, take a 6 month break from the forum and then come back to enjoy the verified data.

If nobody knows then none of the rhetoric on the previous page of this thread was necessary. A simple, "nobody is sure how Ford will handle this yet" would have sufficed.

Until then I'll stand by my statement that removing the 12V system seems like a dumb, and expensive in the future, way to go about this. Hopefully Ford will step in and provide some answers.

 

[paneubert]

If nobody knows then none of the rhetoric on the previous page of this thread was necessary. A simple, "nobody is sure how Ford will handle this yet" would have sufficed.

Until then I'll stand by my statement that removing the 12V system seems like a dumb, and expensive in the future, way to go about this. Hopefully Ford will step in and provide some answers.

You are going to hate this place for the next few months. I mean that in the nicest way possible.

If it is anything like the Maverick announcement in Summer of 2021, 98% of the posts and comments on here are going to be wild speculation and people pulling crap out of thin air. For probably the next 6-8 months. And that is based on what we saw for a vehicle that was built on a tried and true platform (the Ford C2 platform that is shared with the Bronco Sport and Escape).

The Fathom is an entire different beast. I think it will be fun to see who was able to predict what (and how early they did so), and who was WAY off when the chips are all on the table.

 

[Snakebitten]

48V Tesla battery.

Weighs 4lbs 15ounces

I have several 48V batteries. But nothing small and light like this

There are lots of more traditional sized 48V batteries that serve the golfcart industry.

 

[onuiebvbevnulib]

48V Tesla battery.

Weighs 4lbs 15ounces

I have several 48V batteries. But nothing small and light like this

The good news first:

Tesla’s modern low-voltage 48V lithium-ion accessory battery (introduced in vehicles like the Cybertruck) is expected to last many years—frequently matching the lifetime of the vehicle (10+ years).

The not so good news:

A replacement Tesla 48V Mid-Voltage (MV) low-voltage lithium-ion battery (OEM Part Number: 1679931-00-F used in the Cybertruck) typically costs between $490 and $850 depending on whether you purchase a used/surplus unit or a new OEM replacement from specialized parts distributors.

Price Breakdown

• • Used / Salvage OEM: Around $490 – $650 (available via independent EV parts liquidators like ReelDeal EV or eBay vendors).
  • New OEM Replacement: Around $745 – $850 (available through specialized suppliers like EVolution Parts

Hopefully Ford will cover the 48 volt battery for 10 years like they do with the drivetrain of the Maverick Hybrid for the Fathom.

 

[paneubert]

The good news first:



The not so good news:



Hopefully Ford will cover the 48 volt battery under for 10 years like they do with the drivetrain of the Maverick Hybrid for the Fathom.

I would hope it is somehow lumped in with the EV battery warranty, which if I recall, will be federally required to be at least 8 years or 100k miles? I think in CA it is 10 years and 150k miles. But I doubt it will happen.

 

[Flash]

Good info and comparison to Tesla 48 volt battery from Cybertruck. Expensive to replace. But no economy of scale versus a 12v lead acid ecosystem that's been around for almost a 100 years.

 

[Gloff]

If nobody knows then none of the rhetoric on the previous page of this thread was necessary. A simple, "nobody is sure how Ford will handle this yet" would have sufficed.

Until then I'll stand by my statement that removing the 12V system seems like a dumb, and expensive in the future, way to go about this. Hopefully Ford will step in and provide some answers.

Some modern Fords retain memory settings and the like even with a battery disconnect now. As an example, the Mach E stores seat position on the Driver Seat Module, even in a power disconnect situation, it retains that information in the module. Ford's repair documentation doesn't give any deeper level than that (you'd likely have to go to a supplier like Bosch and the like to get that level of detail). A cursory google search will give you some more specifics.

Frankly, the 12v system is a carryover for legacy systems that way they can utilize off the shelf, or existing supplier know-how, to generate accessories that work with the car.

My theory for you then is that it's probably some sort of flash or EEPROM chip retaining all the information about the car on the zonal modules. Since they were re-designing everything, and reducing the number of modules, they can program all that into one unit with much faster ethernet going to the other modules if it needs them vs the legacy components that need individual modules to run them, and as such each module would likely have to have an chip for memory if the battery was disconnected. I assume that now, all they need is some sort of low-power wake up system integrated into the HVB to activate a DC-DC inverter to close the contactors and start up the car, thus eliminating the need for an auxiliary battery. Think of it like how the Alternator in your Ram can run the truck with the battery disconnected, so long as the car was already started. Now imagine the alternator stores energy and can start the truck on it's own, what would the use of the 12v battery be? That's what the big HVB can do in an EV, it just takes some thought. I don't think it's going to be an issue whatsoever, as you're eliminating an entire redundant component (EVs already have a HV>LV DC-DC Inverter).

Taking it a step further, its very possible they can still use off the shelf motors, switches, and relays if they have a step-down from 48v>12v. Basically, the window motors and any other dumb accessories can still run off 12v when the car is on, you just need an inverter to run those.

 

[Gloff]

I would hope it is somehow lumped in with the EV battery warranty, which if I recall, will be federally required to be at least 8 years or 100k miles? I think in CA it is 10 years and 150k miles. But I doubt it will happen.

Wasn't one of the main points of this post pointing out that there won't be a LVB?

 

[paneubert]

Wasn't one of the main points of this post pointing out that there won't be a LVB?

That is the hope. My hope is whatever there is (if there even is anything), it is covered under the HV battery warranty mandated by the feds (not by Ford).

 

[Snakebitten]

I bet the price will be going down, rather than up, as time marches on.
And honestly, lots of top tier automotive batteries are beyond $300 today.

Even my 12V LFP battery in my Sierra EV truck cost similar to the Tesla 48V

 

[Maverstang]

There is no need for a low voltage battery on a clean sheet design such as the UEV. Any minimal standby power needed can be tapped from the traction battery with very little consequence.

The main reason EVs up to now needed a low voltage battery was to support legacy carryover components and electrical architecture. That applies to Tesla too.

Look at it from a logical perspective. All the LV power comes from the traction battery anyway, even to recharge an LV battery. So might as well direct convert from the traction battery to support the limited critical functions continuously as well as the other functions intermittently when needed. Staged conversion can be implemented in the DC/DC converter for efficiency. Less parts, lower cost, and easy to implement on a truly clean sheet design.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

>> You are going to hate this place for the next few months.

Yea, we went through all this on the Slate forum for more than a calendar year. In the absence of fact, narrative fills all available space.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

>> Is anyone going to actually answer my question?

If I understand your question correctly, you're worried about your vehicle dying while you're away. Gotcha. I did a quick Amazon search, and I saw a bunch of 48V trickle chargers. So if the Fathom does have a 48V battery, and if those trickle chargers are compatible, would that answer your question?

If it doesn't have a low voltage battery, then the issue would be the high voltage battery draining. That has actually happened on some BEVs. In that case, I assume just leaving it plugged into your home charger would resolve that problem?

In other words, it never goes low because it's never away from a trickle charge for a long time.