Fathom's bidirectional AC power can power your home (V2H)

[msieczkowski]

Honestly I would probably just use the 120v "ProPower Onboard" plug(s) to run a beefy extension cord to my appliances, rotating as needed. This is what I do with my current 10kW Dual Fuel generator. My gas furnace has a cutover switch and box on it so I can plug the female end of an extension cord directly into it. My refrigerator and freezers would just be plugged in to an extension cord on a rotating basis to allow each of them to cool/freeze for an hour or two each.

Although a purpose built system like the Ford Home Power Station and the Ford Home Backup Panel would be nice for automatic cut over and grid integration, I don't need it often enough to drop multiple thousands of dollars (and the hassle of permits) to have it installed. I am fine dragging an extension cord around my house to keep things running. I do have to admit I am lucky to have a gas water heater that requires no electricity, my gas furnace just needs power for the blower motor, and my oven/stove is gas, so I can still cook with no power (but can't bake since the oven thermostat and gas valve won't have power to open/close and read temperature). But I can cook on the burners if I light it with a match.

Meanwhile, I've priced out home battery systems like FranklinWH and just paying for a fancy charger and fancy critical loads panel feels like a bargain.

 

[Snakebitten]

This first vehicle on the UEV platform is starting to look like an American Legacy manufacturer is going to go all-in on a world class value equation EV.

The Powerboost and Lightning both raised the bar on the "utility" of a pickup truck. We have 1 of each in the family fleet. But the Fathom is going to be a lot of utility for the $

 

[commadorebob]

I'd use it as an emergency power backup for the one-time power outage we get every three years. I'm more interested in ProPower Onboard because I'd use it while camping to power things my 400W Maverick can't, especially since the Maverick has to be running to generate that power.

 

[paneubert]

Meanwhile, I've priced out home battery systems like FranklinWH and just paying for a fancy charger and fancy critical loads panel feels like a bargain.

Fair enough. If what you are saying is that the FranklinWH quote is way more expensive than what Ford will require. Which I would not doubt!

 

[klossfam]

On average, my house uses about 1,500 kW per month, or roughly 50 kW per day. We have 1-2 kids still living part time at home, and then the wife and I. So, the answer to your question depends solely upon how big the battery pack is in the Fathom, and for some reason Ford ain't sayin'!!!

But if we assume it's a 60 kW pack, I'd be looking at 1 day of constant backup power, or two days if we really try to conserve. This is not going to be a source of backup power that will run your house for two weeks after a hurricane. This is going to be just enough to get you through a localized power outage when the power is expected to be restored quickly.

Also, I'd like to know if this system on Fathom is compatible with existing transfer switch setups. I don't HAVE to buy the extra Ford hardware if my house it already wired to accept generator/inverter power input into the fuse panel, right??

Yes on standard generator input. We have a Generac input on our cottage. Our Lightning with the 9.6 kw Pro Power can use the 240V bed outlet via a standard generator cord and the 30A 240V bed output is split at the service box to 120V 60A which is plenty.

I assume at 10 kw aka 9.6 kw that Ford would still have a 240V outlet and use some existing hardware. At home I don't have a generator input, so we just run extension cords when needed. Everything is gas and the furnace has a switch over for external 120V to run the blower.

We haven't been out of power for more than a day and running all the vital stuff has little effect on the 131 kw/h battery in the Lightning. Maybe 5% for 12 hrs of power.

 

[klossfam]

On average, my house uses about 1,500 kW per month, or roughly 50 kW per day. We have 1-2 kids still living part time at home, and then the wife and I. So, the answer to your question depends solely upon how big the battery pack is in the Fathom, and for some reason Ford ain't sayin'!!!

But if we assume it's a 60 kW pack, I'd be looking at 1 day of constant backup power, or two days if we really try to conserve. This is not going to be a source of backup power that will run your house for two weeks after a hurricane. This is going to be just enough to get you through a localized power outage when the power is expected to be restored quickly.

Also, I'd like to know if this system on Fathom is compatible with existing transfer switch setups. I don't HAVE to buy the extra Ford hardware if my house it already wired to accept generator/inverter power input into the fuse panel, right??

Yes on standard generator input. We have a Generac input on our cottage. Our Lightning with the 9.6 kw Pro Power can use the 240V bed outlet via a standard generator cord and the 30A 240V bed output is split at the service box to 120V 60A which is plenty.

I assume at 10 kw aka 9.6 kw that Ford would still have a 240V outlet and use some existing hardware. At home I don't have a generator input, so we just run extension cords when needed. Everything is gas and the furnace has a switch over for external 120V to run the blower.

We haven't been out of power for more than a day and running all the vital stuff has little effect on the 131 kw/h battery in the Lightning. Maybe 5% for 12 hrs of power.