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 panel 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.

 

[bmwhitetx]

Locking this behind a monthly subscription is a non-starter for me. The 7.2 kW, 240 V bed outlet I have on my Lightning and simple $30 panel interlock is all I need with an outage at most every 2 years in my area.

Hope they interface this e-box to a similar bed outlet.

 

[paneubert]

Locking this behind a monthly subscription is a non-starter for me. The 7.2 kW, 240 V bed outlet I have on my Lightning and simple $30 panel interlock is all I need with an outage at most every 2 years in my area.

Hope they interface this e-box to a similar bed outlet.

Yeah, the talk of needing a trial or subscription to something is super disappointing. Have a cost/price for the hardware. Have a set fee for the install (and use a network of approved electricians or whatever to do the installs). Take a cut of each. Make that money on the front end. But don't then also put functionality behind a subscription model. Unless the cost of the subsription it is somehow tied to being a percentage of the "savings" you get from using the truck to power the house during peak energy cost times, charging the truck when the costs are lower. But that is only going to be a few dollars per month probably.....

 

[chl]

I'd expect running HVAC would be to the shorter end of that range. If you treat this like a 10 kW generator, that can only power a smaller A/C unit (like 2 tons) because of starting power demands. But if you exclude A/C and electric heat strips, pretty much everything else in your house would be under 10 kW.

The inrush current can be reduced by 60% or more with a soft start add-on about $300-$400, which allows it to be run on a generator or truck system like the Lightning PPOB or this Fathom thing.

 

[chl]

Requires 2 boxes?
Seems like it could/should all have been done in one box to simplify things.

Sounds like box 1, the EVSE and net metering required box that only provides house power when there is utility power to avoid back-feeding when utility crews may be working on lines, is like the so-called balcony solar systems but without the inverter.

Sounds like box 2 is a transfer switch.

So a couple questions come to mind.

1) for those of us who already have a transfer switch used with our F-150 Lightnings and limited to 30A @240V from the PPOB, unless the Fathom has a 240V 30A PPOB in the bed like the Lightning, are we out of luck and will need the whole new house system (2 boxes)?

2) What if we have a solar system setup with or without storage batteries, etc., how will this integrate with that, or can it? The problematic HIS could integrate with solar as can the SigEnergy system, so what about this system for the Fathom?

3) 2-5 days estimate based on what usage in kWh, what size Fathom battery?

4) I haven't watched/read the linked to info - does this system (one or both boxes) require a software subscription or a one time software license?

5) Can the 2 box system ONLY be used with the Ford Fathom or could it be used with other EVs?

If I used the Fathom system I would use it both to off-set utility prices which are rising due to data centers and fuel costs, AND for outage backup of emergency circuits.

 

[OneMore]

Seems to be a lot of hardware needed for home backup integration.
If you also must have a subscription, that could end the Fathom for me.
My 2022 Ford F150 Powerboost with Pro Power Onboard is simple and easy to provide whole-home power operation.

 

[mark]

Subscription is a con game. I will not buy a Fathom if Ford want to be in the liscensing business for their software. Riley please make that clear.

 

[paneubert]

Seems to be a lot of hardware needed for home backup integration.
If you also must have a subscription, that could end the Fathom for me.
My 2022 Ford F150 Powerboost with Pro Power Onboard is simple and easy to provide whole-home power operation.

It is a bit unclear if the subscription would only be tied to the "Save money by charging/discharging based on utility rates." The quote I see on this says....

"The only hardware required is Ford's Home Power Station, which is expected to cost about half as much as our first-generation bidirectional charger, along with an active plan or trial."

It could be that the home backup power portion (for storm outages) is separate and would function just fine without a subscription. But clarity would be nice.....

Edit: It seems to be all or nothing...

"Customers will need the Ford Home Power Station and Ford Home Backup Power Panel".

So connecting the dots, you need to pay a subscription for the storm outages function, not just the "let's save a dollar per month on electric rates" function.