A New Kind of Ford EV
The Fathom™ will be the first vehicle built on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. Rather than adapting an existing gas-powered vehicle for an electric drivetrain, Ford developed this architecture specifically for a new generation of more affordable EVs. Ford hasn’t released horsepower, torque, battery capacity, EPA-estimated range, charging speed, towing capacity, or payload figures yet. Those are some pretty big blanks for a pickup, so there’s still a lot we need to learn before judging its capability.
We do know Ford is aiming for more interior room than its midsize dimensions might suggest. The company projects the Fathom™ will have more passenger volume than the Toyota RAV4. For drivers around San Jose, CA who want a truck without dealing with full-size pickup dimensions every day, that could be one of its strongest selling points.
Plenty of Technology Comes Standard
Ford isn't treating the lower starting price as an excuse to gut the cabin. Every new Ford Fathom™ will get a large touchscreen with navigation powered by Apple Maps, along with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility.
Digital Key will allow a compatible device to serve as the vehicle key, and owners will be able to access connected functions remotely through the Ford app.
The Fathom™ will also be BlueCruise capable. Ford describes it as next-generation BlueCruise capability, although we’ll have to wait for more information about exactly what changes or improvements that brings.
Bidirectional Power Could Be a Big Deal
One of the more interesting, confirmed features has little to do with the touchscreen. The Fathom™ will support bidirectional power, meaning its battery won’t only take electricity in. It will also be able to send stored energy back out for compatible uses.
Ford hasn’t released output figures or all the details about what equipment will be required. Still, there’s obvious potential here. Portable battery power could come in handy at a jobsite, campsite, tailgate, or anywhere else you’d rather not drag along a separate generator. That feature makes sense on a pickup. It turns the battery into something useful even when the truck isn't moving.