Ford Motor Company has announced initiatives to advance bidirectional charging technology for electric vehicles, beginning earlier this week with the introduction of its Ford Fathom electric pickup truck. The vehicle will feature a built-in inverter, eliminating the need for a separate external unit and reducing overall system costs. The company has also announced price reductions for its home EV charging and power management equipment.
Bidirectional charging allows electric vehicles to serve dual purposes: they can operate as backup power sources for homes during outages and enable drivers to manage electricity consumption more efficiently. When equipped with bidirectional capability, EVs can convert stored battery power into household electricity and allow owners to charge during off-peak hours when rates are lower, then use that power during peak-rate periods. This functionality requires an inverter to convert direct current from the battery into the alternating current used in buildings.
Ford is working to establish utility partnerships across the United States and Canada to support adoption of the technology through incentive programs. The company notes that approximately 3,000 utilities operate across the two countries, each with distinct interconnection processes. Current procedures were primarily developed for rooftop solar and stationary battery systems rather than mobile EV charging applications. Last summer, Ford began collaborating with major utilities including American Electric Power, BC Hydro, Consumers Energy, Exelon, and Pacific Gas and Electric to develop a scalable interconnection framework before Fathom production begins next year.
Ford’s technological advantage stems from its November 2023 acquisition of Automotive Power, a California-based power management specialist. The company brings integrated onboard charger systems, vehicle-to-grid power management technology, and advanced energy management tools to Ford’s EV platforms. Automotive Power’s expertise in bidirectional charging architecture and power electronics has enabled Ford to position the Fathom at an MSRP under $30,000 while maintaining sophisticated energy management capabilities unavailable from other major U.S. automakers.
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