Ford is preparing to launch its new electric truck, Fathom, which is generating growing interest thanks to its competitive starting price of $28,350. In a proactive move to boost consumer confidence, the company revealed real-world performance data for Mustang Mach-E batteries from the 2021 model year, which showed exceptional levels of capacity retention after five years of use.
What this data means for the Fathom truck
The Fathom truck relies on Ford's new "Universal EV" platform and uses lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a technology that differs from the nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries used in previous Mach-E models. Despite this difference, Ford aims by publishing the Mach-E data to reassure buyers regarding battery longevity, especially since the Fathom truck is designed to support bidirectional charging technology.
Data derived from more than 36,000 Mach-E vehicles that have collectively traveled two billion miles showed that over 2,000 owners surpassed the 100,000-mile mark while maintaining more than 91% of their original battery health. Additionally, 95% of the vehicles maintained a capacity ranging between 87% and 97%, indicating high battery durability even with intensive use.
The importance of bidirectional charging
The Fathom truck features an integrated inverter inside the vehicle itself, eliminating the need to install an expensive external inverter at home. This design encourages users to use the truck's battery as a stable power source for homes during power outages or to participate in grid demand response programs.
This feature is crucial, as frequent use of bidirectional charging means more charge and discharge cycles than traditional vehicle use, making battery longevity a decisive factor in the purchase decision. Pre-orders for the Fathom truck are expected to begin in early 2027, with expectations that the company will offer battery options with a range of up to 300 miles for extended-range models.
What changes practically?
Through the Fathom, Ford is moving toward a cost-reduction strategy by integrating technical components (such as the inverter) directly into the vehicle structure, while relying on a structural battery architecture (Cell-to-Pack). These technological trends, supported by the current battery performance record, position Ford in a strong competitive spot in the electric truck market, especially with the company's drive to offer affordable options compared to the current average prices of electric vehicles in the market.