OpenTube

How much Range will Ford Fathom deliver?

Mike the Car Geek

21,814 views

Can Ford deliver a game-changing, sub-$30,000 electric truck?

VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS VIDEO ARE MIKE'S AND DO NOT REPRESENT ANY OTHER COMPANY OR ENTITY.

In this video, we dive into the upcoming Ford Fathom—the 4-door all-electric pickup built on Ford’s Universal EV platform—to break down its real-world battery size, active aero styling, and true EPA range expectations.

BATTERY: Deep dive into Ford's Marshall, Michigan plant, CATL-licensed LFP cells, and the 96-cell Cell-to-Structure gigacasting pack (~55 kWh gross / 51 kWh usable).

EFFICIENCY: How the Fathom’s expected mi/kWh compares against the Tesla Model 3, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Hyundai IONIQ 6, and Mustang Mach-E.

AERODYNAMICS: Camouflaged spy shot breakdown, cab active aero features, and production details out of Louisville Assembly. Price & Market Position: Comparing standard features (4 doors, touchscreen radio, power windows) and sub-$30K pricing against rivals like the SLATE.

How many miles of range does an entry-level EV pickup need to be a true bargain?
Is a ~210-mile range with daily 100% LFP charging enough for your commute and weekend hauling?
Will styling and aero tricks make or break Ford's Universal EV platform?

0:00 - What do we know about the Ford Fathom?
1:04 - What will the Ford Fathom look like?
2:42 - What Range with the base Ford Fathom have?
3:35 - How big is the Battery in the Ford Fathom?
6:15 - How efficient will the Ford Fathom be?

20 Comments

@lawless420. 1 month ago (edited)

Excellent content as usual Mike!!
shoutout from Massachusetts
Thank you

@larranag 1 month ago

The chart is great.

@JEP-Tech 1 month ago

The right to repair approach of the Slate will attract people who don't want a giant smart phone that can't be fixed by independent mechanics.

@tonerduckpin 1 month ago

I will stick with my Slate.

@JR-cf3wh 1 month ago (edited)

I think the base model range will be mid to low 200's and the extended battery range mid 300's. They said they know the but are not releasing it yet, there's a reason, we'll just have to wait.
Ford has over promised before, don't forget the Lighting's promises on range and price.

@chazfisher3724 1 month ago (edited)

I've found our 2023 Model 3 RWD, also with the LFP battery, to be very livable for the road trips we take on a fairly regular basis. If the Fathom is in the 210-220 mile EPA range ballpark, I think it will be fine for my needs. If they fill the same space with an NMC battery for the "extended range" version, 300 miles should be within reach.

@Haiti3063 1 month ago (edited)

Another consideration: CATL LFP batteries can now be charged in under 4 minutes. I'm not sure if Ford has licensed that version yet, but if they view their EV future as having tiny LFP batteries, they've got to get serious about increasing the power and voltage of their electronic architecture to get fast charging.

@joweb1320 1 month ago

I have driven cross country with a 200 mile highway range EV with no problems. Stop about every 2.5 hours for about 25 minutes to charge, stretch, pee and snack. Thanks for the video. Regardless, this will make a great second vehicle to put bikes or woodchips in on the weekend.

@Drewcrdllo 1 month ago

I will guess it will just break 200 miles for the base (won't exist with dealerships) and a larger battery for 290ish miles which costs $43k

@JDDevice 1 month ago

I'm certain they'll use standard range Mustang MachE battery, LFP topping out at 72 kWh. How much range depends on how slippery they can make a truck. Which I doubt will be slipperier than a MachE. So same as MachE standard at 235 miles.

@dougdanzeisen9608 1 month ago (edited)

Most range estimates are never met in real life. That small battery might really hinder my ability to use the Fathom on my 104 mile commute. I assume the AWD version will use a larger battery, with commensurate increase in price. So long as its not too crazy it might not stop purchase.

@paultarp9150 4 weeks ago (edited)

I would SO buy the slate if it had front wheel or 4-wheel drive options. I hate the idea of a crew cab with a little tiny box. Snow and icy roads here just don't work with rear wheel drive. I don't see a problem with the range of the Ford. I only drive about 5k miles per year. It's 5 miles to work and back, so I'm fairly sure I'd just be charging this on Sundays. Still though, big cab, little box, and might be almost worthless.

@by9917 1 month ago

I remember in an early announcement that Ford claimed a 6mi/kwh efficiency. That sounds completely unrealistic, but possibly it will be better than the guesses here.

@mbgvideo 1 month ago

When you buy an EV you should buy the one with the longest range in my opinion. Ford has good experience with this and my guess is standard will be close to the standard Mach e and extended will be somware above 300 maybe 325

@axion8788 1 month ago (edited)

Mike- What the heck is going on in this CATL video "No cathode"?

@hotchihuahua1546 3 weeks ago

Historically , with all the major US auto & truck manufacturers , new models have them quoting far lower prices than what they end up on the dealer showroom floor !
The dealers are the ones who can make or break it for the Ford Fathom , high demand won’t help !
I look for a good number of used trucks on the open market soon !

@joweb1320 1 month ago

Interesting. They will be lucky to go over 3.5 miles per kwh for a pickup. Guessing the standard range will be about 200 miles. Extended range, maybe upper 200 miles. This will work for most people because you can charge to 100% daily.

@michaelpoworoznik3159 2 weeks ago

Just make the ford maverick hybird plug in that can go 200km on battery

@JustWasted3HoursHere 1 month ago

Ford has over a century of experience ramping up production on new vehicles, thousands of dealerships and will come with all the bells and whistles we expect from a modern vehicle. The Slate will appeal to people who need the absolute lowest price and/or want the high level of customizability that the Slate will have. I think there is enough room in the market for both. And others too, like the Telo.

@MAC-x3b 4 weeks ago

Excellent job on your calculation and assumptions, I think you are very close to what we should expect, unfortunately it would be another EV disappointment along the lines of the anemic VW buzz. I will say that living 4 years with an ID.4 taught me that a near 200 mile range will be a deal killer for me and most experienced EV buyers. In addition traveling cross state with the ID.4 was a disaster. The infrastructure still needs a lot of work and I refuse to wait an average of 45 min per charge to go 200 miles, that would add an additional 6 hours minimum for my 1600 miles trip to and from the mountains. We don’t need an around town EV small pickup, we need a small versatile EV vehicle for road trips, camping and other activities that has AWD, 300 plus mile minimum range and charges fast. That is the benchmark. Built it and we will buy it, Build something else and you are wasting our time.