Ford’s EV Truck Frunk Could Hide a Fold-Out Big ScreenAutoblogJacob OlivaFri, September 25, 2026 at 10:20 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Ford's Preparing for the FathomFord is gearing up for what could be its biggest launch in ages. The Blue Oval has teased an affordable electric pickup for a while now, and it finally has a name: Fathom. With a starting price around $28,350, this compact EV is Ford's shot at the budget electric truck crowd.Ford's already sunk $2 billion into a dedicated factory to crank out a Fathom and whatever else the brand plans to produce there. Expectations are through the roof for what the Fathom might bring to the table.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut here's where things get interesting: a fresh patent suggests Ford is thinking way beyond a boring storage-only frunk. Instead, it's toying with a fold-out TV built right into the front trunk.USPTOView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articlePatent Points to a Very Different FrunkFiled with the USPTO in 2024 and published this week (patent no. 12741514, if you're curious), the patent describes a cargo access system with a surprise hidden in the frunk. Fathom Mods was the first to pick up this patent filing.The sketches show an electric pickup with a frunk that pops open to reveal a big display panel stashed vertically inside. The screen flips up from its compartment, and a panel even folds down to create a shelf or mini workbench underneath.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe patent drawings even show two people standing in front of the truck, glued to the screen. It looks less like a dashboard display and more like an outdoor TV or a portable presentation setup.Ford never actually calls it a TV, but the design screams 'big screen for the great outdoors.' Paired with the folding shelf, you could use it for camping, tailgates, job sites, movie nights, gaming, or even pitching your next big idea far from the office.Ford's also tossing in storage cubbies and workbench-style surfaces, showing they're thinking way past just hauling stuff. There's even a fail-safe mechanism just in case a vehicle up front is parked too close to the Fathom's nose.USPTOView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleCould This Be for the Fathom?Ford doesn't drop the Fathom name anywhere in the patent, so there's no smoking gun that this feature is coming to the new truck. Still, the whole patent is about a front trunk, which only makes sense on an EV since there's no gas engine hogging the space. That's why we think this could be aimed at Ford's next-gen electric truck.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere's another possibility. Since the application was filed in 2024, it may have originally been developed for the F-150 Lightning before Ford decided to retire the full-size model as part of its future electric truck strategy.Either way, this is a whole new spin on the frunk. Most electric trucks just use the space for cargo, coolers, tools, or chargers. Ford's thinking turns the front of the truck into a storage bin, entertainment hub, and mobile office all at once.USPTOView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleNot a Production GuaranteeThe fold-out screen actually makes sense in a bunch of scenarios. Picture pulling up to a campsite, popping the frunk, and catching a movie, or using it as a monitor at a job site or outdoor event. The shelf underneath, meanwhile, is perfect for gear or snacks.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's the sort of feature that helps a smaller electric pickup stand out from the usual truck crowd, and you don't have to bolt some giant accessory onto the bed to get it.Of course, don't get your hopes up just yet. Patents are just companies staking out ideas, not promises you'll see them in showrooms. Automakers file wild concepts all the time that never leave the drawing board, and even the ones that do usually get tweaked before hitting the streets.USPTOView the 4 images of this gallery on the original articleThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
