One of the key advantages of a pickup truck is its ability to tow heavy loads. However, towing can be challenging for electric trucks because it significantly increases battery consumption and reduces range. That appears to be the case with Ford's upcoming sub-$30,000 Fathom electric pickup. While it may look like a traditional truck, buyers expecting serious towing capability may want to look elsewhere. Ford has acknowledged that although the Fathom will be capable of towing, hauling heavy loads over long distances was not made a major priority during development.Speaking to the hosts of the GreenCars YouTube channel, Alan Clarke, Ford's vice president of advanced development projects, explained that the company expects Fathom owners to tow relatively infrequently. He said:"We've compromised a little bit on towing because we don't think that our customers are gonna tow very much."AdvertisementAdvertisementHe pointed to the Ford Maverick as an example, noting that only a small percentage of its owners use their trucks for towing. Ford expects that number to be even lower with the Fathom. As a result, Clarke made it clear that the Fathom isn't being engineered around the demands of towing heavy trailers over long distances. He explained:"Being able to tow really heavy weights really long distance isn't something that we've spent a lot of time on."Image credit: Jim Farley / InstagramThat doesn't mean the Fathom will be incapable of hauling anything. In fact, Ford appears to have a very specific idea of what its customers will use the truck for. Clarke joked that owners could easily haul "15 bags of mulch from your local big box store," before adding that kayaks, skis, and similar recreational equipment would be more representative of the truck's intended use.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe trade-off could help Ford keep the Fathom affordable while focusing its engineering efforts on areas that matter more to its target buyers. Range is another major focus, and Clarke said Ford is "very focused on putting a 3 in front of it," suggesting that the company is targeting at least 300 miles of range for some Fathom configurations. However, he stopped short of revealing an official range figure or confirming whether the base model will offer 300 miles or more.Ford is also planning at least two battery sizes, including a smaller pack for the base model. Its first battery chemistry will be lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), which Clarke said offers excellent durability and can be regularly charged to 100% without the same concerns associated with some other battery chemistries.There are compromises, however. Clarke acknowledged that LFP isn't "awesome in cold weather performance" or "in terms of power capability." Ford plans to offset those shortcomings with sophisticated thermal management to reduce range loss in cold conditions. The Fathom will also use a 400-volt high-voltage architecture. Clarke said Ford considers broad access to charging across the U.S. more important than giving customers access to higher charging power.Ultimately, the Fathom seems less like a traditional work truck and more like a practical electric pickup for everyday users, one that can carry the mulch and recreational gear, but isn't intended to tow a massive trailer across the country.