The Ford Ranger PHEV will go into production at the end of 2024 Sales are scheduled to begin in early 2025. This was announced by Hans Schep, General Director of Ford Pro Europe, at a meeting on-line with a small group of media.
This means the Ranger will be the first plug-in hybrid pickup on the market to have a drive system combines the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine (the same one found in the Ford Focus ST) with an electric motor, All of this is powered by a battery pack located on the rear overhang between the chassis side members, a space traditionally occupied by the spare wheel.
Ford has made it clear that there will be a solution for those who need a complete spare wheel, which is practically essential if you regularly take the vehicle off the tarmac, but it hasn’t specified much more about it, so we’re afraid that everyone , who needs this will have this element, you will have to give up some space on the truck bed.
Up to 45 kilometers emission-free for the Ford Ranger PHEV
There is currently not much more information about the plug-in hybrid system. We know that it can travel 45 kilometers with zero emissions The Ford Ranger PHEV will earn the DGT Zero label, if the criteria do not change by the time of introduction.
We also know that it cannot be charged with high speed direct current, but it will be able to power all kinds of consumables (Pro Power Onboard), which makes it particularly interesting not only as a work device. but as a basis for a motorhome. .
Another aspect to consider is that Ford has assured us that the inevitable weight increase of the hybrid system will not, and will continue to have, a negative impact on the vehicle’s performance more than a tonne of loading capacity (something crucial in countries like the UK, where commercial vehicles with this feature have favorable taxation) and with 3,500 kilo trailer load.
We also know that the Ford Ranger PHEV is basically only offered in conjunction with the double cab variant and that its hybrid system allows you to choose between different usage modes: Auto EV (with priority for driving with the electric motor). ), EV (enforces exclusive use of the electric motor), EV Later (reserves electric charge for later use) and EV Charge (uses the EcoBoost engine as an electric generator to recharge the battery by burning gasoline).
Ford Ranger PHEV: A “real” off-road pickup
But above all, what we like most about Ford’s proposal is that its off-road pickup continues to retain all its capabilities not only for loading and towing, but also for rolling off the asphalt.
The key lies in this The Ford Ranger PHEV retains all the architecture of the original model, both in terms of its structure and in terms of the kinematic chain. So the heat engine is located longitudinally under the hood, while the electric motor is integrated at the bottom and is connected to the EcoBoost unit and the gearbox, at the output of which there is a transmission that directs part of the engine torque forward via a gearbox axle shaft, while another axle shaft permanently sends torque to the rear axle.
We don’t have any power or maximum torque data yet, but at this meeting with the media, Ford officials assured us that the Ford Ranger PHEV will offer “the highest level of torque in the entire Ranger range.” So, taking into account that the V6 turbodiesel engine currently produces 600 Nm, it can be assumed that the PHEV will produce at least this amount.
And that’s all we currently know about the Ford Ranger PHEV. The only thing we can add is that we like the approach, it seems serious to us and it was developed by Ford’s Australian team, which successfully took over responsibility for developing the global Ford Ranger range in 2010, until then under the management from Mazda.
Since the release of this generation of Ford Ranger (T6), the vehicle has taken a step forward in terms of off-road capability, performance and robustness; A line in which this plug-in hybrid promises further progress.
