Ford Looks to Extended-Range EVs to Juice Demand
Ford is planning a strategic shift as the automotive and political landscapes in the U.S. have jumped all over the map in recent times. The Blue Oval will look to extended-range EVs (EREVs) as a way to electrify future SUVs and pickups, including the Super Duty brand.
EREVs aren’t really a new thing, as the Chevy Volt debuted around a decade ago with the tech, but there hasn’t been much movement with the configuration in the last few years. Ram will be the first back to market with an EREV, as the Ram 1500 Ramcharger is set to offer 690 miles of range when it arrives later this year. Ford’s new EREV models are still at least two years out.
Though they won’t come until 2027, Ford’s move toward EREVs may help it reach profitability with its electric Model e division. Until then, the electric F-150 Lightning has sold well but failed to get anywhere near its gas counterpart’s meteoric sales numbers. Buyers have been skeptical of their range and capabilities, and none of the six on sale today come with what could be considered a reasonable price.
Extended-range EVs rely on electric motors powered by batteries for propulsion, but they also have a gas engine that acts as a generator to recharge the battery. The internal combustion engine is not connected to a transmission or drive system, and EREVs charge just like any other EV.
[Images: Ford]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Start building 1992 Camrys again, bring back the pre 2003 Ford Diesel Super duty trucks, and the pre 2006 Dodge Cummins diesels, V8 Toyota trucks and Lexus SUV's and Cars, etc. This is true green policy. You see, when you build long lasting reliable vehicles they get used for decades thus reducing their environmental footprint vs the disposable crap being churned out now.
So in addition to 1200 pounds of battery, Ford's adding an internal combustion engine and fuel tank to an electric F-150 that already weighs 6000-6900 pounds and this is supposed to be good for the environment? The joke pictures of Teslas with Honda generators on platform hitch racks weren't too far off. The Kabuki theater of EVs is getting weird.