Ford confirms a sub-Ranger-sized electric ute for the US market

Ford USA has announced this might occasionally even invest US$5billion ($AUD 7.7billion) into development and manufacturing of a brand contemporary electric structure slated to underpin a preference of US fashions, including a contemporary opt-up.

The investment is acknowledged to be split between establishing a US-basically basically based EV battery production plant (US$3billion) and R&D for its all-contemporary EV platform (US$2billion).

The platform, which objectives to be less pricey to aquire and fewer pricey to withhold, uses heed-unsleeping 400-volt structure and lithium-ion phosphate batteries, seemingly in a skateboard configuration. Ford claims the platform can even be in a position to over-the-air updates and enhancements.

Already confirmed to be Ford’s first “universal”-platformed EV is a Maverick-sized (sub-Ranger) EV ute, with an expected US unlock slated for 2027.

Ford has build bold goalposts for its midsize opt-up: a length of spherical 5000mm, extra inside condo than a Toyota RAV4, and a 0-100km/h time of spherical 4.5 seconds to match the Mustang Mach-e.

However these ambitions undoubtedly aren’t reflected in the EV ute’s heed, which is anticipated to originate at spherical USD$30,000 (~$AUD46,000).

Sharper costing spherical fashions basically basically based off of the contemporary EV platform centres spherical decreasing parts by 20 p.c, the employ of 25 p.c fewer fasteners, and being assembled 15 p.c quicker over most modern fashions, says Ford.

Ford claims the production improvements form these autos less pricey to aquire and withhold, pointing out that the heed of possession for its future EV over 5 years might be less pricey than a 3-twelve months-used feeble Tesla Model Y.

Ford’s media presentation means that diversified fashions built on the universal platform might even consist of a gargantuan three-row SUV, midsize SUV, compact SUV, two- and four-seat van, alongside the already confirmed dual-cab ute, certainly built on a monocoque chassis.

It isn’t seemingly that any of Ford’s future EV merchandise might be coming to Australia in the advance future. There was once no level to but on the chance of car export or future honest-hand-drive vehicle production.