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July 23, 2019 by Loren McDonald
Electric vehicle. Tough.
These three words are rarely seen together, but Ford hopes to change that in the next few years.
All electric F-150 | Source: Ford
Ford has just released photos and a video previewing the all-electric Ford F-150 prototype. The video, which can be viewed here or below, features Linda Zhang, chief engineer of the Ford F-150, demonstrating the capability of an all-electric F-150 prototype by towing 10 double-deck cars weighing more than half a mile. One million pounds. . A handful of current F-150 owners are watching the iconic pickup truck pulling the train, seeming surprised that the feat is being accomplished by an electric version of their favorite van.
In the video, Ford then loads into the 42 F-150, 42-year-old van, and the electric prototype pulls the train a second time, but now weighing more. than 1.2 million pounds.
All electric F-150 | Source: Ford
The video, the prototype photos and a blog post on Medium, clearly signal to the marketplace that Ford will continue to take center stage in the truck category, including all-electric vans. Covering some of his bet, Ford has also confirmed that it will launch a hybrid version of the F-150 in 2020.
Ford did not release details or specific specifications on the F-150 electric or on a schedule regarding when it would start producing or reach dealers. All we really know for the moment is that it will look like an ordinary F-150, a tug monster and it should come on the market in "the next few years". I guess "the next few years". probably means 2 to 4 years. If we divide the difference, the BEV pickup could reach Ford dealers in 2022 or 2023.
All electric F-150 | Source: Ford
"Built Ford Tough"
The first users, particularly on the coast, consider electric vehicles as trendy, state-of-the-art, future-oriented, high-tech, eco-friendly, fast, low-maintenance, fun, convenient (with charging at home or at an easy destination), etc. . In the United States, one of the obstacles to mbadive adoption is that a large number of Americans living in the center of the country consider electric vehicles as toys for greedy green mobiles or mourners that can not compete with capabilities of their cars running on gas or diesel. SUVs, and especially trucks. And this is compounded by the fact that no electric pickups are currently available for sale in the United States.
Let's be honest – although there are several factors and reasons why electric vehicle sales are about 10% in California, they are at the same time less than 1% in about two dozen states, and image of electric vehicles and the lack of micro electric be discounted by explaining this. And that's where Ford could play a key role in the drive for mbad adoption of electric vehicles in the United States.
With the Model S, Tesla has made electric vehicles bady and ambitious. People wanted a Tesla not only because the cars were electric, but also because they were fast, attractive, high tech and often made the envy of your neighbors.
Tesla Model S | Source: Tesla
What's exciting about what Ford is anticipating from these early efforts is that the company wants to add another attribute to electric vehicles, namely "robustness". It's hard to ignore the towing capabilities of the F-150 electric prototype, but to me, the way Ford is positioning the truck with its current customer base is even more impressive.
All electric F-150 | Source: Ford
Although this is a prototype and the style is not yet clear, it seems that Ford will stick to the standard and current appearance of the F-150 for the all-electric version. Ford seems to say to his market and his customers: "Hey, this is the same F-150 you've loved for years – it turns out that it's equipped with an electric motor instead of an engine. petrol. And oh, BTW, this one has more torque and towing power than the one you are currently driving. "
If you watch commercials on TV, you will notice that they tend to emphasize the power, torque, towing capacity and overall strength. In fact, Ford uses the motto "Built Ford Tough" for 41 years. And Ram Trucks, which recently surpbaded Chevrolet for the second-largest van sales, has definitely benefited from its own macho and robust image.
Ram truck | Source: Ram website
Will an electric F-150 be a game changer for electric vehicles in the United States?
The Ford F-150 pickup is the # 1 selling vehicle in the US for 42 years. This trend continues in 2019. The Ram Pickup and Chevrolet Silverado vans rank No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. America, as we know, loves its trucks.
Top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles in the United States Jan-June 2019 | Image: Screenshot of GoodCarBadCar.net
According to an article The conversation, the F-150 is now in its 13th generation and has undergone upgrades and designs more than its competitors. In 2014, for example, Ford invested $ 3 billion to replace the truck's steel body with another aluminum, reducing the average truck weight by about 700 pounds.
Rather than a radical reinvention, the prototype's design and position in the video suggest that Ford knows best how to maintain its F-Series franchise, thanks to continuous innovation. The challenge for Ford will be to convince the traditional van purchaser that an electric truck is also a sturdy and super powerful truck. This could be a risky but necessary decision for Ford, given that a few years after the launch, some buyers could migrate to the Ram van. But pulling trains weighing more than 1 million pounds is a good start to convince buyers that an electric F-150 is as robust as it comes. I'm looking forward to seeing Ford's announcements in a few years when the electric F-150 will hit the market.
Although others may not agree with me, I expect for the next few years only the Tesla Model 3 and Y, perhaps the VW ID CROZZ, and perhaps even Ford Ford Escape PHEV to sell large volumes in the United States. And after the launch, I think the Rivian RT1 and Tesla Model P pickups will sell well, but because of their cost and / or style and limited production capabilities, they could reach a sales volume of up to $ 25,000. approximately 2,000 units per month. In comparison, the F-150 sold close to 90,000 units in June 2019.
For electric vehicles to "break through the chasm" and be adopted by the general public in the United States, we need many more models (of all types), longer ranges, prices comparable to gasoline models, and more. Charging infrastructure ubiquitous. (And automakers need to make sure they have enough batteries to produce and sell a lot of electric vehicles.) But as critical as any of these factors are, what we need most is be that electric vehicles are considered "normal". Ford F-150 all electric can bring us there.
In 2030, when observers refer to the previous 20 years of electric vehicles in the United States, the Ford F-150 electric can be considered a key vehicle that paved the way for the mbadive adoption of electric vehicles. Of course, the key will be the price, the range and the availability of the truck.
With regard to charging, as I recently reported, Ford plans to partner with Electrify America to allow customers to access its charging network. A Ford spokesman badured me that many other announcements would be announced regarding the creation of an excellent charging experience for electric vehicle owners.
While today's electric F-150 is only a prototype and no details or timelines are forthcoming, it is becoming increasingly clear that Ford is serious about the future of electric vehicle models. Stay tuned.
Keywords: electric vans, electric trucks, Ford, Ford F-150, Ford F-150 Electric
About the author
Loren McDonald describes the drivers behind the adoption of electric vehicles, the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles, and introduces companies and entrepreneurs in the automotive, utility, and automotive sectors. energy, retail and others. His research and content are published on CleanTechnica, on his own blog / site, www.EVAdoption.com, and in his upcoming book "Gas Station Zero" on the huge changes and mutations in multiple industries driven by the transition to battery electric, autonomous and autonomous. shared vehicles.
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