Farley says Hybrid and Range-extenders are the answer for trucks (except fleets)

[jefrank]

Looks like T3 will likely be fleet-only?

https://insideevs.com/news/749756/ford-large-ev-trucks-have-unresolvable-problems/

Edit: After rereading the article, maybe he's only referring to the HD class of vehicles?

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[Zprime29]

I skimmed it, I think it'll be geared towards fleet but not restricted to it. So we shouldn't expect a huge battery or range.

 

[Altivec]

If he thinks that, then Ford will miss where the puck will be again. Hybrids are needless, complex and are for people that are scared to get EV's. The US is far behind but Jan 2025 EV sales have hit a record 10%. By the time the T3 is out, it will probably closer to 25%. This will increase charging infrastructure so that it will be at every corner. Charging speeds have also jumped dramatically in newer Chinese models. That's what they should be concentrating on and not trying to accommodate people sitting on the fence.

I will never buy a hybrid/gas range extender again. If Ford does not have an EV truck when I am ready to move on from my Lightning, they will have lost my sale for sure.

 

[sean7512]

If he thinks that, then Ford will miss where the puck will be again. Hybrids are needless, complex and are for people that are scared to get EV's. The US is far behind but Jan 2025 EV sales have hit a record 10%. By the time the T3 is out, it will probably closer to 25%. This will increase charging infrastructure so that it will be at every corner. Charging speeds have also jumped dramatically in newer Chinese models. That's what they should be concentrating on and not trying to accommodate people sitting on the fence.

I will never buy a hybrid/gas range extender again. If Ford does not have an EV truck when I am ready to move on from my Lightning, they will have lost my sale for sure.

This, 100%. If you could recharge 10-80 in the 15 min span (hello, Hyundai and Lucid), then your overall range is less of a concern. You could keep the same size battery and even when towing just recharge that quickly, it's practically fine. I also do not agree that the issues are "unresolvable" -- especially for the large SUVs. The Lucid Gravity has the cargo space of a Chevy Suburban and can still go 450 miles on a 123 kWh battery. Last I checked there isn't a larger SUV than the Suburban, so getting the same cargo space as that is definitely a "large" SUV. This is a lot of talk to appease short term profits/investors.

Anyone that says any problem is "unresolvable' is incredibly narrow-minded and a fool. Tech progresses so fast and things change. Don't be like the NYT in 1903 saying it would take millions of years for humans to create an airplane. Or Steve Ballmer laughing at the iPhone saying touchscreens don't work because they have limitations for typing and price....If this is how Ford really thinks then my next car will be 100% not be a Ford (not that Ford or anyone cares about what I do).

 

[Heliian]

There is a vehicle out there for everyone. People really need to look at what they actually need VS what they want or are being advertised.

A hybrid may or may not be a suitable vehicle for some but it's not a magic bullet. Personally, I'll just stick with Bev or ICE.

 

[Maxx]

If he thinks that, then Ford will miss where the puck will be again. Hybrids are needless, complex and are for people that are scared to get EV's. The US is far behind but Jan 2025 EV sales have hit a record 10%. By the time the T3 is out, it will probably closer to 25%. This will increase charging infrastructure so that it will be at every corner. Charging speeds have also jumped dramatically in newer Chinese models. That's what they should be concentrating on and not trying to accommodate people sitting on the fence.

I will never buy a hybrid/gas range extender again. If Ford does not have an EV truck when I am ready to move on from my Lightning, they will have lost my sale for sure.

Personally, if I was going to go hybrid on a truck, I would go hybrid on the body not power train. For city slickers that never go off road, smaller cross section means higher efficiency on the highway. Something like this:

 

[Zaptor]

Personally, if I was going to go hybrid on a truck, I would go hybrid on the body not power train. For city slickers that never go off road, smaller cross section means higher efficiency on the highway. Something like this:

Daaaamn, is that a Holden? I hate that we never got utes here in the States... this looks *sick*
Cheers
-Zap (who will also never go back to ICE or Hybrid but would love a sport-truck-coupe EV)

 

[Firn]

Range extenders have really been the only answer. Not hybrids, neither serial or parallel (ahem, Ram / Scout), but range extenders. Not every truck needs to go long range, not every truck that needs to go long range needs to do all the time. The downside is that if you DO need to go long range with some frequency the solution sucks. The guy using it as a commuter with a small battery CANT reasonably travel long distance or tow (stopping every hour is a non starter no matter how fast it charges). Meanwhile the guy who tows often has to buy a huge (and expensive battery when he doesn't need it regularly.

Ford needs to design and patent an external range extender attachment (connector), then let others use it.

If a fleet could have one or two range extenders to share, or you could rent one, or have one on your travel trailer, then you can solve the issue that will face battery power vehicles for the next decade or two, which is more battery than is needed.

Compact hitch or trailer mounted i4 diesel and I can pull a trailer for 3 hours? Done deal.

 

[TaxmanHog]

https://fordauthority.com/2025/02/ford-ceo-jim-farley-posted-cryptic-comment-about-erevs-in-october/

 

[hturnerfamily]

Hybrids, in any form, have always seem to be a nice 'thought', or maybe 'afterthought', as they are not already more EXPENSIVE, they require the old 'legacy' Gas engine, fueling at gas stations, and all the same 'parts' that a 'old' ICE vehicle requires, along with the persistent MAINTENANCE, but now, also add the WEIGHT, cost, and future expense of the ELECTRICAL components, motor, inverter, converter, etc... well, you get the picture.

For those who imagine that a Hybrid 'checks all the boxes' between Range Anxiety and Freedom, remember that you are really just driving another GAS engine vehicle, and now have the added 'cost' of the ELECTRICAL components. The battery and components 'might' drive down the MPG in some situations, especially if you have a PHEV which can operate in Battery-ONLY mode, but if the real 'answer' for a Hybrid is to be able to travel without concern, you are effectively only then driving a more expensive GAS vehicle.

Yes, I've owned PHEV Plug-In HYBRID, the 2022 KIA Sorento, and it is 'great', from a car owner standpoint, and drives great, and gets great MPG - but, you might could buy almost TWO other 'gas' vehicles, with similar MPG, for the same price. I leased ours for two years, then traded it in for the KIA EV9, because, well, that's the ONLY reason I had a Hybrid for two years: waiting for the eventual THREE-ROW seating SUV to emerge, in a all-electric BATTERY-POWERED power train. LOVE IT!

 

[Hammick]

So is the Lightning dead? I don't see anything about the '25 Lightning on Ford's site. Only review I could fine is Alex on Autos and it's not entirely clear if the truck he had was a 2025.

Really sad what politics is doing to the EV industry. The Lightning is such a great truck.

 

[Hammick]

Hybrids, in any form, have always seem to be a nice 'thought', or maybe 'afterthought', as they are not already more EXPENSIVE, they require the old 'legacy' Gas engine, fueling at gas stations, and all the same 'parts' that a 'old' ICE vehicle requires, along with the persistent MAINTENANCE, but now, also add the WEIGHT, cost, and future expense of the ELECTRICAL components, motor, inverter, converter, etc... well, you get the picture.

For those who imagine that a Hybrid 'checks all the boxes' between Range Anxiety and Freedom, remember that you are really just driving another GAS engine vehicle, and now have the added 'cost' of the ELECTRICAL components. The battery and components 'might' drive down the MPG in some situations, especially if you have a PHEV which can operate in Battery-ONLY mode, but if the real 'answer' for a Hybrid is to be able to travel without concern, you are effectively only then driving a more expensive GAS vehicle.

Yes, I've owned PHEV Plug-In HYBRID, the 2022 KIA Sorento, and it is 'great', from a car owner standpoint, and drives great, and gets great MPG - but, you might could buy almost TWO other 'gas' vehicles, with similar MPG, for the same price. I leased ours for two years, then traded it in for the KIA EV9, because, well, that's the ONLY reason I had a Hybrid for two years: waiting for the eventual THREE-ROW seating SUV to emerge, in a all-electric BATTERY-POWERED power train. LOVE IT!

Our '22 Santa Fe Hybrid got worse gas mileage at 80mph than the two ICE motor offerings. Throw in a headwind and it was as low as 12mpg.

 

[bthanos]

This, 100%. If you could recharge 10-80 in the 15 min span (hello, Hyundai and Lucid), then your overall range is less of a concern. You could keep the same size battery and even when towing just recharge that quickly, it's practically fine. I also do not agree that the issues are "unresolvable" -- especially for the large SUVs. The Lucid Gravity has the cargo space of a Chevy Suburban and can still go 450 miles on a 123 kWh battery. Last I checked there isn't a larger SUV than the Suburban, so getting the same cargo space as that is definitely a "large" SUV. This is a lot of talk to appease short term profits/investors.

Anyone that says any problem is "unresolvable' is incredibly narrow-minded and a fool. Tech progresses so fast and things change. Don't be like the NYT in 1903 saying it would take millions of years for humans to create an airplane. Or Steve Ballmer laughing at the iPhone saying touchscreens don't work because they have limitations for typing and price....If this is how Ford really thinks then my next car will be 100% not be a Ford (not that Ford or anyone cares about what I do).

My thinking on the “unresolvable” comment is it is in regards to being able to make it profitably. They can’t seem to get to the same price point of the similar large truck ICE vehicle. Yet. Over time, battery costs will come down and it will be a no brainer. They are not there yet.

 

[TaxmanHog]

So is the Lightning dead? I don't see anything about the '25 Lightning on Ford's site. Only review I could fine is Alex on Autos and it's not entirely clear if the truck he had was a 2025.

Really sad what politics is doing to the EV industry. The Lightning is such a great truck.

No, it's alive & well, they just haven't opened up custom / special ordering at the dealers as far as I last heard from sources.

 

[Maxx]

Daaaamn, is that a Holden? I hate that we never got utes here in the States... this looks *sick*
Cheers
-Zap (who will also never go back to ICE or Hybrid but would love a sport-truck-coupe EV)

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/camaro-el-camino-ss-rendering-is-too-good-to-be-true-96731.html

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