Europe's best-selling pickup truck goes electric

The Ranger’s petrol-electric hybrid technology delivers emissions-free urban driving of up to 52 km, lowering the cost of ownership and delivering the same towing, payload and off-road capability European customers have come to expect from the versatile pickup truck that has helped them get the job done for more than a quarter of a century. This is the new Ranger Plug-in Hybrid , which delivers all the capability of Europe’s best-selling pickup truck to tackle any task, for the first time enhanced by an advanced hybrid powertrain that allows electric power to be used both on the road and in the workplace .

Available in an exclusive launch edition called the Stormtrak, as well as in the XLT and the impressive Wildtrak versions, the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid also introduces Pro Power Onboard to the Ranger range for the first time, powering up to 6.9 kW of work and leisure tools and equipment directly from the onboard battery.

The Ranger's new plug-in hybrid powertrain combines the Ford 2.3-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine and 10-speed automatic transmission with a 75 kW electric motor and an 11.8 kWh (usable) lithium-ion traction battery. The battery can be recharged by connecting it to an external power source, as well as by the gasoline engine or by recovering energy while driving.

The battery takes less than four hours to recharge using a 16-amp single-phase charger, and on a full charge, the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid is capable of traveling up to 52 km in urban driving mode in all-electric mode—more than the daily distance traveled by 52% of Ranger owners, according to Ford research.

When available, the Ford Pro Home Charging system will allow owners to schedule charging during the most economical nighttime charging rates, further reducing the total cost of ownership. Ford forecasts suggest business customers can also benefit from significant cost savings: a Ranger Plug-in Hybrid customer in Germany could save €850 per year compared to the Ranger with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine if they charge daily using business electric rates and drive 80 km per day.

Torque of up to 697 Nm, combined with the electric motor and EcoBoost petrol engine, is the highest of any production Ranger to date, and maximum power of 281 hp exceeds that of the Ranger with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine. High low-speed torque and additional engine braking thanks to the pickup's regenerative charging system facilitate acceleration and improve downhill control when carrying payloads of up to one tonne 9 and towing up to 3,500 kg, 10 a requirement for 55% of Ranger customers according to Ford research. Near-instant electric torque and enhanced engine braking also help optimize off-road capability and make light work of demanding conditions, such as rock crawling and steep gradients.

The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid's e-4WD system can automatically distribute drive torque between all four wheels—whether electric, hybrid, or fueled—to help overcome difficult terrain or adapt to specific driving situations, supported by a dual-range transfer case and a locking rear differential. Drivers can choose from Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Tow, Mud/Ruts, and Sand modes, and the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will adjust the torque distribution between the wheels to deliver optimal performance.

The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid is the first to offer Ford's Pro Power Onboard technology, meaning hard-working, hard-playing customers can leave their generators at home and power high-drain tools and equipment with the traction battery.

Customers can specify a 2.3kW system, ideal for supporting weekend trail rides, with the capacity to conveniently recharge multiple e-mountain bikes (650W) and a cool box (65W) to make the most of the day.

A 6.9 kW system is designed to meet the demands of more energy-intensive equipment. This higher-power version features two 15 A outlets in the load box, with 3.45 kW available from each outlet, providing more than enough power to power a small jobsite with a compact cement mixer (1,500 W), an angle grinder (3,000 W), and spotlights (800 W) simultaneously.