After its success with the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck, Ford is getting ready to launch a lot more EVs in the pickup truck segment. The company has already filed trademarks for the all-electric versions of popular pickup trucks like the Ford Maverick and Ford Ranger, thus heating up the pickup truck segment. This move comes after Ford’s CEO Jim Farley revealed the focus on bringing out new pickup trucks.
Flashback to the Point where it all started
Ford dipped their toes into the EV market with the Mustang Mach-E crossover back in 2021. With several awards under its belt and plenty of practicality on offer, the Mach-E quickly became one of the best EVs in the market. It can reach 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds despite the hefty battery pack. Speaking of that, it is also available with two battery packs, offering a maximum range of up to 305 miles. It also looks the part with several design elements carried over from the traditional gas-powered Mustang; including the taillights and sweeping roofline. As an overall package, the Mach-E impresses in all aspects including comfort, practicality, and performance.
And there was Lightning before the Thunder
Following Mach-E’s success, Ford launched the F-150 Lightning pickup truck this year, marking a notable shift in the pickup truck market. Following its launch, the electrified pickup truck segment has seen some entrants like the Rivian R1T and the GMC Hummer EV SUT. However, unlike its rivals, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is a lot more affordable with a starting price of just over $40,000 and it has already become the gateway for many owners to start their all-electric journey. Not only does the EV variant offer better performance than its IC counterparts, but it also manages to tow up to 10,000 pounds, proving that all-electric pickup trucks are just as capable and practical as their IC counterparts.
Like its IC range, the Ford F-150 Lightning will also be available in multiple trim levels starting with the Pro model at $42,000 and going up to $93,000 for the range-topping Platinum model. All models will get two electric motors as standard, giving them all-wheel-drive capability. There are two battery packs on offer depending on usage, with the standard battery offering a range of 230 miles and producing 452 hp. Upgrading to the extended range battery will boost figures to 580 hp and 320 miles.
Apart from performance, you also get unique features like the option of using it as a backup generator to power a household. We can expect similar features to trickle down to the smaller Maverick and Ranger EV variants. You can also expect features like the impressive portrait touchscreen infotainment system to be carried over.
After its grand success in the EV pickup truck segment, it isn’t a surprise that the company has filed trademarks for all-electric models of both the Maverick and Ranger pickup trucks. This time around, the trucks will be called Maverick Thunder and Ranger Thunder in the U.S. Interestingly, Ford has also trademarked the F-150 Thunder, so expect another version of the F-150 EV to launch soon.
Leaving its IC engine legacy behind
The company has also applied for similar trademarks in the European market, dubbed the Maverick Lightning and Ranger Lightning, similar to the F-150 Lightning that’s already on sale. While the F-150 is easily the best-selling vehicle in the U.S, Ranger sells a lot more outside the North American market, making the Ranger Lightning as one of the most anticipated EVs.
However, the Maverick continues to be the smallest pickup truck on offer with a length of just under 200 inches. The Ranger comes next with 210 inches, followed by the F-150 at 231 inches. Expect the Ford Maverick Thunder and Ford Ranger Thunder to be cheaper than the F-150 Lightning, making them a lot more accessible to consumers and kickstarting the electric revolution once again, especially when you consider the current 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning. These smaller models will also appeal to more families thanks to their smaller footprint, unlike the F-150. The Maverick Thunder will also be one of the most affordable all-electric pickup trucks in the market.
Recently, Ford also revealed another all-electric addition to the lineup with the E-Transit. Along with the standard cargo van configuration, Ford will also offer the E-Transit in a passenger version in both cutaway and chassis cab. Unlike other EVs, the E-Transit will offer a very limited range of just 126 miles at launch. With three practical upcoming all-electric options in the market, Ford is going all-out to conquer the EV market.
Dreaming of bigger things
Ford has already revealed plans to achieve a target of 600,000 EVs by late 2023 and has secured the annual battery capacity it needs to achieve these goals. Of this 600,000 target, the company aims to ship over 150,000 units of the F-150 Lightning. The Mach-E is also expected to sell over 270,000 units.
Ford has also set an ambitious goal of selling over 2 million units by 2026 and has already begun preparations to reach this target. To achieve this goal, Ford will invest $50 billion. It has also partnered with LG Energy solutions to double its battery production capacity and already secured 70 percent of the battery-cell capacity needed to achieve its 2 million EV goal by 2026. At this rate, expect Ford to take over the electrified pickup truck segment in the near future and bring stiff competition to companies like Tesla.