Ford delays new EV pickup to 2027

[A Sturdy Beast]

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/08/21/Ford-EV-truck-delayed/8071724248583/

Still no official word on whether it would be a full electric Maverick, Ranger, or something else.

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[commadorebob]

Also cancelled EV Explorer. Doubling down on HEV/PHEV. Non-Tesla EV market is likely saturated at this point.

 

[Probity]

My understanding - it won't be existing Maverick or existing Ranger platform based, it will be whatever the new double-secret probation 'skunkworks' platform turns out to be.

I'm not holding my breath.

Ford cuts EV spending, updates launch schedule (detroitnews.com)

"In 2027, Ford will launch two all-electric pickups: a medium-sized truck built on the platform designed by its California skunkworks teams and the next-generation F-Series truck at the new Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. The company didn't specify where the midsize pickup will be built. The launch of the full-size truck codenamed "Project T3" in the second half of 2027 is postponed by 18 months."

 

[A Sturdy Beast]

Also cancelled EV Explorer. Doubling down on HEV/PHEV. Non-Tesla EV market is likely saturated at this point.

I think the problem is that electrics are over luxuried and over priced.

With no ICE, single modest electric motor, and modest battery size, they should be cheap. I don’t want a $60,000+ vehicle, EV or not.

Give me a $25,000 electric Maverick. I don’t care if the range is only a couple of hundred miles. It won’t be for everyone. But for those of us that can recharge at home, and seldom take long trips, it would be perfect.

 

[A Sturdy Beast]

My understanding - it won't be existing Maverick or existing Ranger platform based, it will be whatever the new double-secret probation 'skunkworks' platform turns out to be.

I'm not holding my breath.

Ford cuts EV spending, updates launch schedule (detroitnews.com)

"In 2027, Ford will launch two all-electric pickups: a medium-sized truck built on the platform designed by its California skunkworks teams and the next-generation F-Series truck at the new Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center. The company didn't specify where the midsize pickup will be built. The launch of the full-size truck codenamed "Project T3" in the second half of 2027 is postponed by 18 months."

You’re probably right. I say probably, because apparently, not even Ford knows what Ford is going to do.

 

[Probity]

You’re probably right. I say probably, because apparently, not even Ford knows what Ford is going to do.

Yep. Maverick is a lot of things, "mid-sized" isn't one of them.

 

[Scupking]

I think we will see the ecoboost dropped eventually from the Maverick and it will be only hybrid. I'm actually surprised they didn't drop it for the refresh now that the hybrid has AWD and the 4k tow package.

 

[colinl]

Also cancelled EV Explorer. Doubling down on HEV/PHEV. Non-Tesla EV market is likely saturated at this point.

agreed.

based on some of the very interesting interviews Ford gave at the Lobo launch event that press attended in July and then released 7/31, I think that is a strong clue they're going to use existing powertrains.

Ford can do more to leverage existing HEV tech, the two obvious things to me are the F-150 Powerboost and the Lincoln Nautilus. the powerboost has not been overly successful *except* for the high amp 120V accessory power. some in construction trades find that super useful as an alternative to small portable generators. overlanding folks like it too, but overall it's small niche I think.

the Nautilus, however, I'm sure has tech that is going to get used in other Ford models very soon. it's been very well reviewed, but as a Lincoln, it's a different price strata. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a60175416/2024-lincoln-nautilus-drive/

 

[colinl]

I think we will see the ecoboost dropped eventually from the Maverick and it will be only hybrid. I'm actually surprised they didn't drop it for the refresh now that the hybrid has AWD and the 4k tow package.

yes and no. it'll be an ecoboost with hybrid, probably the Nautilus drivetrain or a lower hp version.

 

[SLINGSHOT]

EV sales are tanking. The early adopter pool has dried up. Hertz has dumped it's rental fleet.
People have finally figured it out.

 

[A Sturdy Beast]

EV sales are tanking. The early adopter pool has dried up. Hertz has dumped it's rental fleet.
People have finally figured it out.

EV sales are increasing, not tanking.

As for Hertz, it wasn’t an electric car problem. It was a Tesla problem. Hertz dumped its Teslas because Tesla kept cutting the price of new ones. Hertz is as much a used car company as it is a rental car company. They didn’t sell because no one wants an electric. They sold because of the plunging value of Tesla cars. Plus repair cost were high on Teslas.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/business/hertz-electric-vehicles-tesla.html

In case of paywall:
https://archive.ph/8x3Ah

 

[Scott Asheville]

It's kind of sad that BEVs have become such a hateful topic, sort of a sociopolitical tribal warfare kind of thing. They're just machines guys. Buy the one that makes you happy and park it in your garage.

I saw the articles this morning, and I made a bet with myself that the first new venom-filled MTC BEV thread would be going strong within the hour. Yup, check that one off.

 

[PNWMaverick]

Not surprising. The majority of people that were/are going to adopt EVs, in their current state, have done so. With some exceptions in countries that have governmentally gone all-in on EVs.

Using Tesla as an example, instead of innovating while they had a dominant lead, they just sat on their hands and let their product stagnate. A model S today is functionally and aesthetically the same car as it was 10 years ago. Not to mention the brand damage Musk as caused by alienating his core customer base. Something I only mention because Tesla has become synonymous with "EV" and any bad look with them reflects.

Meanwhile, the other auto manufacturers spent their time arguing with each other about EV viability. Toyota took their ball and went home, built a hydrogen vehicle, and then cried when no one wanted to play.

We effectively lost 10 years of development on EV technologies, mainly battery and charging technologies. Which, until both of those are solved, EVs will continue to be a luxury for urban people.

EV sales are increasing, not tanking.

As of June of this year Bank of America stated that EV adoption rates for 2024 are sitting around 6.8% while in 2023 it was about 7.5%. The forecast for 2024 was 10%, we are way off from that.

In an ultra-capitalistic society this is viewed as "tanking" because, "Line no go up."

edit:

If you look where EV adoption is increasing in the USA it is almost exclusively California. In specific areas and with a specific demographic. If you look at the more rural areas it is reversing.

 

[Gray Goose]

EV delays are good news for the electric grid which is barley keeping up with the growing load.
https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-ev-transition-explained-2658463709

 

[commadorebob]

To be clear, I am not anti-EV. But I think the industry has some ways to go before the average consumer will accept them, similar to the hybrid.

I saw a review of the new VW Bus EV. One thing that killed it is the range. Just 250 miles on a vehicle that is obviously made for long-distance travel. My 4K-EB Maverick averages roughly 400 miles a tank. In my opinion, the range of an EV needs to be 350-400 miles, minimum. Offering anything less than that on a vehicle that is meant for traveling is simply not acceptable.

And I get it. 250 miles is 3-4 hours of driving and even I will want a break. But until the EV charging infrastructure matures, 250 is just too low. Until I can just mindlessly get on the road without having to plan charging stops, it will be a tough sell.

I also think it is time for the government to come up with a standard for measuring range as driving at highway speeds in the summer heat with an a/c blowing will undoubtedly impact range more than driving in a city in the spring.

I think the PHEV and XR-PHEV approach will be how consumers eventually get into the electric game. It provides the benefit of electric with the convenience of gas.

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