Ford Ranger PHEV Pick-Up Truck Bows In With 45 KM EV Range

Revealed today to the rest of the world is the all-new Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid (PHEV) pick-up truck. As the first-ever Ranger model to get partial electrification, the new Ranger PHEV boasts a pretty respectable EV range, as well as a slight performance boost courtesy of its new PHEV powertrain.

The Ranger PHEV gets a new plug-in hybrid powertrain comprises of a 2.3-litre EcoBoost mill

Based on the second-gen (P703) Ranger model, the new Ranger PHEV powertrain comprises of a 2.3-litre 4-cyl EcoBoost turbocharged petrol mill – the same one used on the 2015 Ford Mustang – that is mated to a “relatively large” hybrid electric motor setup. Power is then sent to all four wheels (AWD) via Ford’s new Modular Hybrid Transmission.

While Ford has yet to reveal the exact performance details of this new PHEV setup, numerous reports suggest that it might even be peppier than any ICEs offered to the Ranger, including the Raptor’s 288 HP-rated V6 mill.

For reference, said 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol mill was offered by Ford to the previous-gen Ranger model, which was available in several international markets. On said model, the EcoBoost mill by itself is capable of producing 270 HP and 420 NM, which means there’s a big chance that the Ranger PHEV might boast a slightly higher output.

The Ranger PHEV's plug outlet is located on the rear fender, just beside the fuel port

Similarly, Ford steers away from revealing any details regarding the Ranger PHEV’s battery setup, but the automaker does mention that this PHEV truck boasts a rather respectable all-electric range of 45 KM, according to WLTP cycle. As standard in most PHEVs, the Ranger PHEV’s battery pack can be charged via an AC outlet, with its charging port placed near the truck’s rear fenders.

Targeting owners of small- and medium-sized businesses as well as outdoor enthusiasts, the new Ranger PHEV now comes with Pro Power on-board generator capability. This feature essentially enables users to transform their Ranger pick-up into a mobile generator, allowing them to use powered tools and electrical appliances via two 240-volt outlets placed on its flatbed.

As the Ranger PHEV harnesses extra weight thanks to its PHEV setup, Ford has improved the truck’s chassis for better rigidity and performance. For starters, the Ranger PHEV gets additional bracings at the rear frame part, while the steering has been re-tuned to adjust to the extra bulk it carries. On that note, the Ranger PHEV also uses beefier suspension setup compared to other Ranger variants.

In spite of boasting a peppier PHEV powertrain, the Ranger PHEV’s towing capacity is still capped at 3,500 KG – similar to the rest of the Ranger models.

As for the tech bits, the Ranger PHEV will get a geofencing function in selected markets, which automatically detects the truck when it enters a low-emission zone and switches to the all-electric driving mode. Speaking of driving modes, the Ranger PHEV comes with a slew of driving modes, including the new aforementioned EV mode and several off-roading ones too.

The all-new Ford Ranger PHEV will arrive in late 2024 or early 2025

The all-new Ford Ranger PHEV is slated to make its debut in selected international markets including the UK and Australia in late 2024 or early 2025, where it will be the sole plug-in hybrid model in the midsize pick-up truck market segment in Land Down Under. Production of the Ranger PHEV is set to begin in Q4 next year, however Ford has yet to confirm which production facility will be in-charge of churning out this model.

So folks, what do you think of the all-new Ford Ranger PHEV? Keen to see Sime Darby Auto Connexion (SDAC) – sole distributor of Ford cars in Malaysia – bringing in this PHEV pick-up truck into our market in the future's time? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…