Ford bets on SUVs and pick-ups with range extender technology

Jim Farley, Ford's CEO, outlined the future of large SUVs and electric pick-ups at the company's Q4 2024 budget press conference. And he did not mince his words, essentially condemning the segment's momentary defeat. He then went on to outline the roadmap for the future, focusing on small and medium-sized electric vehicles that are more economically sustainable.

The way forward for electrification, however, remains with so-called "extended range" vehicles, which use the same electric motors but use combustion engines to generate electricity for the batteries, thus eliminating problems of range, power or recharging and keeping costs down.

Americans don't want to spend

The problem with large SUVs or electric pick-ups is the price. The customers of these vehicles have very specific needs: they carry loads, they go off-road, they travel long distances. These vehicles have poor aerodynamics and are very heavy, which means very large and expensive batteries. This goes against Ford's 'popular' pricing policy in the US.

Tesla Cybertruck

If you want an electric pick-up with the performance of an internal combustion engine from the likes of Tesla or General Motors, you have to spend a fortune. For example, the Chevy Silverado EV 2025 starts at around $70,000 excluding taxes and registration fees, while the Tesla Cybertruck starts at $79,990 and the GMC Sierra EV starts at $92,000. However, they have huge battery packs and offer rather poor real-world efficiency.

Production of the Ford F-150 Lightning

After the initial hype of the Cybertruck, sales are already falling. Sales of the Ford F-150 Lightning have increased year on year, but still lag far behind those of petrol-powered pick-ups. So much so that Ford has had to cut production several times to match demand. In short, Americans are still not ready to pay more for an electric vehicle.

Salvation in the 'extended range

There is, however, a way out of all this without throwing away the know-how that has been built up over these years of development in the field of electrification: the so-called EREVs (Extended Range Electric Vehicles). These vehicles use only electric motors for propulsion, but also have an internal combustion engine that acts as an electricity generator.

Ram Ramcharger 2025

This means they can travel long distances without a huge battery. In addition, they can be refuelled at a petrol pump in a matter of minutes and be back on the road in no time. Demand for large vehicles in the US is strong, but there is no profitable way to produce all-electric versions at a price that pick-up truck and SUV owners can afford. EREVs, says Farley, could be the answer.

Ram Ramcharger 2025

For their part, automakers can use smaller batteries for these vehicles than for conventional EVs. And because there is no need to integrate two powertrains as with hybrids, it is easier to add a range extender, further reducing costs.

Almost electric

EREVs also offer many of the typical benefits of the EV experience. They remain quiet when the range extender is not running, offer instant and smooth acceleration like EVs, and allow pre-heating and pre-cooling without exhaust emissions. In short, "an electric experience without the range anxiety," says Farley.

Scout Terra

Photo by: Scout Motors

Whether customers will respond positively remains to be seen. The first EREV pickup in the US, the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, will be launched this year. The Scout Terra is scheduled for 2027. Many companies have already bet on electric pickups with large batteries, and so far those bets have not paid off. We will see if EREVs make a difference.

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