Ford to add electrified F-150, Mustang, Transit by 2020 in EV push

Ford Motor Company is set to introduce a Mustang hybrid, as well as Transit and F-150 hybrids by 2020, along with an all-electric small SUV, in the brand’s renewed electric vehicle push.

The announcement is a part of the American carmaker's strategy to launch 13 electric vehicles in the next five years.

The models will be built at Ford’s Flat Rock assembly plant in Michigan, and is the main thrust of Ford’s US$ 4.5 billion (Rs 30,680 crore) investment in electrified powertrains, which has now been extended by US$ 700 million (Rs 4,770 crore). Two new hybrid police cars and a hybrid autonomous car also feature in the plans.

Ford has not yet disclosed which engines the hybrid vehicles will be powered by, but the Mustang will offer “V8 power and even more low-end torque”, suggesting a smaller engine – perhaps the 2.3-litre Ecoboost - will be bolstered by electric power.

2017 Ford Transit Connect Hybrid Taxi prototype
 

The Mustang hybrid will go on sale in other markets after its introduction in 2020. The plug-in hybrid Transit will go on sale in Europe in 2019.

Ford’s first all-electric SUV, which “will be nothing like anything we build today, and will be built in Flat Rock”, according to Ford CEO Mark Fields, and will have a range of at least 300 miles. Ford is also developing a wireless charging method, also announced at the press conference today. The SUV will be available in Europe, North America and Asia.

“We at Ford plan to be a leader in electrification, autonomy and also connectivity,” continued Fields.

Ford's president and CEO Mark Fields (L) and Jimmy Settles, UAW vice president, National Ford Department.
 

The other prong of Ford’s electrification strategy is the hybrid, fully autonomous car to be used for mobility schemes. The car will not have a steering wheel or pedals, reflecting the level of control given to the car. This car, based on a Ford Fusion (Mondeo in Europe), is heading to the Consumer Electronics Show in prototype form.

The seven global electrified vehicles announced include:

- An all-new fully electric small SUV, coming by 2020, engineered to deliver an estimated range of at least 300 miles, to be built at the Flat Rock plant and sold in North America, Europe and Asia.

-  A high-volume autonomous vehicle designed for commercial ride hailing or ride sharing, starting in North America. The hybrid vehicle will debut in 2021 and will be built at the Flat Rock plant.

- A hybrid version of the best-selling F-150 pickup available by 2020 and sold in North America and the Middle East. The F-150 Hybrid, built at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, will offer powerful towing and payload capacity and operate as a mobile generator.

- A hybrid version of the iconic Mustang that will deliver V8 power and even more low-end torque. The Mustang Hybrid, built at the Flat Rock Plant, debuts in 2020 and will be available in the North America to start.

- A Transit Custom plug-in hybrid available in 2019 in Europe engineered to help reduce operating costs in even the most congested streets.

- Two new, pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles. One of the two new hybrid police vehicles will be built in Chicago, and both will be upfitted with their police gear at Ford’s dedicated police vehicle modification center in Chicago.

In addition, Ford announced that its global utility line-up will be the company’s first hybrids powered by EcoBoost rather than naturally aspirated engines, furthering improving performance and fuel economy.

The company also plans to be as aggressive in developing global electrified vehicles services and solutions. These include EV fleet management, route planning and telematics solutions.

Related: Ford cancels plans for $1.6 billion plant in Mexico