A Ford Ranger EV is coming, not ruled out for Malaysia - current T6.2 generation platform future-proofed
Hans · Jul 22, 2022 05:58 PM
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New T6.2 ladder-frame chassis has been enlarged, enough to accomodate high voltage traction battery and motors, with 'future-proof' electrical architecture
Battery EV truck positioned below F-150 Lightning has already been confirmed
Global Alliance partner VW has expressed possibility of an electric Amarok, a sister-car of the Ranger
An all-electric Ford Ranger EV is all but confirmed, as Ford aims to keep its lead in pick-up trucks even as the world transitions into electrified vehicles.
The latest T6.2 generation Ford Ranger launched earlier today rides on a new, updated ladder-frame chassis. The engine bay has been made bigger, thanks to use of hydro-formed front-end structure that allows space to be created without compromising cabin space.
Ford says these mechanical changes, along with a new electrical architecture that supports electric gear shifter (shift-by-wire) and electric parking brake, plus a new infotainment that accepts software updates, will future-proof the Ford Ranger.
Pritika Maharaj, Global Program Manager for Ranger and Everest
When asked to explain further on the future-proofing efforts, Global Program Manager Ms. Pritika Maharaj, who is based in Australia and was also responsible for the previous generation Ranger, as well as all T6 platform-related vehicles including the Everest and the US market Bronco (development of the latter is shared with USA), mentioned ‘alternative propulsion’ technologies, but can't reveal any further details.
“What we have done with the next generation Ranger is basically protect it for the future. Ford has already announced that in the future we will have an electrified vehicle, but we don’t have anymore details to share at this point in time,” she said.
The latest generation Ford Ranger rides on a new ladder-frame chassis that is 50 mm now wider, with an equally longer wheelbase. The rear dampers have also been repositioned and they now sit outside the frame.
US market F-150 Lightning has already shown the template for a ladder-frame chassis EV truck. Ranger's T6.2 platform has been enlarged to accomodate electrification
Ford says these changes improve ride comfort and handling, as well free up more space for the rear deck. While that is certainly true, the modifications also seem to be done with the intention of opening more space for floor-mounted batteries, as well as electric motors on both axles.
Meanwhile, Ford CEO Jim Farley has already confirmed that after the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford will launch another electric truck. While Farley could also be referring to an EV version of the unibody chassis passenger car-based Ford Maverick, signs from the bigger picture suggests that it is very likely to be the Ranger.
At the same time, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has also said that by 2030, 55 percent of its vehicles sold in Europe will be battery electric vehicles, with the remaining 45 percent to come plug-in hybrids and regular combustion engines.
The latest generation Volkswagen Amarok is based on the Ford Ranger. In fact, the Amarok is made at Ford’s plant in Pretoria, South Africa, alongside the Ranger.
An EV version of the Amarok is almost an open secret in Europe.
“We’re looking at a pure-electric version,” Lars Krause, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle board member responsible for marketing, told AutoCar UK during the launch of the Amarok in Wolfsburg, Germany.
“It's still early, but it's something we're considering within the lifecycle,” he said.
Obviously Volkwswagen can't build an electric Amarok if Ford is not building a Ranger EV.
On the local front, Ford is represented by the Sime Darby Motors group, a group that is strong ambitions in the EV segment. Its new 'Mobility' strategy is hinged on a two-engine approach - engine 1 refers to the group’s existing motors business while engine 2 relates to its future-focused strategies to capitalize on new mobility trends.
Sime Darby Motors is now positioning itself as a turnkey solutions provider for the EV ecosystem. The company's Hyundai, BMW, and Porsche business are already present in the local EV space.
Sources tell us that SDAC has already begun looking into the Ford Mustang Mach E.
Two times five equals ten, so is five times two.
Against this background, it is reasonable to expect a Ford Ranger EV to debut alongside an electric variant of the VW Amarok, and Malaysia will be part of that plan.
Although neither Ford nor VW has confirmed that the Ranger / Amarok will go electric, all signs point to the duo becoming the first EV pick-up trucks to go on sale in the Asia-Ocenia region, probably even Europe.
The Ranger EV will most likely debut at its mid-lifecycle facelift timing, circa 2025 - 2026.
Over 15 years of experience in automotive, from product planning, to market research, to print and digital media. Garages a 6-cylinder manual RWD but buses to work.
