http://amped.tech/2016/04/04/ford-plug-in-hybrid-pickup-may-arrive-sooner-than-anticipated/ Ford Plug-in Hybrid Pickup May Arrive Sooner Than Anticipated 04/04/2016 Miles Long
[images http://amped.tech/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/f150-hybrid.png https://youtu.be/CH_IN1j3IoM Ford F-150 Hybrid Spy Video ] We caught a prototype Ford F-150 out testing Bob Lutz said it best when quipping that the Chevy Volt [pih] should have been a truck instead of a car. Although the idea of a plug-in pickup may seem heretical to some, the popularity of American trucks coupled with the growing prices people are willing to pay for “utility” makes pickups the perfect candidates for a hybrid drivetrain. Alas, America’s automakers were too afraid of alienating the pickup-buying masses, instead waiting for one of the others to make the first move. When GM finally offered a slapped-together two-mode hybrid for the Chevy Silverado and Suburban, nobody was surprised when it failed. Chrysler gave it a go too with a small fleet of plug-in hybrid Ram pickups that were ultimately deemed either too expensive or too fragile to make it into production. So now here we are, six years into the EV revolution, and still no plug-in pickups to be purchased. Ford has pledged to change that, however, with the promise of launching 13 new electric vehicles including a SUV and/or pickup. AutoGuide posted the above video that seems to indicate a plug-in hybrid F-150 is a likely candidate for that equation. The spy photographers claimed to hear the distinct buzz of an electric motor as the F-150’s conventional engine shut off at a stop light, though that could merely be an indication of a stop-start system that’s already standard on all F-150s. A more telling clue is what appears to be a plug-in charging port on the passenger’s side of the truck. Ford has said that it will roll out a hybrid truck around the 2020 time frame, though on-road testing may mean the debut date is even closer. Also on deck is a rumored Ford F-150 with a diesel engine, as well as a 10-speed transmission to be paired with an ever-growing list of EcoBoost engines. [© 2016 AMpEd Media] http://gas2.org/2016/04/06/video-2017-ford-f150-hybrid-spied/ Video: 2017 Ford F150 Hybrid Pickup Spied April 6th, 2016 Jo Borrás [image http://gas2.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ford-F-150-PHEV-.jpg 2017 Ford F150 Hybrid ] Ford is pushing the envelope with its Ecoboost-powered, aluminum-bodied F150 pickup- but it will really be headed into uncharted territory next year when the 2017 Ford F150 Hybrid PHEV finally reaches dealer showrooms. That’s right, just a few short years since Bob Lutz quipped that the Chevy Volt should have been a truck instead of a car, one of the big truck makers is going to come to market with a for-real PHEV hybrid pickup. That’s a move that should allow its customers (both casual truck lovers and tradespeople) access into commercial and urban areas that are becoming more and more hostile to internal combustion engines, in general. If Lutz is right and the market is there, he’ll be sorry. That’s because the ability to pick up a Ford F150 Hybrid pickup straight from the dealer will probably put Lutz’ Via Motors out of business! You can check out the full Autoguide spy video of the upcoming Ford plug-in hybrid pickup, below. There’s no word, yet, on pricing and final specs, but expect a decent EV-only range and a combined fuel economy rating well into the 30s ... [© Sustainable Enterprises Media] ... http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2016/04/ford-f-150-hybrid-spotted-testing.html Ford F-150 Hybrid Spotted Testing Apr 04, 2016 For EVLN EV-newswire posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-2017-4dr-F-150-plug-in-hybrid-truck-Spied-tp4681421.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
