The first-ever Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will offer more torque than any other Ranger, and its sizeable battery will power multiple tools and appliances with ease.
From 2025, Ford will offer customers in Australia a plug-in hybrid version of the Ranger 4×4 pick-up. Because of the similarities of the two markets, it means South Africa could also see the introduction of this Ranger version.
In a statement the company said the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will combine electric driving capability with the versatility and dependability customers have come to expect from Ranger.
Ford also stated that the first ever Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will “mark a significant step forward in Ford’s plans to offer a wide range of powertrain options for customers in the mid-sized pick-up segment.”
Best of both worlds
“The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid is a best-of-both-worlds solution for work, leisure, and family – offering customers zero-tailpipe emissions EV driving for short trips, or hybrid performance that delivers incredible on- and off-road performance,” said Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand.
“The Ranger Plug-In Hybrid will bring all of the towing and payload capability our customers expect of Ranger, and with Pro Power Onboard for the first time, Ranger owners will have power for both work and play.”
More torque than Raptor?
According to Ford, the Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will deliver more torque than any other Ranger, thanks to a 2.3-litre Ford EcoBoost turbo petrol engine paired with an electric motor and rechargeable battery system. “It can be driven in pure electric mode for more than 45 kilometres without using a drop of fuel or producing tailpipe emissions, helping customers save at the pump,” the manufacturer revealed.
Ford’s opinion is that this EV-only capability will be extremely useful for Australian Ranger customers, with more than half travelling 40 km or less per day. Our opinion is that the same is true for South African Ranger owners. Motorists often overestimate their average daily distance.
Ford says the targeted maximum braked towing capacity of the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid is 3 500 kg – the same as the rest of the Ranger line-up.
Ditch the generator
Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will also feature what the company calls Pro Power Onboard. This enables customers to use the electric motor’s battery, that assists the engine while driving, to power their electric tools on a worksite.
This feature is highly suited to remote campsites too, where owners will be able to plug fridges and other camping appliances into the power outlets embedded in both the cargo bed and the cabin.
That means noisy, heavy generators can be left at home, leaving more space in the cargo bed for other gear and equipment.
In addition to having on-demand electricity, Ranger Plug-in Hybrid’s EV drive modes will give customers more flexibility in deciding how and when to use the EV battery power.
“The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will help our customers move into an electrified future, with the confidence and capability that only Ranger can provide,” Birkic concluded.
Ford South Africa has neither confirmed nor denied the future introduction of the Ranger to the country, but we are confident it will be sold locally.
