Ford has confirmed that the current-generation Ranger pickup truck will get a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model, due to launch in Ireland in early 2025. Although exact details are thin on the ground at this stage, it is said the Ranger PHEV will have 'more torque' than any other version currently on sale.
EcoBoost power front, power outlets in the back
Ford has said that the Ranger plug-in hybrid will have a turbocharged 2.3-litre EcoBoost petrol engine as the main source of power, along with an electric motor and a battery large enough to give the vehicle a zero-emissions driving range of more than 45km. For that to be achieved, the battery pack would have to be considerably large, as PHEVs go, given both the physical weight of the Ranger already and also its chunky, no-nonsense front end - which isn't the most aerodynamic form.
And coming back to that torque claim, the current maximum output is 600Nm from Ranger models fitted with the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6. Whether the PHEV model will have enough horsepower to eclipse the 292hp output of the Ranger Raptor petrol, though, is another matter, but it will have the maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg according to Ford.
Other features include four-wheel drive, which should - along with the torque and its size - make it an excellent towing vehicle, as well as drive modes that will control where and when the Ranger PHEV uses its electrical reserves when it is travelling along.
Another neat addition will be Pro Power Onboard, which places power outlets in both the cab and the load bed of the Ranger PHEV. This will allow owners to plug in various devices or even high-draw power tools to the truck, so that they can carry out key tasks or run a campsite, even in the middle of nowhere.
'Best-of-both-worlds solution for work, play and family'
Hans Schep, Ford of Europe's general manager of the commercial vehicle Pro department - said: "The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid will help customers step forward into an electrified future, with more confidence and capability than ever before, while keeping Ranger at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the midsize pickup truck segment.
"Our customers want electrified vehicles that deliver strong performance and affordable cost of ownership without compromising what they love about their truck. The Ranger Plug-in Hybrid is a best-of-both-worlds solution for work, play and family - offering customers zero-tailpipe emission EV driving for short trips, or hybrid performance that delivers incredible off-road, payload and towing capabilities. And, with Pro Power Onboard for the first time, Ranger owners can power their work sites and campsites easily."