We have some more information from Ford that has to do with the upcoming Ford F-150 hybrid. It’s important to carefully separate the available information into the following buckets: official, verified insider leak, and unconfirmed rumor.
This time the information comes from Ford communications manager, Mike Levine, via twitter. Anticipation of the new 2021 Ford F-150 truck continues to peak, but official information is still very slim.
Mike Levine tweets: “Ford has said is that the F-150 and Explorer rear-wheel drive hybrids both share a crazy smart 10-speed modular hybrid transmission sharing 90% of its parts with the non-hybrid 10-speed. And F-150 hybrid can double as a mobile generator.”
Another tweet says: “Ford has never said the next F-150 will include a plug-in hybrid.“
Also, there is a note from Mike Levine about the upcoming the all-electric F-150: “Also, the all-electric F-150 is using a Ford architecture. Shares nothing with Rivian. Always been the case.“
Thanks to Ford I had an opportunity to test drive the new 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid and tow a trailer with it. Take a look at the video below for all the details about how the new 10-speed modular hybrid transmission works.
In the 2020 Ford Explorer, the Hybrid powertrain uses a naturally aspirated 3.3-liter gas V6 engine. It is possible to configure an Explorer Hybrid with the latest AWD/4×4 system. The Explorer Hybrid is available on a higher-end Limited trim with a starting price of over $48,000 for a 2WD model.
The Explorer Hybrid total power output is a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer Hybrid electric motor by itself is rated at 35 kW (about 44 horsepower). The electric motor is sandwiched between the gas engine and the 10-speed transmission. The transmission clutch enable the Explorer to run on gas-only, electric-only, or combined power. The Explorer Hybrid battery capacity is 1.5 kWh.
Here are the Explorer Hybrid EPA fuel economy ratings. It comes to 28 mpg combined for a 2WD, and 25 mpg combined for the AWD model.
Would this power be enough for a new F-150 Hybrid? We do not know official engine information for the new F-150 yet. Now, we are getting into unofficial leaked insider information and speculation.
Leaked information suggests that the new F-150 Hybrid may use a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 in combination with an electric motor and the 10-speed transmission. Total power is unknown. Will the 1.5 kWh be enough for the truck to also serve as a “mobile power generator”? It’s not enough capacity in my opinion. However, I am not an electric vehicle engineer, and I have no insider Ford knowledge on this.
The rest of the 2021 Ford F-150 powertrain information is based on unofficial information or prototype vehicle images. It is my guess based on the leaked information, that the next Ford F-150 Raptor will utilize a gas/electric powertrain. Although, there are many other critics and experts who say otherwise.
Here is a look at a leaked 2021 F-150 interior.
