New specs & video on midsized Ford EV truck

[Trace26]

Im not ok waiting for 30 minutes to charge and having to do so much route planning to go somewhere.
In other countries, for whatever reason, it isnt as big of a deal. Maybe it is cultural or maybe we are just more spread out.

We are more spread out but American's are also just always in a hurry.

 

[IamSpotted]

We are more spread out but American's are also just always in a hurry.

I'd agree with that assessment.

However, if I had an EV with a true 280-300 mile range a 30 minute stop on a road trip wouldnt bother me. Start at 0800, stop for lunch and charge for 30 minutes. Then drive 4 more hours and stop for dinner.

 

[GaRailroader]

I'd agree with that assessment.

However, if I had an EV with a true 280-300 mile range a 30 minute stop on a road trip wouldnt bother me. Start at 0800, stop for lunch and charge for 30 minutes. Then drive 4 more hours and stop for dinner.

I love road tripping in an EV. I cannot drive for 280-300 miles without stopping though. I need to stop every 2-3 hours for a bio break. I haven't road tripped my Model Y yet but on my Model 3 for every 100 miles of trip the car will need about 10 minutes of charge time. So on a 600 mile trip, the Tesla needs 60 minutes of charging. Rarely am I ready to depart a charging stop before the car is ready. On my final charge stop, I'll stop the charge when I have enough to get to destination since at destination I'll get more cost effective level 2 charging. I think where the EREV would shine is in a trailer pulling situation since a charging stop with a trailer would usually require disconnecting from the trailer.

 

[Bayfire2441]

From everything I've seen about the Mach-E, the only polarizing thing about it was using the Mustang nameplate. I'm sure there are design cues that could be polarizing, but that happens on every car. Calling it a Mustang though...

I was never really bothered by the name but rather the lack of traditional door handles. Hopefully thats a design choice Ford doesn't stick with for this truck.

 

[ElectricShitbox]

The moment you start talking about range and charging times, every american suddenly remembers that they do the Cannonball Run twice a week.

 

[WT_Door]

Given how poorly the LFP batteries have been going for Rivian, I am not encouraged by them right now. They have more unpredictable range due to the flat voltage, and capacity gets absolutely slammed in the cold. As someone who is familiar with NMC batteries in the cold and understands that there is a reduction, even that expectation gets shattered with the data on LFP range in the cold.

48v architecture is probably inevitable for cost savings, but it can make upfitting the truck more difficult as you either need to step down the voltage to 12v, or run 48v native electronics that are mostly vaporware. Eventually the market will adapt, but there will probably be a bumpy transition period.

I think you're right about the design probably not testing well in focus groups. Farley calling it a " Millennium Falcon with a back porch attached" doesn't inspire confidence. Neither does his statement, "'Our first body style will be a pickup, but it’s really not a pickup,' Farley said. 'I would say it’s a new silhouette. What I mean by that is that it has more room than a RAV4, the best-selling passenger car in the U.S. That doesn’t include its frunk and pickup truck bed.'"

I think it will be more like a ute and less like a truck. I like some utes, but I think it will be tough to convince traditional truck owners. A curvy Cybertruck with a very cab forward design wouldn't be out of the question.

InsideEVs has an interview with Alan Clarke (UEV project lead or some similar title). He says the LFP batteries are priced right but have the worst power density of all the alternatives. He strongly hints that they'll abandon LFP for a more power dense chemistry once one is available for a competitive price (the battery space for t he LFP will be plenty big for a different battery - so more range from a battery the same size as the LFP). I also think the 300 mile range is aspirational - and that they'll launch with something more like 240 miles.

As for the shape - I think it's a lovechild from an unfortunate liason between a Mach E and a Maverick.

 

[AeroWolf]

I was just reading up on Ford patenting a "Shifter Stick" for their new EV lineup. The stick will be tied to vehicle software to activate different drive modes and provide drivers with a simulated MT performance experience.

With Ford also engaging in subscription-based feature activation, I keep envisioning Ford charging fees per "gear" in addition whatever subscription fees are needed to unlock features. I can see the advertising now:

"Please make sure to subscribe to Ford to continue your Basic Package of Park, Reverse and Drive modes past the one-month free trial included with your new EV Ranchero purchase. Additional gears can be added for $10 dollars per month per gear. Or you can upgrade your plan to the Driver Exhilaration package for $50/month for simulated 5- speed Manual Transmission driving experience. Includes simulated blown clutch requiring extra fees for simulated clutch replacement. Towing mode requires separate subscription."

I hope Slate can get to market and stay simple.

 

[Driven5]

How much for the 'Fast and Furious' package?...

 

[AeroWolf]

How much for the 'Fast and Furious' package?...

Very expensive upgrade package. That will be an extra $1000 per month for infinite gearing and every drives ends with a simulated exploding engine block with $5000 engine rebuild fee. The F&F package also taps into interior camera footage edited with Ford AI to generate tik-tok clips of you straining to shift gears.

 

[bloo]

How much for the 'Fast and Furious' package?...

And I thought finding reverse in a Volkswagen was tough.

 

[fuzzyweis]

I was just reading up on Ford patenting a "Shifter Stick" for their new EV lineup. The stick will be tied to vehicle software to activate different drive modes and provide drivers with a simulated MT performance experience.

With Ford also engaging in subscription-based feature activation, I keep envisioning Ford charging fees per "gear" in addition whatever subscription fees are needed to unlock features. I can see the advertising now:

"Please make sure to subscribe to Ford to continue your Basic Package of Park, Reverse and Drive modes past the one-month free trial included with your new EV Ranchero purchase. Additional gears can be added for $10 dollars per month per gear. Or you can upgrade your plan to the Driver Exhilaration package for $50/month for simulated 5- speed Manual Transmission driving experience. Includes simulated blown clutch requiring extra fees for simulated clutch replacement. Towing mode requires separate subscription."

I hope Slate can get to market and stay simple.

In my Chevy Volt and Bolt the shifter had a low gear that increased regen, on the Bolt it was 1 pedal driving, I always thought it’d be great if they tied that to the improved throttle response of “sport mode” so you could “down shift” and have engine braking and faster pickup. The Bolt’s shifter even had reverse as like a forward and left maneuver so even more like a manual.

 

[bartflossom]

How much for the 'Fast and Furious' package?...

I think the mustang in the Bullitt movie had one more gear than that.