Ford Ranger PHEV Makes a Lot of Sense

Add the plug-in hybrid Ranger to a product plan that has moved Ford to cancel or postpone some battery-electric-vehicle programs in favor of more hybrids and PHEVs as clean-air mandates from the federal government have been relaxed a bit, allowing automakers more latitude to meet those mandates with hybrids.

The Ranger PHEV will grow Ford’s fleet of do-everything hybrid pickups, including the Maverick Hybrid (now with AWD) and the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid, the latter a 2024 Wards 10 Best Engines & Propulsion Systems winner. The Ranger PHEV, unveiled this week in Germany, is powered by a gasoline 2.3L that drives all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission and 2-speed transfer case. The 10-speed has a 100-hp electric motor that works either on its own or together with the internal-combustion engine to produce 279 hp and 509 lb.-ft. (609 Nm) of torque.

The 11.8-kWh battery pack, mounted on the frame rails, provides up to 28 miles (45 km) of range and charging it from empty to full can be done in less than four hours on a Level 2 charger.

The truck offers four driving modes: Auto EV, EV Now, EV Later and EV Charge. The Ranger PHEV comes standard with a 2.3-kW electrical outlet in the bed which can be used to power tools or appliances. Ford also is offering an upgraded package with two 15-amp outlets in the bed delivering a combined maximum power of 6.9 kW, or 3.45 kW for each outlet.

“The all-new Ranger PHEV delivers the benefits of electrification hand-in-hand with the hard-working performance that has built Ranger a loyal fanbase in Europe. We have perfected our first PHEV pickup in Europe to be a hugely capable tool for work and off-roading, as well as a premium vehicle with the comfort, connectivity and EV-only capability for family duties,” says Hans Schep, general manager, Ford Pro, Europe.

Ford is finding traction in the U.S. marketplace, as well as overseas markets, with power-on-board features in the F-Series that take away the need for an auxiliary generator in the bed to run power tools. And with the growth of power outages in the U.S. from an overburdened grid and storms, Ford has been promoting the ability to power a home or critical home appliances when there is a loss of electricity.

Distribution of the Ranger PHEV is slated for Europe in the spring of 2025. The automaker has not yet announced U.S. sales, but industry sources tell WardsAuto to look for it at Ford dealerships in 2026. The Ranger is built in Wayne Assembly, Michigan, in the same facility as the Ford Bronco, which is built on the Ranger platform. The Bronco is getting a PHEV version in 2025.

The Ford Ranger is a segment leader in Europe and the U.K. and has been a top seller globally for years. It is sold in over 180 markets. In the U.S., though, Ranger saw a decline in 2023 when it dropped to 32,330 deliveries, down from 57,000 the year before. One reason for the decline is the rise of the Maverick compact pickup, which sold 94,000 units in 2023, up 26% from the year earlier. Ford sold 116,000 Mavericks through August this year.

Ford added AWD to the Maverick Hybrid for the 2025 model year, a configuration previously unavailable. That change reflects the market’s hunger for more fuel-efficient trucks that also have rugged performance. Small-business/trades buyers have discovered the enormous value and benefits of the Maverick, while Ranger has been positioned more at weekend hobbyists who fish, camp, canoe, snowmobile, etc. Both truck segments show a demand for greater fuel efficiency and electric power for tools and appliances.

The Europe-bound plug-in Ranger is built in Silverton, South Africa.