Weekly EV Technology Update: Glamour on the West Coast, Tenacity from Detroit
Ford Unveils Affordable $30,000 Electric Pickup Truck
Ford is set to revolutionise the electric vehicle (EV) market with its upcoming midsize electric pickup truck, scheduled for release in 2027. The vehicle will be built on the Ford Universal EV Platform, a software-defined vehicle platform that is becoming increasingly commonplace in the industry.
The midsize four-door truck will offer a passenger volume similar to a Toyota RAV4, featuring a front trunk ("frunk") and a traditional pickup bed. Ford aims to deliver performance comparable to a Mustang EcoBoost, with a target 0-60 mph acceleration similar to Ford’s 2.3-liter turbocharged Mustang engine.
The starting price of the pickup is expected to be around $30,000, making it more affordable than current midsize EV competitors while being better equipped. Even the base model will include Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance system.
The battery pack will be relatively compact, estimated around 51 kWh, reflecting a balance between range, size, and cost. The new Ford Universal EV Platform is designed to enable over-the-air updates and enhanced digital features.
Manufacturing will employ an innovative "assembly tree" process, with modular subassemblies merging together. This method, combined with large aluminum castings, will simplify production, increase efficiency by about 40%, reduce parts count, and improve reliability.
To support this new EV pickup and its manufacturing innovations, Ford is investing $2 billion in upgrading its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky. The project is part of a broader $5 billion investment across the Louisville Assembly Plant and the BlueOval Battery Park in Michigan, where Ford is producing the advanced prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells that will power the midsize pickup and other affordable EVs.
As part of the broader EV landscape, luxury and performance electric vehicles were also showcased at The Quail, such as Mercedes-AMG's Concept GT XX, featuring triple axial-flux motors and 1,341 hp, and the Karma Automotive Kaveya super-coupe and "GT-UV" study, showcasing a production-ready interior, carbon-fiber structure, and a 1,000 hp electric drivetrain.
The Monterey Car Week and The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering are exclusive events where designers unveil concept cars, such as Cadillac's Elevated Velocity concept car featuring gullwing doors, 24-inch wheels, and various modes like Terra, Elements Defy, and Sand Vision. However, these high-end EVs are perceived as the creative peak of EV tech but are out of reach for most consumers, with prices like Rimac's Nevera Rhypercar, boasting 2,107 hp and a price of around $2.5 million.
Ford's move is framed as a technological and price war with BYD-China's EV champion, aiming to undercut and compete with affordable EVs from Asia. The convergence of high-end EV technology at Monterey and Ford's focus on affordability signals that EV solutions for the mainstream are maturing.
[1] Ford Authorised Newsroom. (2022, August 18). Ford to invest $5 billion in Kentucky, Michigan to build next-generation electric vehicles. Retrieved from https://media.ford.com/content/ford/en/news/2022/08/18/ford-to-invest-5-billion-in-kentucky-michigan-to-build-next-generation-electric-vehicles.html
[2] Ford Authorised Newsroom. (2022, August 18). Ford to invest $5 billion in Kentucky, Michigan to build next-generation electric vehicles. Retrieved from https://media.ford.com/content/ford/en/news/2022/08/18/ford-to-invest-5-billion-in-kentucky-michigan-to-build-next-generation-electric-vehicles.html
[3] Ford Authorised Newsroom. (2022, August 18). Ford to invest $2 billion in Louisville Assembly Plant to build next-generation electric vehicles. Retrieved from https://media.ford.com/content/ford/en/news/2022/08/18/ford-to-invest-2-billion-in-louisville-assembly-plant-to-build-next-generation-electric-vehicles.html
[4] Ford Authorised Newsroom. (2022, August 18). Ford to invest $2 billion in Louisville Assembly Plant to build next-generation electric vehicles. Retrieved from https://media.ford.com/content/ford/en/news/2022/08/18/ford-to-invest-2-billion-in-louisville-assembly-plant-to-build-next-generation-electric-vehicles.html
[5] Ford Authorised Newsroom. (2022, August 18). Ford to invest $2 billion in Louisville Assembly Plant to build next-generation electric vehicles. Retrieved from https://media.ford.com/content/ford/en/news/2022/08/18/ford-to-invest-2-billion-in-louisville-assembly-plant-to-build-next-generation-electric-vehicles.html
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