OMD once sang that Electricity is “the ultimate discovery,” and the folks at Ford seem to agree. This is because Ford is making a concerted effort to become green and clean within the next few years, rolling out more electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids than practically any other automaker. If you are looking for a “Ford Dealer near me,” you are going to find that these electric dreams are being turned into a reality, with Ford offering roomy electric SUVs and even electric pickup trucks. This diversity means that you can get into this fuel-saving and zero-emission future right now.
For those who don’t know, there is a difference between hybrids and EVs. As the name suggests, hybrids combine a conventional gas engine with a battery-powered electric motor. The engine’s transmission will blend the operation of the two power sources, with the electric motor providing the majority of the power at lower speeds. The battery is recharged by recapturing kinetic energy from braking, as well as by using the gas engine at lower speeds. If your model is a plug-in hybrid, then the battery will be a bit larger and can also be recharged by plugging in, like an EV. However, a hybrid will still use gas, while an EV is fully battery-powered.
Ford’s Hybrid Models
Ford currently offers drivers four different hybrid models to choose from: the Maverick, the Explorer, and two different hybrid versions of the Escape. The 2022 Ford Maverick is a compact truck that may be small in stature but more than makes up for it in performance. It features a standard 2.5-liter I-4 hybrid engine. It utilizes a PowerSplit electronic continuously variable transmission to shift between and blend the gas engine and electric motor to provide efficient performance, with 191 horsepower and 173 ft-lb of torque.
The Maverick is front-wheel drive standard, with its hybrid powertrain providing the best fuel economy of any pickup truck on the market. It can get up to 42 miles per gallon in the city, 33 miles per gallon on the highway, and 37 miles per gallon combined. This truck demonstrates the fuel savings benefits of driving a hybrid. Fortunately, this doesn’t hurt the capabilities drivers seek in a pickup truck, as the 2022 Ford Maverick is capable of towing 2,000 pounds or hauling 1,500 pounds in its payload bed.
On the other end of the spectrum is the 2022 Ford Explorer Hybrid. This is a three-row SUV powered by a 3.3-liter hybrid V6 engine. Unlike the Maverick, the Explorer Platinum uses a 10-speed automatic transmission to blend the performance of the gas engine and the electric motor, delivering up to 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque. This power makes the Explorer Platinum capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds. As for fuel economy, this model outperforms other Explorers with conventional gas engines, giving you 27 miles per gallon in the city, 28 miles per gallon on the highway, and 27 miles per gallon combined with standard rear-wheel drive. If you opt for the improved traction on the available Intelligent 4WD, the fuel economy will drop slightly but still outperform all other non-hybrid Ford Explorer models.
The 2022 Ford Escape is a crossover designed for people who want a vehicle for getting around town or making the morning commute more affordable and enjoyable. This model is also a great way to demonstrate the difference between a standard hybrid and a plug-in hybrid model, as the 2022 Ford Escape offers you a choice of both. The Escape Hybrid features a 2.5-liter Atkinson-Cycle I-4 hybrid engine paired with an electric motor, capable of producing a combined 200 horsepower. The Escape Plug-In Hybrid also features a 2.5-liter Atkinson-Cycle I-4 hybrid engine. However, it has a larger 14.4 kWh lithium-ion battery with a plug-in charging capability. As a result, it will give you 221 horsepower. Both models feature an eCVT hybrid transmission to blend the performance of the conventional gas engine with that of the electric motor.
The difference between the Escape hybrid models can be seen in two ways. First, the plug-in hybrid is more convenient than the standard hybrid since you can recharge the battery at home or at any of a number of public charging stations across North America. Second, the plug-in hybrid can drive 37 miles on battery power alone, significantly reducing fuel consumption. Once the battery is depleted, you can either recharge or continue driving as if it were a normal hybrid. However, the final difference is price, as the Escape Plug-In Hybrid has a higher price tag than the comparable Escape SE Hybrid model.
Ford’s Electric Models
Ford currently produces two EVs, the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning. The first of these was the Mustang Mach-E, which made its debut for the 2021 model year. Now in its second year of production, the 2022 Mustang Mach-E leverages the reputation of the Mustang sports car, but places it into a luxury SUV format as a fully electric model. While this might sound strange at first, it actually makes a great deal of sense when you think about it. The Mustang has established itself as one of the top sports cars, with unrivaled performance going back to the 1960s. By creating the Mustang Mach-E, Ford has updated this nameplate for the modern EV age. The brand has also given this car performance that will make you forget you are in an EV, especially if you spring for the top-of-the-line GT model, which has been clocked going from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds.
Ford has given drivers a broad range of choices with respect to the 2022 Mustang Mach-E. There are two rear-wheel drive powertrains as well as three all-wheel drive powertrains. The standard range 68 kWh lithium-ion battery provides enough juice to get you up to 224 miles in an all-wheel drive Mustang Mach-E or 247 miles in a rear-wheel drive model. The extended range 88 kWh lithium-ion battery lives up to its name, allowing drivers in the high-performance GT model to go 270 miles on a single charge. This same battery has a range of up to 312 miles with a normal all-wheel drive powertrain and up to 314 miles with rear-wheel drive. One thing you should note is that all-wheel drive models of the Mustang Mach-E provide considerably greater torque than rear-wheel drive models. This is because the all-wheel drive Mustang Mach-E has two electric motors, one for each axle, compared to a single electric motor driving the rear axle in rear-wheel drive models.
The newest Ford EV is the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. While this may look like a conventional truck, you should keep in mind that looks can be deceiving. This is an all-electric full-size pickup truck that delivers astounding performance. The giveaway might be the light-up grille surround that helps the F-150 Lightning stand apart from other trucks. It may also be its powerful electric motors, powered by a set of lithium-ion batteries. The standard range model features a 98 kWh battery, while the extended range boosts this to 131 kWh. Like other Ford hybrid and EV models, the F-150 Lightning places the battery cells and electric motors under the passenger compartment. This not only frees up space for passengers and their belongings, but also locates the battery safely inside the frame, shielding it from possible damage.
The F-150 Lightning is all-wheel drive standard, using two electric motors, one for the front axle and the other for the rear. It also provides incredible performance, able to go 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 5 seconds. In addition, the standard range model can haul up to 2,000 pounds of payload and delivers a range of 230 miles on a single charge. Meanwhile, the extended range F-150 Lightning can tow up to 10,000 pounds and travel 300 miles on a single charge.
Ford’s Future Is Electric
Ford recently broke ground on a new plant in Tennessee called BlueOval City that will not only manufacture EVs and advanced lithium-ion batteries, but do so in a facility that is carbon neutral. As Ford’s Executive Chair, Bill Ford, explains, “This is a transformative moment where Ford will lead America’s transition to electric vehicles and usher in a new era of clean, carbon-neutral manufacturing.” Ford is betting big, as BlueOval City will cost $5.6 billion, in addition to the $5.8 billion Ford is investing in BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky.
Tied together with the four hybrid and two EV models currently being produced, this new plant means that Ford has decided that the future is electric. Ford is hoping for a bolt from the blue that drivers will charge to their local Ford dealerships like a shock troop, looking to generate interest in the Maverick, Escape Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid, Explorer Hybrid, Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and whatever new hybrids and EVs it has in its future plans.
