Work Truck Show: Ford Expands Electric Truck Partnerships

Ford Motor Co. said it has selected three companies that provide electrified and hydraulic hybrid drivetrains for pickups and medium-duty trucks in order to expand its range of alternative fuel vehicle offerings.

The automaker said at the 2017 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis that XL Hybrids, Motiv Power Systems and Lightning Hybrids, will offer electrification and hydraulic systems for a range of Ford vehicles,including F-150; F-250 to F-550 Super Duty pickups; F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks; Transit and E-Series vans and chassis; and F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis trucks.

The three companies will join Ford’s New Advanced Fuel Qualified Vehicle Modifier program. Partners in the program will be able to modify the automaker’s commercial vehicle lineup with a broad range of equipment. Purchasers of the vehicles will retain the original powertrain warranty.

Ford sees the program as a way to augment its efforts to offer electric and alternative fuel vehicles. Previously, the automaker said it is investing $4.5 billion in 13 new electrified vehicles over the next five years. These include an all-new fully electric small SUV, a high-volume autonomous vehicle, a hybrid F-150 pickup truck, a hybrid Mustang, a Transit Custom plug-in hybrid and two new pursuit-rated hybrid police vehicles.

“Ford supports electrification for a variety of vehicle types,” said Richard Cupka Jr., sustainability and QVM program manager for Ford. The new program “extends that support to the vocational truck industry where customers need relatively small numbers of specialized vehicles – there is no one-size-fits-all work truck.”

The new vehicles announced at the Work Truck Show are:

XL Hybrids: Offers a hybrid electric drive system for Ford Transit, E-350 and E-450 chassis, F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks, F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks and F-53/F-59 stripped chassis; as well as a plug-in hybrid upgrade for the F-150 pickup.

Motiv Power Systems: Offers an all-electric powertrain for the Ford E-450 and F-59 chassis.

Lightning Hybrids: Offers a non-electric hydraulic hybrid energy recovery system for the Ford E-350 and E-450 chassis, F-350 to F-550 Super Duty trucks, F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks and F-59 chassis.

The work truck industry is a very important part of our business, said John Ruppert, general manager of commercial vehicle sales and marketing for Ford. We’re dedicated to continuing to develop new and improved vehicles, technology and support to help our customers get the job done.

He said Ford sold more medium-duty trucks last year than in any year since 1997. Ford F-650 and F-750 sales in 2016 rose 54 percent compared with the prior year to 15,486 trucks.

Related: Ford Grows Work Truck Market Share