2021 F-150 PowerBoost - Ford's First Hybrid Truck
2021 F-150 PowerBoost - Ford's First Hybrid Truck
Posted on October 20, 2020
The advance of electric vehicle technology is accelerating year by year, and it seems clear that passenger vehicles are fast approaching the tipping point that will make widespread EV usage a reality. Unfortunately, the same can't quite be said of the pickup market - or at least until now.
Ford has announced a hybrid concept version of their most popular model, the F-150, and its specifications have set the industry alight. To find out why, read our first-look 2021 F-150 PowerBoost review below.
2021 F-150 Hybrid Concept Powertrain
Hybrid vehicles often lag behind pure gasoline models when it comes to performance, but the new F-150 PowerBoost turns that on its head. The truck will be equipped with Ford's twin-turbo 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine, along with a ten-speed automatic transmission and in-built 35kW electric motor.
This hybrid design means that, at launch, the F-150 PowerBoost will immediately become the most powerful F-150 model in the range, offering a raw output of 430 horsepower.
What's more, the PowerBoost will hit a new F-150 high for torque, with a highly impressive 570lb-ft raising the mid-size pickup bar considerably.
All this engine power translates into impressive capability, with a projected payload capacity of 962kg and a tow rating of 5,760kg.
Onboard Pro-Power Generator
Another excellent benefit of the F-150's hybrid powertrain is the onboard Pro Power generator, included on every PowerBoost truck. Offering a choice between a 2.4kWh generator as standard or an optional 7.2kWh version, the truck can be used as a mobile power source for electric tools from concrete mixers to plasma cutters.
Many tools can be used simultaneously, with run times heading up to 80 hours or longer from a full tank of fuel. With the F-150 PowerBoost, you'll be able to get work done in any location, however remote.
Fuel Economy and Range
Final figures aren't yet available, but Ford predicts the new hybrid will have a range of 1,125km on a single tank of fuel. Likewise, fuel economy isn't yet confirmed, but the hybrid should comfortably beat the standard F-150's rating of 9.4L / 100km on the highway, with the city rating expected to show a major improvement over the current 13L.
Heavy Testing
With all that power under the hood, it's likely PowerBoost owners will want to see how far they can push the truck. Well, Ford is way ahead in that respect. The company has developed a new 'torture test' to ensure the hybrid will withstand the toughest treatment.
In the test, the F-150's 1.5-kWh battery is loaded onto a custom-built hydraulic bucking bronco. This rig shakes, rattles, and rolls the battery in all directions to simulate high-speed driving over unfeasibly poor road surfaces. Ford claims that 82 hours riding the machine is the equivalent of 10 years on the road and that their battery tech survived the test with flying colours.
Add this new test to the company's standard suite of towing, off-road, and high-performance trials and the result is a new hybrid truck design that's already been pushed to the limit and provided excellent results.