RL1990

Ford is copying GM on this one. Years ago GM introduced the Silverado Hybrid. It was more fuel efficient but it's biggest attraction was the ability to use it as a generator. You could put it in generator mode and plug into the two 120 volt outlets in the bed. When the battery got low the engine would automatically start to recharge the battery. GM said that with a full tank of gas the truck could provide 32 hours of uninterrupted power. Another example of GM spending tons of money pioneering an actual good idea then giving up on it. Like the Northstar 4.6 DOHC V8, they ran into problems and gave up on it and fell back on the old tried and true pushrods. If they stuck with hybrid technology they could be selling full size trucks with a version of the plug in Voltec system getting 40 MPGs today.

This is what I like about Ford. They go all out when they decide to take big risks. When they introduced the OHC V8 engines they dumped the pushrod V8 completely put them in everything from trucks to Lincolns to police cruisers and worked to fix problems that came up. All those years of refinement gives us the 526 HP 5.2 Voodoo V8 we have today. Same with the Ecoboost engines and aluminum construction.

MagNitto

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. A lot is still a mystery, there may be some great innovation there. I think part of the reason the GM hybrids failed was that they didn't improve MPG enough for the tradeoff people were making. Plus they did it right as the economy tanked. Maybe Ford has something incredible lined up. And if they don't, the hybrid will likely just be one option among many other good options they have in their engines. Way different than GM IMO.

jwmustang

Interesting.
It will probably be self driving by then.

pinocchio

I would definitely be interested in a plug in hybrid version as long as they offer the same options/packages as with the gas engine. Many states/provinces offer great rebates for PHEVs so that's a good incentive!