The Ford F-150 all-electric prototype
Photo: Ford Motor Company
At the start of the year, Jim Farley confirmed what many had already suspected — that Ford is hard at work on developing a fully electric Ford F-150 pickup. In a surprising turn of events, the public didn’t have long to wait to see some of what the final product might be able to do.
Ford this week released a video in which Linda Zhang, the chief engineer of the F-150, demos the towing capability of an F-150 all-electric prototype. In the video, the F-150 tows 10 double-decker rail cars and 42 2019 Ford F-150s, which in total weigh more than 1 million pounds.
Oh, so it’ll tow that much then, you exclaim. Well, Ford is quick to note that “The all-electric F-150 prototype is towing far beyond any production truck’s published capacity in a one-time short event demonstration.” You’re also urged to consult your owner’s manual before you try to hook up 1 million pounds of stuff to your truck. Good to know, huh?
The Here and Now: What makes the 2019 Ford F-150 the premier premium truck on the market
“Nothing makes a bigger statement than being America’s best-selling pickup for the last 42 years,” said Zhang. “The all-electric F-150 will continue to have the toughness, capability and innovation F-150 customers have come to expect. We wouldn’t build an all-electric F-150 if it wasn’t Built Ford Tough.”
Ford F-150 Chief Engineer Linda Zhang
Photo: Ford Motor Company
Zhang, who has been with Ford for 23 years, was also part of the team that built the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer. She says that experience gave her a unique perspective that has thus far helped her in the role of chief engineer for the F-150, which see took over last year.
“I understand different vantage points of the teams because I’ve experienced it all. It helps being able to pull the team together for a common goal. At the end of the day, we’re all here to make a better truck for the customer,” she said.
Ford has not confirmed when the all-electric F-150 is coming to market. A Ford F-150 Hybrid is set to go into production next year.
The Future is Electric: Mustang-inspired electric performance crossover to get 370-mile range
Photos: Ford F-150 All-Electric Prototype Hauls 1 Million Pounds*
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.