New 2022 Ranger Could Get Plug-In Hybrid Variant
The next-gen Ranger could very well get an electrified option when it arrives in 2022.
Electric Avenue
Every automaker out there in the world is currently embarking on a mad rush to develop new electrified products. That includes Ford, who recently rolled out the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid for Europe, with all-electric vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 EV coming soon. The electrification of Ford's lineup might also extend to the next-gen Ranger, which Australian site Car Expert reports will come with a plug-in hybrid option.
Photos: Ford
More Power
As we learned from the Explorer Plug-In Hybrid, this option on the Ranger would mean considerably more power, not just increased efficiency. Reportedly, the drivetrain would consist of Ford's 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine that already comes as the standard motor in the current Ranger, along with an electric motor/motors of some sort.
Photos: Ford
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Big Numbers
That combination is rumored to produce a rather significant 362 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque, which would make the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid a veritable monster, both performance-wise and in terms of towing prowess. It's also expected to deliver a European fuel economy rating of 3.0-liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, which translates to 78.4 miles-per-gallon, though these conversions rarely hold true.
Photos: Ford
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Ranger Topper
These are extremely impressive numbers indeed, especially when you throw in the fact that a plug-in hybrid is also capable of traveling a short distance on battery power alone. It's conceivable that a Ranger plug-in hybrid could be a range-topping model, given its impressive numbers combined with the fact that it doesn't have the range limitations of a traditional all-electric vehicle.
Photos: Ford
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Attractive Option
And those reasons are exactly why many automakers are pursuing a combination of battery and traditional internal combustion power. Unlike most normal hybrids, a plug-in is capable of being charged at home and traveling on battery power alone, which makes them an attractive in-between option for now.
Photos: Ford
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Not Yet Feasible
This is especially important since many parts of the world still lack the adequate charging infrastructure needed to support large scale all-electric vehicle usage. Until there are charging stations on every corner like gas stations, and charges take minutes instead of hours, the technology just isn't 100% feasible yet.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about this 2022 Ranger right here in Ford-trucks.com.
U.S. Bound?
The big question is whether or not Ford will sell a plug-in Ranger in the U.S. Currently, the plug-in hybrid Explorer is only sold in Europe, so we imagine that will remain the case with the Ranger. But given the many benefits, this truck could offer, we hope that Ford will eventually sell it stateside.
Photos: Ford
>>Join the conversation about this 2022 Ranger right here in Ford-trucks.com.
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