Ford is working with a team of former Tesla engineers to develop an affordable electric pickup truck that will radically reduce operating costs through aerodynamics and innovative manufacturing. It is said to be called the Ranchero.
Ford's ambitious Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) project heralds the arrival of a new mid-size electric pickup truck, which is expected to hit the market in 2027 with a starting price of around thirty dollars. The development team, led by former Tesla expert Alan Clarke, focused on extreme aerodynamics, which are said to be 15 percent more efficient than all current competitors. By using smaller side mirrors and special panels on the chassis, the range has been increased by about 80 kilometers, without the need for larger and heavier batteries. The first sketches reveal a futuristic, rounded shape with vertical LED headlights, reminiscent of a softer version of Cybertruck, but in the size of the popular Ranger model.
The technical breakthrough is based on a radical reduction in the number of components. Instead of the 146 structural parts found in the current Maverick, the newcomer will use just two large aluminum castings (unicasting), reducing the overall weight of the vehicle by 27 percent. The car will be equipped with cost-effective prismatic lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries and an advanced 48-volt system for auxiliary functions. Ford is also targeting performance, with the pickup truck expected to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 4,5 seconds, which puts it alongside the powerful versions of the Mustang.
Engineers have shortened the wiring harness length by 100% compared to the Mustang Mach-E 1.200 metrov, thereby saving 10 kilograms on the vehicle's weight. Although Ford has not yet officially confirmed the name, patent filings hint at a revival of the legendary nameplate RancheroProduction will begin in 2027 at the Louisville plant, and the new platform will serve as the basis for a whole family of affordable electric vehicles, including a compact sedan.
