(Ford)
Ford has confirmed that it's working on an electric F-150, but it won’t be the first electric pickup it’s ever made.
From 1998 to 2002 the automaker offered a Ranger EV, which was appropriately built in Edison, N.J.
Although high-tech for the time, compact truck’s specifications wouldn’t cut it today. Powered by a lead-acid battery pack it only had a range of about 50 miles per charge, but a nickel-metal hydride upgrade was available that promised an epic 65 miles of driving.
(Ford)
With a 90 hp motor, the two-wheel-drive truck accelerated glacially. It took 12.5 seconds to reach 50 mph and the top speed was restricted to 75 mph.
The price was more impressive, starting at $52,720.00. As there are today, there were plenty of green incentives available, especially for the commercial and government fleets that leased most of the 1,500 or so that were eventually built.
Since it decided to end its EV program at the time, Ford started collecting and destroying the trucks when the leases were up to avoid future liabilities, but after some outcry it allowed about 100 customers to buy their trucks outright.
There’s a market for parts to keep them going on Ebay, and a full vehicle occasionally shows up for sale in the $2,500-$3,000 range.
Ford just launched an all-new Ranger, but hasn't said anything about electrifying it...yet.
It also hasn't revealed when the electric F-150 will go on sale, but the full-size truck is due for a redesign in about two years.
