Ford Prepares Affordable Electric Truck for Families to Launch in 2027

JAKARTA - Ford is rearranging its business direction, after the high-priced F-150 Lightning did not meet expectations and the Mustang Mach-E faced stiff competition. Now, the American manufacturer is choosing a new path by presenting an electric car that is truly pocket-friendly for families.

The focus of the strategy is based on a new platform called Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV). Ford executives consider the onslaught of cheap electric vehicles from China as a serious threat, so an electric truck with a price tag of around €26,000 is prepared as an answer.

When it debuts in 2027, this model is touted as Ford's most important vehicle in decades. The UEV platform is designed to be flexible, like a high-tech set of Lego that allows a variety of models to be born from one base.

Launching from ArenaEV, Friday, February 20, the electric truck that will be developed will be in the medium segment, with a size close to the Ford Maverick. Instead of adhering to the philosophy of bigger is better, Ford is now pursuing a size that fits the garage of residential homes and urban traffic.

In total, the platform is prepared to support up to eight different models, including SUVs and small vans. Even though it targets an affordable price, performance is not sacrificed. Ford targets an acceleration of 0-97 km/h in 4.5 seconds, equivalent to the Mustang EcoBoost so that this electric truck is claimed to be faster than many sports cars.

With a price of around 30,000 US dollars, Ford also promises an experience that does not feel cheap, from quality software, modern interiors, to features that are commonly expected by electric vehicle consumers. To achieve this price, Ford engineers changed their working approach to be more efficient.

Every detail is evaluated for cost and energy savings. One example is the redesign of the side mirror. If it generally uses two motors for glass adjustment and folding, the new design only uses one motor for two functions at once.

As a result, the rearview mirror is 20 percent smaller and lighter, which is claimed to increase the mileage by about 2.4 km. Aerodynamic aspects also received great attention. The target is that this truck is 15 percent more aerodynamic than similar models currently circulating.

The body shape is processed so that the air flow glides smoothly over the tub, while special engineering directs the air away from the front tire so as not to interfere with the rear tire. This effort is said to be able to increase mileage by up to 7.2 km.

In the battery sector, Ford chose a more economical solution by abandoning expensive materials such as nickel and cobalt. The manufacturer switched to cheaper, durable, and safe lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that can be charged up to 100 percent every day.

Production of LFP batteries will be carried out at a new plant in Michigan. The truck still uses a 400V electrical system, because the 800V configuration is only slightly faster when charging but 20 percent more expensive to produce.

The cabin is also designed to be spacious, Ford claims that its passenger space exceeds that of the Toyota RAV4, thanks to the battery pack that is part of the frame and the seat that is mounted directly on it. This approach eliminates the floor and separate battery container, so that the roof line can be lower with more headroom.

In line with current trends, this truck is being developed as a software-controlled vehicle. If previously various functions were controlled by many separate computers, now everything is managed by a centralized system called "E-Box", from power distribution to battery charging.

The 48V electrical system was also adopted as a major leap from the old 12V architecture, allowing the use of thinner and lighter cables. Ford even cut more than 1,219 meters of cable, saving about 10 kg in weight.

When launched in 2027, this electric truck will be equipped with BlueCruise as a standard feature, allowing drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel on thousands of kilometers of highway. A year later, Ford is targeting an increase to Level 3 autonomy, so that drivers can take their eyes off the road under certain conditions.

On the manufacturing side, Ford is also changing production methods to remain profitable. Unicasting technology will be applied, namely the use of large-sized single aluminum molds.

If on the Maverick welding and adhesives are needed for 146 frame components, this new vehicle relies solely on two large castings. As a result, the assembly process is claimed to be 15 percent faster and much more cost-effective.