Ford Universal Electric Platform

[Sherminator98]

4 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

 

Toyota's like on their 7th generation of hybrid technology. They've invested enough in hybrid technology to make their entire lineup. Hybrids. I don't see Ford investing the capital required to make hybrid drive systems universal throughout their lineup. 

 

That goes beyond how long you've been selling them and directly to where you are spending money to build and sell more hybrid vehicles. I don't see it. If you do, please let me know

 

Well at least in North America:

C2 already has Hybrid engine options

 

Anything RWD would get the 10 speed with the hybrid motors built into the transmission

 

So outside of figuring out where to put the batteries for products that don't have them (which is just basically the T6 based Bronco), everything else is done already or would need minor reworking, assuming the Expedition and Navigator can use the same hardpoints as the F-150 Hybrid.

 

Or they could just go the EREV route with the new Lightning for the fullsize SUVs. 

[Sherminator98]

6 minutes ago, twintornados said:

 

Ehh, we'll wait a week or two...plans should change by then. 

 

Exactly-esp if the Bronco Sport is going to get a world wide major refresh in the next 24 months or so. 

[akirby]

3 hours ago, Biker16 said:

 

Toyota's like on their 7th generation of hybrid technology. They've invested enough in hybrid technology to make their entire lineup. Hybrids. I don't see Ford investing the capital required to make hybrid drive systems universal throughout their lineup. 

 

That goes beyond how long you've been selling them and directly to where you are spending money to build and sell more hybrid vehicles. I don't see it. If you do, please let me know

Now you're just arguing to be arguing.  They said they were doing it and you have no proof they aren't or can't do it.

[jpd80]

3 hours ago, Biker16 said:

 

Toyota's like on their 7th generation of hybrid technology. They've invested enough in hybrid technology to make their entire lineup. Hybrids. I don't see Ford investing the capital required to make hybrid drive systems universal throughout their lineup. 

 

That goes beyond how long you've been selling them and directly to where you are spending money to build and sell more hybrid vehicles. I don't see it. If you do, please let me know

That’s fair comment.

The coming Q4 $19.5 billion write down shows a chastened Ford

that is now prepared to focus on HEV to EREV projects,

the key advantage it now has is battery supply.
Arguably the main thing that held it back for years.

 

All that time used to develop electric motors, drives and

controllers won’t go to waste either as a lot of that can be

repurposed for EREV which  now seems to be a much better

direction for Lightning and maybe a companion SUV.

 

Its ironic that the chiefs at Ford have been forced to face reality

and start promoting electrification methods it was dismissing 

a few years back, I look forward to the coming releases of

how “we’ve listened to buyers” ……sure they have but I bet

that $19 billion financial  “black eye” was the last straw…..

 

Edited December 22, 2025 by jpd80

[jpd80]

Thinking deeper about Ford’s change of plans, Ford also owns a lot of the IP being used in China, those vehicles funded by the Chinese market are

easy grabs for other parts of the world if so desired. Either that  or use

of the power trains and electrical systems come cheaply to C2.

[Biker16]

41 minutes ago, jpd80 said:

Thinking deeper about Ford’s change of plans, Ford also owns a lot of the IP being used in China, those vehicles funded by the Chinese market are

easy grabs for other parts of the world if so desired. Either that  or use

of the power trains and electrical systems come cheaply to C2.

Unlike US or EU sources, they would be subject to restrictions on technology transfers and tariffs if the parts are imported from China. It could be easier to buy the tech from a non-Chinese supplier than to risk sourcing from China, which is why I ask what should/could be done to expand capacity in North America.

Edited December 22, 2025 by Biker16

[Harley Lover]

6 hours ago, akirby said:

They've been doing hybrids since 2005.  They've done fwd, rwd and awd hybrids.  Until recently they were making fwd hybrids, awd hybrids, fwd plug in hybrids and rwd hybrids.  What more investment do they need?

 

What more investment - Manufacturing capacity. I don't think Ford can merely snap its fingers and have the capacity it needs. I've (perhaps wrongly) been under the impression that Ford are capacity constrained in terms of engines, batteries, trannys, and the associated support plumbing for hybrid vehicles. They also have to reengineer some of the C2 based vehicles that are not currently hybrid 'capable' to utilize the C2 hybrid chassis. Perhaps the lead time needed to reengineer the vehicles to their new chassis 'homes' buys the time Ford will need to source, manufacture, and install the added drivetrain capacity that will be needed?

[jpd80]

27 minutes ago, Biker16 said:

Unlike US or EU sources, they would be subject to restrictions on technology transfers and tariffs if the parts are imported from China. It could be easier to buy the tech from a non-Chinese supplier than to risk sourcing from China, which is why I ask what should/could be done to expand capacity in North America.

Yes and what I was saying is that Ford owns the IP which is the most

important part as adapting existing plants is not as hard as it seems.

[jpd80]

1 minute ago, Harley Lover said:

 

What more investment - Manufacturing capacity. I don't think Ford can merely snap its fingers and have the capacity it needs. I've (perhaps wrongly) been under the impression that Ford are capacity constrained in terms of engines, batteries, trannys, and the associated support plumbing for hybrid vehicles. They also have to reengineer some of the C2 based vehicles that are not currently hybrid 'capable' to utilize the C2 hybrid chassis. Perhaps the lead time needed to reengineer the vehicles to their new chassis 'homes' buys the time Ford will need to source, manufacture, and install the added drivetrain capacity that will be needed?

It’s more like a self imposed restriction to meet higher profit percentage.

Imagine if Ford has proceeded with San Louis Potosi and made that a

multi product C2 plant making LWB /SWB Ford and Lincoln Utilities.

That would be four key products coming from a low cost location.

Much the same way that GM moved new production over the border

a few years back.

[Texasota]

6 hours ago, Biker16 said:

Let's talk about hybrids.

Ford has one hybrid powertrain for Transverse vehicles, at least in the US.

• HF35 eCVT -Introduced in 2013

 

It is my understanding that the HF35 has had two successors, the HF45 and the HF55.  I believe that should be considered investment.

Edited December 22, 2025 by Texasota

[akirby]

15 hours ago, Texasota said:

It is my understanding that the HF35 has had two successors, the HF45 and the HF55.  I believe that should be considered investment.

Correct.  Current hybrids here use the hf45 while the chinese models use hf55 with the 2.0L ecoboost.

[twintornados]

20 minutes ago, akirby said:

Correct.  Current hybrids here use the hf45 while the chinese models use hf55 with the 2.0L ecoboost.

 

2025 Ford Maverick hybrid AWD uses the HF55 model. 

 

https://fordauthority.com/2025/01/2025-ford-maverick-transmissions-everything-you-need-to-know/

 

Quote

The 2025 Ford Maverick gets the HF55 PowerSplit eCVT (electronic constant velocity transmission) as standard fare. All-new for the 2025 Maverick, it's available exclusively in conjunction with the popular compact pickup's 2.5L hybrid powertrain, which includes standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) or optional AWD. Note that the eCVT is the only transmission available with the hybrid powertrain.

 

Edited December 23, 2025 by twintornados

[Biker16]

15 hours ago, Texasota said:

It is my understanding that the HF35 has had two successors, the HF45 and the HF55.  I believe that should be considered investment.

 

Noted

[akirby]

1 minute ago, twintornados said:

 

2025 Ford Maverick hybrid AWD uses the HF55 model. 

 

https://fordauthority.com/2025/01/2025-ford-maverick-transmissions-everything-you-need-to-know/

 

 

That's interesting because it certainly doesn't need the extra torque capacity.  Maybe theyre just consolidating models for efficiency.

[jpd80]

6 hours ago, akirby said:

That's interesting because it certainly doesn't need the extra torque capacity.  Maybe theyre just consolidating models for efficiency.

Good point, just build one transmission, the better one.

 

Just a thought…

Another preliminary step for offering a 2.0 EB hybrid in Maverick is done?

[rmc523]

Ford CEO Says Its $30,000 Electric Truck Has Reached the Prototype Stage - Autoblog

 

In an interview with InsideEVs, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company’s planned $30,000 electric truck has reached the prototype stage, describing the effort as an internal Apollo style mission with little margin for error.

The comments frame the project as more than a new model, because Ford is trying to prove it can build an affordable EV that works as a business, not just as a technology showcase, with production targeted for 2027.

[twintornados]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

Ford CEO Says Its $30,000 Electric Truck Has Reached the Prototype Stage - Autoblog

 

In an interview with InsideEVs, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company’s planned $30,000 electric truck has reached the prototype stage, describing the effort as an internal Apollo style mission with little margin for error.

The comments frame the project as more than a new model, because Ford is trying to prove it can build an affordable EV that works as a business, not just as a technology showcase, with production targeted for 2027.

 

Interesting quote from the article....so, when is the hybrid Explorer Tremor showing up?

 

Quote

The affordable EV truck is meant to expand volume without destroying margins, while hybrids protect the rest of the lineup during the transition.

 

Edited January 21 by twintornados

[Biker16]

I thought this would be worth mentioning.
 

SPA3 Archtechture 

• 800v Sytem
• Cell to body battery pack
• Megacastings
• In-house Motors and inverters
• Scales from B-class to E-class Vehicles.
   

All future electric Volvo cars will originate from one single technology stack | Volvo Cars Media Intl
 

https://investors.volvocars.com/~/media/Files/V/Volvo-Cars-IR-V2/cmd-24-new/Volvo_CMD24_TECH.pdf

 

 

Quote

The car rides on Volvo’s all-new 800v SPA3 platform, Volvo Cars’ new electric vehicle architecture that incorporates the battery in what Volvo calls cell-to-body technology, wherein the battery pack is part of the structure of the car, thus reducing weight and improving structural rigidity.

 

Quote

Our next-generation SPA3 platform
One of the key building blocks for any of our cars is the electric technology base: a combination of the latest propulsion, electric and electronic systems on top of which the car is built.

To put ourselves in a position to become leaders in next-generation mobility, we’re developing a new electric technology base, called SPA3, which will be underpinned by the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack. Our first car to be built on SPA3 will be the forthcoming all-electric EX60 midsize SUV.

SPA3 builds on many of the building blocks of SPA2 and introduces several key upgrades. It will, for example, have an enhanced core computing capability, which will allow us to secure higher performance and improve features through our tech stack. But the most important change is that the SPA3 architecture has been built to be far more scalable than its predecessor. This means that, if we wanted, we could continuously develop and build cars of all sizes – larger than the EX90 and smaller than the EX30 – using the same technology base. The modularity and upgradeability of SPA3 will allow for lower investment costs – with lower variance as well – in relation to sales, which in turn should lead to a stronger future cash flow.

 

[DeluxeStang]

On 1/21/2026 at 7:26 AM, rmc523 said:

Ford CEO Says Its $30,000 Electric Truck Has Reached the Prototype Stage - Autoblog

 

In an interview with InsideEVs, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company’s planned $30,000 electric truck has reached the prototype stage, describing the effort as an internal Apollo style mission with little margin for error.

The comments frame the project as more than a new model, because Ford is trying to prove it can build an affordable EV that works as a business, not just as a technology showcase, with production targeted for 2027.

So if the physical prototypes are out there now, hopefully that means we see a mule soon. 

[mackinaw]

1 hour ago, DeluxeStang said:

So if the physical prototypes are out there now, hopefully that means we see a mule soon. 

 

Maybe some will make their way to Michigan for cold weather testing.  I'll be on the lookout for mules at my Northern Michigan EV Charger station.

[morgan20]

On 1/21/2026 at 9:26 AM, rmc523 said:

In an interview with InsideEVs, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the company’s planned $30,000 electric truck has reached the prototype stage, describing the effort as an internal Apollo style mission with little margin for error.

 

7 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

So if the physical prototypes are out there now, hopefully that means we see a mule soon. 

Wow, this is seriously good news from FoMoCo. Sounds like the efforts at the skunkworks are changing Ford’s whole corporate culture for the better.

[bzcat]

On 1/22/2026 at 12:28 PM, DeluxeStang said:

So if the physical prototypes are out there now, hopefully that means we see a mule soon. 

 

We are past the mule stage. Prototypes are wearing production body.

 

The three stages of vehicle test builds:

 

Mule

These are engineering test builds that are often hacked up bits and pieces of other things clubber together to test specific components (e.g. suspension, cooling, drivetrain etc). Other times they don't appear to be "mules" at all because the component they are testing could be completely hidden under the sheet metal of existing cars (e.g. electrical systems or new transmission) - Mules in plain sight. 

 

Prototype

These are design locked-in test builds with production-ready body panels and exterior. All the design engineering is done and they are validating to see how it all fits together, or for durability testing. They are often camouflaged to hide key exterior design features or elements. Sometimes there is even tacked on fake bits to throw people off. 

 

Pre-production

These are test builds during training or test runs to validate the factory tooling and settings. Pre-production vehicles and usually used for experimenting with trim levels impact for build time, color mix-matches, and emission testing. e.g. they may build a batch with no sunroof and a batch with sunroof to see any run time variance. Or they try painting bumpers in different ways to see if color still match. 

 

The article suggests that Ford has already locked in the designs since they are using the term prototype. 

Edited January 23 by bzcat

[jpd80]

If 1APs are out, all they will see is another Maverick…..

very clever Ford.

Edited January 24 by jpd80

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, jpd80 said:

If 1APs are out, all they will see is another Maverick…..

very clever Ford.

But wouldn't they be using production bodywork this close to launch?

[DeluxeStang]

1 hour ago, bzcat said:

 

We are past the mule stage. Prototypes are wearing production body.

 

The three stages of vehicle test builds:

 

Mule

These are engineering test builds that are often hacked up bits and pieces of other things clubber together to test specific components (e.g. suspension, cooling, drivetrain etc). Other times they don't appear to be "mules" at all because the component they are testing could be completely hidden under the sheet metal of existing cars (e.g. electrical systems or new transmission) - Mules in plain sight. 

 

Prototype

These are design locked-in test builds with production-ready body panels and exterior. All the design engineering is done and they are validating to see how it all fits together, or for durability testing. They are often camouflaged to hide key exterior design features or elements. Sometimes there is even tacked on fake bits to throw people off. 

 

Pre-production

These are test builds during training or test runs to validate the factory tooling and settings. Pre-production vehicles and usually used for experimenting with trim levels impact for build time, color mix-matches, and emission testing. e.g. they may build a batch with no sunroof and a batch with sunroof to see any run time variance. Or they try painting bumpers in different ways to see if color still match. 

 

The article suggests that Ford has already locked in the designs since they are using the term prototype. 

Fair enough, I kinda view prototype as a vague term that can refer to finalized protos, or mules. Kinda as an all encompassing term.