Ford Universal Electric Platform

[rmc523]

19 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

A few screen grabs

 

Eh, those are all existing products:

 

Mach E Rally

Ranger Raptor

Nautilus

Explorer

 

Edited August 11 by rmc523

[Sherminator98]

3 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

A few screen grabs

 

 

 

 

I see alot of Mustang influnce in that flank and rear end design. 

[rmc523]

2 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I know I'm reading way too much into it, but front end looks like a cross between a 2017 Escape and Mustang? Like if the Escape front end was lower and not as upright as it was due to packaging. Doesn't look bad under the cover

 

Yeah, it's looking more aggressive/sporty than your typical Ford Truck DNA.

[rmc523]

15 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I see alot of Mustang influnce in that flank and rear end design. 

 

That's because it's Mach E Rally

Edited August 11 by rmc523

[rmc523]

15 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

Eh, those are all existing products:

 

Mach E Rally

Ranger Raptor

Nautilus

Explorer

 

 

I did my best to find the same angles and crop them the same way....

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 11 by rmc523

[rmc523]

Here's a line from the press release I missed.  I wonder if it has a midgate?

 

The new midsize truck is forecasted to have more passenger room than the latest Toyota RAV4, even before you include the frunk and the truck bed. You can lock your surfboards or other gear in that bed – no roof rack or trailer hitch racks required.

[morgan20]

52 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

This seems far more comprehensive of an approach vs essentially slapping some batteries in the F-150.

 

Yea, but Jimbo believed that America’s real transition to EVs starts now in 2022 when F-150 Lightning was introduced. This is what he said in his REVC "Model T Moment" speech:

 

America’s real transition to electric vehicles starts now. F-150 Lightning is just the beginning of our ambitions for growth and leadership in digital, electric vehicles. We continue to expand our EV manufacturing footprint across the U.S., including the start of site preparation at BlueOval City, which will enable us to meet the ever-increasing customer demand for our exciting EV line-up.

 

 

[rmc523]

1 minute ago, morgan20 said:

 

Yea, but Jimbo believed that America’s real transition to EVs starts now in 2022 when F-150 Lightning was introduced. This is what he said in his REVC "Model T Moment" speech:

 

America’s real transition to electric vehicles starts now. F-150 Lightning is just the beginning of our ambitions for growth and leadership in digital, electric vehicles. We continue to expand our EV manufacturing footprint across the U.S., including the start of site preparation at BlueOval City, which will enable us to meet the ever-increasing customer demand for our exciting EV line-up.

 

 

 

Sure, but at least this is a far more comprehensive effort.

 

It's Ford, so this thing may be cancelled next week, but at least they're trying something new.  Hopefully we'll get to see it come to fruition.

[mustang84isu]

I was expecting more from this event, so I'm a bit underwhelmed.  I get not wanting to reveal too much too early, but if you're going hold an event emphasizing Ford's "Model T moment" but then give no real details or even a design sneak peek, it feels like they would have been better off delaying this presentation until they were further along or ready to reveal more.  We have been hearing nuggets about simplification and cost savings for years ever since Farley started talking about CE1.  It's nice to get a few more details, but today's presentation did nothing to get investors or the public excited about it.

I'm skeptical about gigacasting.  It will help Ford's bottom line if they can make it work, but as we seem from Teslas getting totaled and insurance coverage costs skyrocketing for Tesla vehicles, it doesn't always help the consumer.  So I am really curious to hear more details on the three parts of the cast and how it will work together, including repairs.

[rmc523]

Re-reading the press release showed a few other details:

 

Zonal electric architecture...

 

Our new zonal electric architecture unlocks capabilities the industry has never seen. This isn’t a stripped‑down, old‑school vehicle.”

 

And details on assembly - this implies the entire front/rear (including pillars etc) are individual parts with no body structures on the third component, the battery, which they'll directly attach seats/console/carpet to and then attach to the other 2 pieces.

 

The front and rear are then combined with the third sub-assembly, the structural battery, which is independently assembled with seats, consoles and carpeting, to form the vehicle.

[Trader 10]

2 hours ago, akirby said:

This is everything I expected.  New manufacturing processes focused on efficiency and cost reduction.  Developed completely outside the legacy box and legacy biases.  Bringing in manufacturing early on.  Single common goal rather than individual teams with individual and sometimes conflicting  goals.  
 

The best part is they seem to be committed to doing this across the board for all EVs (which explains the T3 delays) and I assume can be applied to some degree to ICE vehicles and plants down the road.

I suspect the bigger reason for T3 delays are the poor sales of BEV trucks in general and  the Lightning in particular. 

[ExplorerDude]

2 hours ago, rmc523 said:

I'm still curious what they'll do for Escape/Corsair.  This truck won't be out til '27 CY, and Escape/Corsair have 26MYs.....presumably that means the SUV body styles won't appear til probably '28CY leaving a 2 year gap in the segment?  Ford can get by with Bronco Sport, but dropping Corsair for that long would be a disaster for Lincoln.  I wonder if they'll import the Chinese model in the meantime?

Bingo! Well that was the plan originally but not sure if it still is with tariffs in play.

[DeluxeStang]

55 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I know I'm reading way too much into it, but front end looks like a cross between a 2017 Escape and Mustang? Like if the Escape front end was lower and not as upright as it was due to packaging. Doesn't look bad under the cover

Perhaps adding to that idea that this could be some sort of ranchero revival that takes styling cues from the mustang to almost be like a "muscle truck". That would be pretty freaking awesome. 

[T-dubz]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65653978/ford-affordable-platform-ev-truck/

 

From car and driver:

 

“While most details about the truck are still under wraps, Ford confirmed that the platform uses a 400-volt electrical architecture. While this will mean slower charging speeds than EVs with 800-volt systems, Ford said it was the "right choice" due to the vehicle's size and the goal of a low starting price. The pickup will also be capable of over-the-air updates and will feature BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving-assist system.”

 

I know nothing about 400 vs 800 volt systems, but the article mentions slower charging. How much slower are we talking? If these have vehicles have lower range, fast charging would seem to be an important thing to have.

 

Also, I’ll believe the price when I see it. Ford has been notorious lately for announcing a low price, and only selling vehicles at that price for a model year or two with limited stock.
 

These vehicles were initially announced to not include blue cruise to keep costs down, but now it’s included? The equinox ev is essentially the same price as this new vehicle. How has GM been able to build “affordable” EVs without having to create new divisions and reinvent the assembly line? I’m happy ford is doing that but it seems like they could learn a thing or two from gm (and vice versa) to truly make an affordable EV. 

 

[DeluxeStang]

56 minutes ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I see alot of Mustang influnce in that flank and rear end design. 

That's because that's a mach-e my friend. 

[DeluxeStang]

56 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

Yeah, it's looking more aggressive/sporty than your typical Ford Truck DNA.

Pretty much exactly what I was hoping for, a truck that looked less like a conventional truck and instead pulled styling cues from muscle/sport/super cars. My guess is an actual design reveal in Detroit. 

[T-dubz]

2 minutes ago, DeluxeStang said:

Pretty much exactly what I was hoping for, a truck that looked less like a conventional truck and instead pulled styling cues from muscle/sport/super cars. My guess is an actual design reveal in Detroit. 

Have you not seen the utes from Australia? they were not pretty.

subaru tried in the US and it was terrible too.

 

i hope they look nothing like this.

[fordmantpw]

1 hour ago, rmc523 said:

 

Eh, those are all existing products:

 

Mach E Rally

Ranger Raptor

Nautilus

Explorer

 

 

I thought they may be, but wasn't sure.  My design eye isn't as keen as yours.

[rmc523]

11 minutes ago, ExplorerDude said:

Bingo! Well that was the plan originally but not sure if it still is with tariffs in play.

 

Well they're going to have to do something for Lincoln.  They've all but put it on the backburner lately.

 

8 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65653978/ford-affordable-platform-ev-truck/

 

From car and driver:

 

“While most details about the truck are still under wraps, Ford confirmed that the platform uses a 400-volt electrical architecture. While this will mean slower charging speeds than EVs with 800-volt systems, Ford said it was the "right choice" due to the vehicle's size and the goal of a low starting price. The pickup will also be capable of over-the-air updates and will feature BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving-assist system.”

 

I know nothing about 400 vs 800 volt systems, but the article mentions slower charging. How much slower are we talking? If these have vehicles have lower range, fast charging would seem to be an important thing to have.

 

Also, I’ll believe the price when I see it. Ford has been notorious lately for announcing a low price, and only selling vehicles at that price for a model year or two with limited stock.
 

These vehicles were initially announced to not include blue cruise to keep costs down, but now it’s included? The equinox ev is essentially the same price as this new vehicle. How has GM been able to build “affordable” EVs without having to create new divisions and reinvent the assembly line? I’m happy ford is doing that but it seems like they could learn a thing or two from gm (and vice versa) to truly make an affordable EV. 

 

 

Farley said "same range with 1/3 less battery".

 

I don't think they mean "slow" charging speeds....just slow vs 800v.  I know nothing about the difference either though.

 

Regarding BlueCruise - these were always set to get BlueCruise, including the version we have now.  What they won't be getting is the Level 3+ completely hands/eye free version (i think that's the right level).

[akirby]

1 hour ago, mustang84isu said:

I was expecting more from this event, so I'm a bit underwhelmed.  I get not wanting to reveal too much too early, but if you're going hold an event emphasizing Ford's "Model T moment" but then give no real details or even a design sneak peek, it feels like they would have been better off delaying this presentation until they were further along or ready to reveal more.  We have been hearing nuggets about simplification and cost savings for years ever since Farley started talking about CE1.  It's nice to get a few more details, but today's presentation did nothing to get investors or the public excited about it.

I'm skeptical about gigacasting.  It will help Ford's bottom line if they can make it work, but as we seem from Teslas getting totaled and insurance coverage costs skyrocketing for Tesla vehicles, it doesn't always help the consumer.  So I am really curious to hear more details on the three parts of the cast and how it will work together, including repairs.

You guys are completely missing the point of this presentation.  It’s for LAP mostly and to highlight what is changing and what skunkworks has accomplished.  It’s not intended to preview the new vehicles.

[tbone]

3 hours ago, DeluxeStang said:

Holy shit, Ford just pulled this off from what we're hearing. We need to see the actual specs and design, but based on what we're hearing, they just built quite possibly the most impressive EV ever made. 

 

I was hoping to see actual designs, but at least we got a lot of details about the vehicles themselves. 

They haven’t actually pulled anything off yet, but there is reason to be optimistic.  I do think it was going to require reinvention of processes to build a new style of vehicle. The assembly line/process is intriguing and it will be interesting to see how the sub assemblies come together. 
 

I’m a little disappointed in the referenced price point.  Perhaps my thoughts were unrealistic, but I was hoping for something if the $25k range. Maybe that price point comes with the other models.  

 

I am still skeptical about discontinuing Escape and whatever ends up happening with the Lincoln Corsair. There currently is no direct replacement for the Escape when it ends and it doesn’t mean people will naturally buy an EV as its replacement.  
 

The 190k annual production rate was mentioned for this new product(s) seems very ambitious.  For me, the success of this is really unknown based on the tepid response to EVs have had lately.  I believe the lower cost EV strategy is the best approach, but who knows how it will go, and the risk referenced by Farley is real. 

 

Another question I have is why was this not put into BOC and Louisville left as is for the time being, which would have allowed Escape production to continue?  What are they going to to do with that massive facility and nothing there?  
 

 

[T-dubz]

37 minutes ago, rmc523 said:

 

Well they're going to have to do something for Lincoln.  They've all but put it on the backburner lately.

 

 

Farley said "same range with 1/3 less battery".

 

I don't think they mean "slow" charging speeds....just slow vs 800v.  I know nothing about the difference either though.

 

Regarding BlueCruise - these were always set to get BlueCruise, including the version we have now.  What they won't be getting is the Level 3+ completely hands/eye free version (i think that's the right level).

Gotcha, that makes sense, although I think people looking for affordable cars would much rather prefer savings several thousand dollars in price over having any level of blue cruise. 

[Biker16]

36 minutes ago, T-dubz said:

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65653978/ford-affordable-platform-ev-truck/

 

From car and driver:

 

“While most details about the truck are still under wraps, Ford confirmed that the platform uses a 400-volt electrical architecture. While this will mean slower charging speeds than EVs with 800-volt systems, Ford said it was the "right choice" due to the vehicle's size and the goal of a low starting price. The pickup will also be capable of over-the-air updates and will feature BlueCruise, Ford's hands-free driving-assist system.”

 

I know nothing about 400 vs 800 volt systems, but the article mentions slower charging. How much slower are we talking? If these have vehicles have lower range, fast charging would seem to be an important thing to have.

 

Also, I’ll believe the price when I see it. Ford has been notorious lately for announcing a low price, and only selling vehicles at that price for a model year or two with limited stock.
 

These vehicles were initially announced to not include blue cruise to keep costs down, but now it’s included? The equinox ev is essentially the same price as this new vehicle. How has GM been able to build “affordable” EVs without having to create new divisions and reinvent the assembly line? I’m happy ford is doing that but it seems like they could learn a thing or two from gm (and vice versa) to truly make an affordable EV. 

 

Charging speed is determined by Battery size and the output of the charger.

Generally, 400-volt systems top out at 250KW peak charging input. 800Volt vehicles top out 350Kw.

For an EV with a 65 kWh battery, 250 KW changing would = 0-80% speed of <20 minutes. For the Hummer EV with its 800v and 217KWh battery charging at 350KW would = 0-80% speed of <40 minutes

 GM is better at building vehicles; they appear to have a less toxic bureaucracy than Ford does.

 

[akirby]

1 hour ago, Trader 10 said:

I suspect the bigger reason for T3 delays are the poor sales of BEV trucks in general and  the Lightning in particular. 

Cost is a big factor in slow Lightning sales.  With the changes shown today I would expect T3 sales to more than double Lightning sales on price alone.

[ber25]

I find the new assembly process exciting. If they utilize it at all of their plants, maybe it opens opportunities for new product, and room for Escape/Corsair 

Edited August 11 by ber25