Ford said Thursday morning that the next-generation Super Duty will be electric, making it likely the first heavy-duty truck of its kind. The Blue Oval said that production of the Super Duty will move to its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada. This is a smart move, even though there are few details yet. The firm may now put “multi-energy technology into the next generation of Super Duty trucks, supporting Ford’s electrification plans and giving customers more freedom of choice.” It sounds a lot like “multi-energy technology” for Super Duty pickup trucks, which is what hybridization means. As long as it comes out at the right time, it might hit the market before General Motors or Ram. As of right now, no other heavy-duty pickup truck companies have said they are going to make hybrid cars. Even though no one knows how the hybrid system works, it seems likely that it will be similar to the F-150 PowerBoost system. To get more speed and use less fuel, an electric motor powered by a small battery pack would be put between the engine and transmission. An F-150 Powerboost battery with 1.5 kilowatt-hours of power and a motor with 41 horsepower power the truck. It needs to be clarified if Ford will make hybrid versions of both its gas and diesel cars or just one. Like Ford’s other electric pickups, the hybrid Super Duty would have a large, portable power source that would let customers plug in power tools and run large job sites without worrying about the engine. It doesn’t seem likely, but “multi-energy” could mean a Super Duty that only runs on power. To meet the needs of hauling and towing, a Super Duty would need a very large battery pack. This would make the car heavier, more expensive, and harder to pack. It would definitely help if you had a solid rear axle to pull a gooseneck or fifth-wheel trailer. Right now, there are no electric solid back axle models from which you can choose. Ford, Magna, and ZF have already applied for patents on them, but it looks like they won’t be available for a while—probably not until the 2030s. Ontario could only manufacture hybrid Super Duty trucks and not all-electric cars. Also, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that the company will make electric three-row SUVs, which means that an Expedition EV will be made. Ford wants to start making Super Duty trucks in Canada in 2026. Heavy-duty hybrid cars might be available by the end of the decade.
