Ford F-150 electric prototype tows train, 42 trucks

The Ford F-150 is the Blue Oval’s perennial best-seller, though even markets as pick-up truck-centric as North America have to adapt to the global electrification movement. An all-electric test mule has in fact been spotted testing earlier in April, and now the automaker has shown an official prototype in a demonstration of its towing capability.

The company’s F-Series of trucks has been the best-selling truck in America for 42 years, and so Ford had lined up 42 units of the 2019-year F-150 for the prototype electric truck to tow, loaded inside 10 double-decker rail cars for a total load of over 1 million pounds (454,000 kg) over a distance of 1,000 ft, driven by Ford F-150 chief engineer Linda Zhang.

The production F-150 is powered by conventional internal-combustion engines, such as the 3.5 turbocharged petrol V6 in the F-150 Raptor which produces 450 hp and 691 Nm of torque, channeled to all four wheels via a 10-speed automatic gearbox with six preset driving modes for a variety of terrain.

“The all-electric F-150 will be a new and exciting kind of Built Ford Tough,” said Ford global director of electrification Ted Cannis, and the load-lugging demonstration by the electric F-150 prototype showcases the company’s commitment to remain the clear leader in trucks as well as its commitment to EVs, he added.

Beyond the fully electric F-150, Ford also announced plans to bring to market a hybrid version of the F-150 that can serve as a mobile generator, while further pure-electric models in the pipeline include the Mach 1 performance SUV and the Mustang Mach-E, likely an EV version of the iconic two-door.