There have long been rumors that Ford Motor Company was working on a gas-electric hybrid version of the Ford F-150. While it has been expected that it would be at least a few more years until we see this super-efficient half ton pickup at the local dealership, AutoGuidehas captured what they believe to be one of the F-150 Hybrid test mules
There are two key points to note when watching the video of the mysterious Ford F-150 test truck in the video below.
First, while it is sitting still, the cameraman zooms in on an odd break in the camouflage, which is in the general location of many EV charging ports. Of course, it is on the “wrong side” compared to Ford’s other plug-in electric vehicles, but the Motor Company most certainly could have switched to the other side for one reason or another.
Next, right before the F-150 drives away, we hear it fire up. Start/Stop is standard on many new F-150 pickups, so that isn’t a sign of a hybrid model, but pay close attention to the relation of when the truck begins to roll to when the engine fires. With the Start/Stop system in the current F-150, as soon as you begin to release pressure from the brake pedal, the engine starts. This happens before you move at all, as the engine starts before the brakes really let go. The fact that this F-150 was moving before the engine was running leads me to believe that it moved first under electric power, and when the driver asked for more throttle – the truck’s gas engine fired up.
Finally, and what we don’t get to see in the video, comes from the person who captured the video. He claimed that around 35 mph, the gas engine shut off and the truck continued along with the hum of an electric drive unit.
Regardless of whether or not this really is a hybrid F-150, it could still be a few years before we are able to buy one – but this video seems to be proof that a gas-electric hybrid Ford truck is far enough along to be driven on the open road.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
