Three years ago, Ford Authority had the opportunity to sample a Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid. While the pickup had plenty of power, the transition between electric and gasoline engine power felt quite jarring in certain situations. However, that issue may be rectified, as a Ford engineer recently outlined a key change to the 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid designed to make the compelling powertrain operate more smoothly.
Kelly Johnson, lead hybrid powertrain engineer at Ford, published an article on Linkedin that explained some key changes made to the refreshed hybrid aimed at improving powertrain smoothness when compared to the pre-refresh model. The biggest change involves the total elimination of both starters. Typically, internal combustion engines have one starter, but the first generation PowerBoost hybrid powertrain featured an additional starter integrated into the accessory belt drive. The 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid takes a very different path in order to spin up the engine.
Engineers at Ford used data and insights gleaned from the 2021 model to allow the hybrid motor take over engine starting through the transmission. Johnson says the team performed over 300 software enhancements and utilized data from hundreds of development test miles to make it happen. Compared to the outgoing truck, the 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid motor and gasoline engine now operate more smoothly. Reduced complexity and less expensive production costs round out the list of benefits for the automaker.
The 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid represents an important inflection point for the company now that it is opting for a more balanced alternative energy strategy. Instead of an aggressive push toward full electrification, the company will offer a slate of gas, hybrid, and battery electric vehicles. The refreshed Ford F-150 is part of this shift, as the PowerBoost engine is now a less expensive upgrade when compared to 2023. And it seems buyers already think the hybrid is a solid choice, as Ford’s hybrid sales were up 65 percent in May 2024. Additionally, about 25 percent of Ford F-150 production is allocated to the hybrid.
We’ll have more on the 2024 Ford F-150 soon, so subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford F-150 news, and for continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
I wonder if other Ford hybrid vehicles have this feature? It seems like an advantageous solution for the ICE startup situation in hybrids.
It’s a pretty tidy solution. My Honda CR-Z utilizes such a method. It was jarring to hear it start up from a stop/start situation while driving not because it was loud but because it was silent and I’m used to a straight piped Crown Vic without auto stop/start.
The Fusion Hybrid uses the second electric motor in its HF35 transaxle as a starter and a generator. It has no pulleys or belts in the engine bay. All the accessories ( water pump and A/C compressor) are electric powered by the HV traction battery. The bay is quite clean and simple. I thought the F-150 Hybrid would be as simple.
Those two vehicles utilize different hybrid architectures.
I hope that ford decides to make a six seat version available. It come in handy so often.
I wish the article was proofread before publishing.
“The biggest change involves the total elimination of both belt starters.”
This is incorrect. There is one traditional bendix/flywheel starter, and there was 1 belt integrated starter (BISG) on the 2021-2023 Powerboost. And yes, Ford did eliminate it altogether on the 2024.
It’s been fixed. Thank you for pointing out the error!
If only we could get a plugin hybrid power strike F-150 and Expedition with say 50mi all electric range, without Ford raping on the diesel cost so they could then proclaim See no one wants a diesel….
And horizontal front cupholder arrangement instead of the horrid vertical cup holder arrangement because of the oh so important faux 4 on the floor automatic trans shifter that MUST be RIGHT there….