Ford officially announced its universal EV platform nearly one month ago, a new architecture that will eventually underpin a variety of future EVs – including, to start, a mid-size pickup. The chief focus of this new platform is to drive down complexity and costs, all while making it scalable across multiple body styles. However, it seems as if this new low-cost universal Ford EV platform could be adapted for another sort of powertrain aside from pure electric ones, too.
At the recent 2025 Jefferies Industrials Conference, Ford Vice President Lisa Drake was asked if the universal platform could be used to house an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain, which combines a large battery pack with a gas range extender, and she didn’t exactly shoot down that notion. “Perhaps, we, I mean any, most platforms can be modified in a certain way. Right now it’s not intended to be. Right now, it is a pure EV. It was really purpose built for that. But I think if the need arises, we could get creative about it.”
These comments are notable given the fact that we know Ford is working on developing EREV powertrains for a handful of future models – its “most popular and profitable vehicles,” including the Ford Super Duty and potentially the Ford Explorer, along with a line of unnamed crossovers and SUVs. As Ford Authority previously reported, the universal platform was previewed underpinning a total of six different body styles, though Ford has confirmed that it could support up to eight.
Drake has spoken positively about EREVs as of late, calling it a “great technology,” particularly for people that occasionally need to drive longer distances. Ford CEO Jim Farley has also long been a fan of this concept, calling EREVs a superior option to pure EVs in the $50,000-$60,000 price range, but that same type of powertrain isn’t expected to arrive in the U.S. until 2027. However, an all-new Ford Bronco model was unveiled for China just this past July, and it’s available in both EV and EREV form.
A pretty nifty feature for those that like to camp.
The sales mix for those models continues to increase.
It looks factory fresh, too.
Something that Chinese automakers already use.
Whenever there's a flip, it seems to be a Mustang...
Teamwork makes the dream work, after all.
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This isn't the case, but they do have an EREV platform based on C2 which is the basis for the 3-Row EREV. The rest of the EREVs are coming to SuperDuty and Expedition. Skunkworks is very specifically a lean EV-only architecture.
The Ford Fusion Energi (four door midsized sedan) was a plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) but it could have been a perfect extended range EV if the battery and electric motor were upgraded. Buyers want a ERES ( extended range electric sedan).