in ,

EXECUTIVES STATE FORD SUPER DUTY WILL LIKELY GO HYDROGEN BEFORE GOING FULLY ELECTRIC

Big Truck Customers Aren’t Showing Much Interest In EVs

2023 Ford Super Duty Tremor
Image via Ford

As the automotive world is pushing rapidly towards electrification for everything, including light-duty trucks, it seems nothing is safe from an electric future. However, that’s not the case for heavy-duty trucks, which are among the few vehicles still receiving significant investments towards the development of more powerful gasoline and diesel engines. Although we likely won’t see the big trucks lose ICE engines anytime soon, Ford executives have clarified that Super Duty would opt for a hydrogen powertrain before they ever go electric.

Ford Super Duty: Hydrogen Over Electric

“If you’re pulling 10,000 pounds, an electric truck is not the right solution,” Ford CEO Jim Farley stated while speaking with the media at the 2023 Super Duty unveiling in Kentucky. The vast majority of F-Series Super Duty customers are using their trucks to tow over 10,000 pounds, which would be difficult to do with an EV. According to Automotive News, Farley continued to say that the Super Duty will “probably go hydrogen fuel cell before it goes pure electric.”

2023 Ford Super Duty F-550
Available early 2023. Preproduction model shown with optional features.

Farley also noted that even as California plans to ban gasoline-powered vehicle sales after 2035, it’s making exceptions for heavy-duty pickups. Giving the company confidence that sales of the trucks won’t be limited in the future.  Moreover, Ford Motor Company has been working with various fleet companies on experimental, hydrogen-powered Super Duty trucks.

Ford’s truck group marketing manager, Todd Eckert, also commented about the heavy-duty trucks and revealed that buyers hadn’t shown much interest in EVs. Instead, they’re focused on what can get the job done the best. “We haven’t seen a huge clamoring,” Eckert said. When it comes to this space, customers require “productivity, capability, and efficiency,” saying that gas and diesel powertrains serve those needs “right now.”

Ford Super Duty trucks are commonly used in no-frills industries such as mining, construction, towing, and utility work or as emergency response vehicles. Those fields need the very best to ensure productivity remains unhindered.

2023 Ford Super Duty F-350 Lariat
Available early 2023. Preproduction model shown with optional features. Onboard Scales available spring 2023.

Written by Zac Quinn

Zac's love for cars started at a young age, after seeing the popular Eleanor from Gone In 60 Seconds. From there, fascination and enthusiasm blossomed and to this day the Ford Mustang remains a favorite. His first job started out detailing cars, but also provided the opportunity to work on restoration including an 1968 Ford Mustang, Pontiac Firebird, and a C3 Corvette, though he left that job before further work and experience could be had. From there, he was a detailer at a car dealership before quitting that job to try and finish college.

Much of his free time while studying was spent watching YouTube videos regarding new cars, or off-roading. 4WD247 is a personal favorite channel which rekindled a dying flame in car enthusiasm, now tailored towards trucks and SUVs and the fun that can be had building up an overlanding rig, and going on adventures, though, that chapter remains unwritten for the time being.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2022 Ford GT LM Final Edition

THE 2022 FORD GT LM IS THE FINAL EDITION OF A SPECIAL SUPERCAR

GMC Canyon 31xx-2 SUV Ford Bronco Toyota 4Runner Jeep Wrangler Design Concept

NEXT-GEN GMC ACADIA WILL BE GOING BACK TO THREE-ROWS