At Everything Electric earlier this month, Ford Australia’s Product & Retail Marketing Manager – Commercial EVs, Tom Smith, shared exclusive insights into the launch of the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV, marking a pivotal moment for the electrification of utes in Australia.
Smith sat down with Fleet News Group to discuss the market response to the plug-in hybrid Ranger, its pricing, fleet interest, and the groundbreaking Pro Power Onboard feature that has the potential to revolutionise how businesses and adventurers use their vehicles.
The announcement of pricing and specifications for the Ranger PHEV has drawn strong interest, with many surprised at how competitively priced the hybrid ute is compared to its diesel counterpart.
“People were expecting it to be priced a lot higher, based on the difference between diesel and plug-in hybrid models from other manufacturers,” Smith said at Everything Electric.
“The fact that we were able to come in at only a $5,000 price difference from the diesel was pleasantly received.”
The Ranger PHEV will be offered in four variants—XLT, Sport, Wildtrak, and Stormtrak—with prices starting at $71,990 (MLP).
Fleets Are Keen to Decarbonise
Fleet buyers have shown significant interest in the Ranger PHEV, with Smith acknowledging that corporate sustainability goals are driving demand for low-emission commercial vehicles.
“We certainly know that a lot of fleets are looking to decarbonise, and this vehicle will be very appealing to them,” Smith said.
“Given Ford’s long history with fleet customers, offering a PHEV alternative for commercial buyers is a natural next step.”
However, he noted that early adopters tend to be retail customers, as businesses often take a more measured approach when adopting new vehicle technologies.
“With new technologies, the first buyers are usually retail customers, but we expect fleet demand to pick up quickly once they see the advantages in fuel savings and emissions reduction,” Smith added.
No Compromise on Capability
One of Ford’s key priorities with the Ranger PHEV was ensuring that the hybrid model delivers the same rugged capability as the diesel Ranger.
“Having the near one-tonne payload and 3.5-tonne towing is always going to be strongly received,” Smith said. “That’s one of our key messages—this is still a true Ranger in every sense of the word.”
The Ranger PHEV’s powertrain combines a 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost petrol engine with a 75kW electric motor and 11.8kWh battery, generating 207kW and 697Nm of torque. This allows for an impressive fuel economy of just 2.9L/100km, making it the most fuel-efficient dual-cab ute in Australia.
Pro Power Onboard: A Game Changer for Work and Play
One of the standout features of the Ranger PHEV is Pro Power Onboard, which enables the vehicle to act as a mobile power source for tools, appliances, and even campsites. Smith emphasised how well this feature has been received.
“Getting the message across about Pro Power Onboard and the pure output it delivers has been really important,” he said.
Electrification Trends: “Plug-in Hybrids Are on the Rise”
Smith also addressed the shift in market sentiment toward plug-in hybrids, noting that while full-electric utes were initially seen as the future, fleet buyers are increasingly recognising the flexibility of PHEVs.
“A few years ago, full EVs were everything. Plug-in hybrids weren’t really that popular,” Smith explained.
“But in recent years, we’ve seen EV adoption slow, while demand for plug-in hybrids has surged—especially in the commercial vehicle space.”
This shift reflects real-world fleet usage, where businesses require the flexibility of an internal combustion engine for longer trips while benefiting from EV-only driving for short commutes.
“For fleet customers doing lots of small trips in metro areas, being able to run on zero emissions is incredibly appealing,” Smith added.
Smith summed it up with a final pitch, “We’re bringing a plug-in hybrid Ranger that delivers the same Ranger toughness, the same capability, and unlocks new benefits for both work and play. This is just the beginning of what we’re planning for our commercial EV line-up.”
