Jim Farley Realistic About EV Towing Capabilities

During a recent earnings call with investors, Ford CEO Jim Farley was blunt about the suitability of electric vehicles for towing trailers.

"It’s not perfect," Farley said at the event. "If you tow, it’s not a good technology. The batteries have to be too big." This amount of candor from the corner office of a major automaker is always refreshing, especially when the subject is centered on EVs.

There’s no denying that range takes a hit when towing, no matter the type of powertrain. Yer half-ton is going to consume more gasoline or diesel after hooking 8,000 pounds to its rear bumper (ok, properly installed Class IV hitch, if we’re being pedantic) but those machines typically have a much longer range with which to start. Fifty percent of 700 miles in an F-150 PowerBoost hybrid is notably more than an equal percentage of the 300 miles one is estimated to get out of an F-150 Lightning with the extended-range battery.

Speaking of batteries, Farley had a few comments on that subject, as well. "The economics are unresolvable," he told attendees of the earnings call. "These customers have very demanding use cases for an electric vehicle. They tow, they go off-road, they take long road trips. These vehicles have worse aerodynamics and they’re very heavy, which means very large and expensive batteries. Retail customers have shown that they will not pay any premium for these large EVs."

If you’re wondering why cross-town rival Ram suddenly cancelled the 500-mile variant of its upcoming Ram 1500 REV, there’s you’re answer. You know the manufacturers likely share the same thoughts on this – Farley was just the first one to say it out loud. Remember, the Blue Oval has also binned its plans for a three-row EV crossover which would have competed against cars like the Hyundai Ioniq 9.

Ford has recently revealed plans to infuse its truck lineup with extended-range EVs, so-called ‘EREVs’ which will utilize an internal combustion engine to charge a battery pack on the go. This allows for a smaller battery, saving on costs and keeping a lid on sticker price. The ICE can be refueled quickly and will likely, when combined with the EV gubbins, have a driving range similar to a pure gasoline-powered truck. For many, this would make it a better choice not just for towing but for daily use.

[Image: Ford]

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