Ford Australia has just launched the highly anticipated Ranger plug-in hybrid, with the Blue oval soon to boast two plug-in hybrid models in its commercial vehicle range.
But of course, the question remains ā what other models will join the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV and the incoming Transit Custom PHEV van?
Thereās another closely related model that seems like an easy candidate ā the Everest SUV.
Fordās Director of Global Truck for International Markets Group, Nat Manariti, didnāt rule out further plug-in variants of the Ranger in different body styles.
āWeāre watching closely what it is that the customers want,ā said Manariti.
āDepending on that feedback and depending on the demand will determine the future.
āBut at the moment we are launching just the dual-cab variant.ā
Fordās focus for the Ranger was to avoid compromising the Rangerās capability as a ute - its ability to tow 3500kg, its near-1000kg payload, and its ability to go off-road.

Because of this, the Ranger PHEV has a relatively small 11.8kWh of useable battery capacity and a limited electric-only driving range of 49km under optimistic NEDC test conditions, which means in the real world a fully charged battery wouldnāt last some drivers over a regular daily commute.
Given the shared mechanicals between the Ranger and its SUV cousin, the Ford Everest, the logical next question was whether the Everest would also score the PHEV treatment.Ā
However, the response from Manariti suggested Ford was less likely to explore the possibility before an expansion of the tech in its ute.
āEverest, look weād love to just drop it into Everest, but Everest is a different make [sic] and vehicle so today weāre centred around launching it from a Ranger perspective. Thereās nothing that I can tell you about electrification of the other products.ā

But when asked if there is demand for a plug-in version of the Everest, the answer wasn't ānoā.
āNot as strong as from a Ranger perspective, or from a pick-up perspective, but as the market continues to evolve and immerse in electrification⦠weāll see.ā
Itās similar to the answer we were given by Ford Australia President, Andrew Birkic, at the brandās Australian 100th anniversary celebrations in Melbourne earlier this year.
āIām sure there is [demand for Everest PHEV]⦠[but] weāve got nothing to share on that,ā Birkic said at the time.

The comments donāt rule out the possibility Ford is already working on an electrified Everest, but one thing it seems like Fordās not about to reveal is a more performance-oriented Ranger PHEV - i.e. a Raptor.
Ford Australiaās Ranger PHEV Chief Program Engineer Phil Millar said the team hadnāt put the idea on the work bench yet, but pointed out that it was technically possible since the plug-in hybrid system should be able to work with the similarly arranged Ranger Raptor.
Given the price difference between non-hybrid and PHEV variants now on sale, itās likely a plug-in version of the Raptor would nudge or even breach the $100,000 mark.
But, as Manariti suggested, Ford Australia likely wonāt make any more moves on plug-in hybrid utes until itās clear thereās demand, and four Ranger variants are already on the market as a litmus test.