Plugged In For More
Some of the most common benefits of owning a plug-in hybrid vehicle include the ability to drive short distances without using gasoline, improved fuel efficiency, and a more potent powertrain. Ford, however, recently highlighted another advantage through an internal test suggesting that PHEVs can also serve as a better alternative to conventional gas generators.
The Blue Oval used a Ranger PHEV with 6.9-kW Pro Power Onboard for the test, pitting it against a common 4-kW portable generator. The two were tested under several power demands, from charging tool batteries to boiling a kettle. The testing showed that the midsize pickup was able to produce significantly fewer pollutants, operate at a lower cost, and offer several practical advantages.
The Emissions Gap
Looking at the numbers, Ford said the generator emitted up to 9,000 times more nitrogen oxides, more than 1,200 times more carbon monoxide at very high power output, and between 15 and over 110 times more hydrocarbons than the Ranger PHEV using Pro Power Onboard. Sure, vehicles come with more emissions-fighting technologies, including catalytic converters, but the test still helps highlight how many harmful gases conventional generators can produce.
In terms of operating costs, Pro Power Onboard consumed less fuel than the conventional generator, even across three different states: full battery, empty battery with a cold engine, and empty battery with a warm engine. Once the Ranger PHEV was up to temperature, the automaker said the fuel costs dropped to one-third once the engine only cycled on to maintain battery charge.
The test also showed practical benefits, including eliminating the need to carry a separate generator and fuel can, freeing up cargo space, and providing quieter operation than a conventional generator.
Worth Keeping In Mind
Again, this was an internal test, so it may not be as definitive as one conducted independently. Still, it helps car buyers and owners realize that there is more to PHEVs than just saving fuel when going from point A to point B.
The only catch, at least for American consumers, is that the Ranger PHEV is not available in the U.S. Existing electrified truck options in the U.S., including the hybrid Maverick and F-150, make a PHEV-powered Ranger harder to justify. Pro Power Onboard is still available on other models, and it was one of the signature features of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, helping position the now-discontinued truck as something like a generator on four wheels.
Ford
