All-Electric Ford Explorer available with The Electric Car Scheme
As early as 1914, Ford openly began working on a low-cost electric car with the goal being to sell an "Edison-Ford" model for as little as $500. Ford released a statement highlighting the issues with creating a car like this: "The problem so far has been to build a storage battery of light weight which would operate for long distances without recharging." The batteries were only capable of 50-100 miles on a single charge.
In 2024, we see the launch of the All-electric Ford Explorer. Ford’s first electric SUV, the Mustang Mach-E, was introduced at the end of 2019. This time, Ford is borrowing technology from well-proven Volkswagen models and it has taken the name from one of its petrol-powered best-selling SUVs in the US.
In this blog post, we’ll be sharing everything we know about the all-electric Ford Explorer, from its release date to how it’s made - so you can make an informed decision as to whether it’s the right car for you… once it’s released!
When Is the Electric Ford Explorer Available to Buy?
Starting with the most important question: when is the electric Ford available to buy? After a six-month delay, it is on sale in Europe already. Pricing and specifications have now been announced for the UK, and the first deliveries of the new SUV are expected in September 2024. If you’re in the US, you will have to wait until 2025 to get your hands on one!
The main reason for the Explorer’s delay was that the battery it was due to use didn’t comply with UN Regulation 100.3, which concerns the certification of EV safety. Ford therefore decided to wait until a new nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) pack became available and re-engineered the car to accommodate it.
Salary Sacrifice The Ford Explorer At The Electric Car Scheme
You can salary sacrifice the new electric Ford Explorer from The Electric Car Scheme and save between 30-60% by paying from your gross salary - which means you save on National Insurance and Income Tax. You can see the breakdown of how much you will pay per month to lease the Ford Explorer - this is based on an average salary of £70,000, 10,000 miles per annum over a three year lease term.
You can see that you save £281 on Income Taxes and £14 National Insurance savings. You will have to pay a small Benefit in Kind tax of £47 per month - which is significantly lower than the BiK rates of a petrol or diesel cars. You can learn more about BiK by reading our dedicated blog on the subject.
Where Will It Be Built?
The electric Ford Explorer has been built for the European market and customers. Therefore, it will be manufactured in Europe, at the Ford Cologne Electrification Centre in Germany. The plant is undergoing a $1 billion transformation and is known to be the heart of Ford’s commitment to electric power.
How Much Is the Ford Explorer and What Powertrains Are There?
Ford has kept the trim level structure simple for the electric Mustang, with only two trims available from launch: Select and Premium. The Select trim starts at £45,875, and Premium starts at £49,975. Three powertrains are offered from launch, mirroring those of the Volkswagen ID.4. The base-level powertrain is known as Standard Range and has a 55kWh battery, priced at £39,875. A twin-motor setup is available with a 79kWh battery, which has a range of 329 miles; prices for this powertrain start at £53,975, making it the most expensive of all three. There is also an 82kWh battery available with a range of 374 miles, otherwise known as the Extended Range RWD, which is priced from £45,875.
The Explorer is expected to gain the £39,875 Standard Range model, which has a 168bhp rear-wheel-drive setup with a 55kWh battery for a predicted range of up to 218 miles. Ford initially claimed the Explorer would be able to achieve a maximum range of 335 miles, but due to the new battery which delayed the launch, the 282bhp single-motor 77kWh Extended Range model will have a maximum range of 374 miles - which is great news! There will also be an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor system, which will only be available with the 79kWh battery, giving it an expected range of 328 miles. This has the same system as the Ford ID.4 GTX and can achieve 335bhp.
Standard Equipment in the Ford Explorer
The standard Select models get a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, heated front seats with a massage function, a seven-speaker sound system, 19-inch alloy wheels, wireless smartphone charging, a heated steering wheel, and adaptive cruise control. Safety features include cross-traffic alert, active braking, and front and rear parking sensors with a rearview camera.
The Premium trim has 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic roof, a 10-speaker sound system, an electric boot lid, and matrix LED headlights. The upcoming entry-level model with the smaller battery will skimp on some of these features to warrant its price tag, which is below £40,000.
| EXPLORER Select - Standard Featyres | EXPLORER Premium - Standard Features: | |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Liftgate | Hand-free power-operated tailgate | |
| Full LED Headlamp with automatic high/low beam | Matrix LED Headlamp | |
| Sensico with cloth insert seat trim | LED Ambient Lighting | |
| 19" alloy wheels | Sensico Seat Trim | |
| Electric driver seat with memory and massage function | 20" alloy wheels | |
| Front Door scuff plates |
Specifications of the Electric Ford Explorer
How Big Is the Ford Explorer?
It is a 5-seat mid-sized vehicle with a length of 4.47 metres and has 450 litres of boot space.
Is It Available in AWD and FWD?
The electric Ford Explorer is available in RWD and AWD.
What Colours Will Be Available?
The electric Ford Explorer is available in the following colours:
Artic blue,
Frozen white,
Magnetic,
Absolute black,
Lucid red/Rapid red,
Blue my mind.
Top Speed and 0-60mph
It is said to deliver instant torque and impressive acceleration. Depending on the powertrain choice, the maximum speed is 160 km/h or 180 km/h.
Is the Ford Explorer Available with a Heat Pump?
A heat pump is an efficient way of heating the car and a heat pump is available as a single option on the Explorer and Explorer Premium. It draws heat from around the vehicle and condenses it for use within it - which is very handy in cold climates.
It works similarly to an air-conditioning system and can cool and heat the cabin, ultimately using less energy from the battery and preserving range for driving.
Design and Practicality
Externally, the electric Ford Explorer showcases the company's American heritage, featuring a raised bonnet that embodies SUV design principles. It is not as big as some other competitors. You can choose between 19”, 20” and 21” diameters. Each alloy wheel design features surfaces that are optimised for aerodynamic performance.
Inside the cabin, there is a lot of space in terms of head and legroom in the front and back. You can comfortably fit three people along the back seats but you may find the outer occupants with their heads bumping the lining of the roof. There is a quality feel to the cabin with soft-touch materials.
The luggage capacity is 450 litres with rear seats inside or more than 1,4000 litres with seats folded. This is less than competitors, like the Skoda Enyaq or Volkswagen ID.4 but more than what you would find in the Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.3.
Ford Explorer Interior
The Explorer features a 15-inch portrait interior screen which runs Ford’s SYNCMove software that allows for full-screen mapping and access to smartphone connectivity options. You can adjust the position in up to 20 ways, changing the angle of the display by up to 30 degrees and offering an upright view for complex tasks, like turn-by-turn mapping or to a different orientation to suit you. Behind the screen, there is a private locker where you can store phones, wallets and other valuable items. There is another big area underneath the centre console for anything else you may wish to store - there is also a 17-litre cubby between the front seats which is big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop or something similar.
It doesn’t stop there, there is also a soundbar which is standard-fit and is on top of the dashboard, which incorporates option 10-colour ambient lighting that reacts to various drive modes. There is also a five-inch digital instrument cluster which shows speed, range and navigation instructions.
Ford has emphasised quality and claims “every touch point features soft-touch materials” which includes the tops of doors for a supple feel. It also features sporty-looking seats and if you choose one of the top versions, you can adjust the seats and they are covered in a man-made leather substitute known as Sensico.
Let’s look at the further details of the mentioned features on offer…
SYNC Move
SYNC Move refers to the 14.6” movable touchscreen supporting both the driver and passenger, whilst driving or stationary. This allows access to functional and initiative technology through the ‘easy to use’ interface. This moveable touchscreen offers maximum display utilisation on the large screen and Wireless Phone mirroring that supports both Apple Carplay and Android Auto as well as connected Navigation.
It is important to note that this requires modem activation/subscription activation via FordPass for the navigation mentioned above.
Private Locker
Private Locker refers to additional hidden stowage to secure personal belongings behind the SYNC Move screen. An electronic switch allows you to lock the safe behind the screen when it is tilted at 30 degrees and the vehicle isn’t in use.
MegaConsole
As mentioned previously, there is an impressive 17-litre capacity which has enough space for a handbag, laptop or anything else you decide to carry. Ultimately enabling the cabin to be left tidy and minimalistic.
Other Interior Features Include:
7 Speaker Sound System - This includes a centre speaker which is mounted as a stylish feature in the dashboard in the shape of a soundbar.
Space for Media Items - Space for two large smartphones with two USB-C ports and wireless phone charging.
Cabin Space - 450 litres of rear luggage space and 1,422 litres when you fold down the second row of seats.
Load Floor Positions - There are two positions, which allow drivers to create a hidden storage space when the floor is in a higher position. The load floor position also allows maximum volume or flat surface loading which can come in very handy.
Technology in The Electric Ford Explorer
New technology is abundant in the electric Ford Explorer from the MegaConsole to a wide range of driving assistance technology.
SYNC Move - 14.6” Movable Touchscreen
This has been mentioned a couple of times already in this blog, but the 14.6” touchscreen is moveable which means it is flexible to suit individual preferences. There is a manual adjustment control which has been designed to provide a faster and quieter way of adjusting the screen regardless of whether you’re driving or stationary.
5.3” Digital Instrument Cluster
This 5.3” display shows vital information like speed, navigation, battery charge status, energy usage, visual warnings and Driver-Assistance system displays without the need to look at the main touchscreen.
MegaConsole
Again, as previously mentioned this has a 17-litre capacity underneath the armrest as you can see in the image on the right.
Lane Change and Centring Assist
This is available via the optional Driver Assistance Pack and helps drivers stay in lane on motorways and it also helps with overtaking on motorways.
What Does the Driver Assistance Pack Include?
The optional Driver Assistance Pack includes:
Lane centring and lane change assist,
Active park assist,
360-degree camera,
Hands-free power-operated tailgate - this is standard for the Explorer Premium Series.
Sound System
There is a 6+1 speak sound system with a centre speaker designed as a soundbar.
Are Existing Driving Technologies Also Offered?
Yes. The electric Ford Explorer also offers existing Ford technology, such as:
Blind spot detection with cross-traffic alerts, active braking and exit warnings.
Driver alert system,
Traffic sign recognition,
Wrong way alert,
Intelligent adaptive cruise control,
Post-collusion braking,
Rear-view camera,
Front and rear parking aid with brake assistance.
What You Need to Know about Charging and Range
What Are the Charging Options for the Ford Explorer?
The car comes equipped with a Mode 3 AC charging cable as standard allowing drivers to easily charge the vehicle at home, work or at a rapid charger.
There is also a CCS, otherwise known as a Combined Charging System, which is capable of charging the vehicle’s battery at high-powered DC fast charging stations from 10-80% in 25 minutes, according to Ford. You can also tow with them - with limits between 1,000 and 1,200kg.
What Is the Range of the Ford Explorer?
Ford had originally claimed the Explorer would have a maximum range of 335, but because of the new battery technology that delayed the initial launch, the 282bhp single-motor 77kWh Extended Range model will be able to achieve 374 miles.
| Specification | Motor (bhp) | Range (miles) | Charging Capacity (kW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | 167 bhp | 218 miles | 130 kW |
| Rear Wheel Drive | 283 bhp | 335 miles | 170 kW |
| Premium Level | 334 bhp | 305 miles | - |
How Will The Range Be Affected?
The range of all electric cars can be maximised through things like efficient tyres and aerodynamic optimisation. However, there are external factors that can also affect your range - like, weather, temperature, driving behaviour, vehicle condition and condition of the battery.
Here at The Electric Car Scheme, we’re making the switch to electric cars as easy as possible through salary sacrifice, allowing employees to save 30-60% on any electric car by simply reducing your salary in exchange. This is making EVs an accessible option for everyone, and means employers and employees can work together toward a more sustainable future.
As mentioned previously, you can lease the Ford Explorer with The Electric Car Scheme - visit our quote tool!
Last updated: 26/04/24
