Ford Motor Company has revealed its first all-new electric vehicle exclusively for the European market, the Ford Explorer EV.

The new EV is part of the Blue Oval’s plans to transition its European lineup of vehicles to be entirely electric by 2030. 

The new Explorer will ultimately differ from the gasoline/ hybrid version still sold in the US. Choosing the name “Explorer” is part of Ford’s new strategy to leverage its “most iconic” nameplates for its EVs. Examples of these are the Mustang Mach-E and the F-150 Lightning. 

The Blue Oval brand has yet to announce if the new Explorer will enter the American market as it is only positioned as a European model.

The new Ford Explorer EV will utilize the Volkswagen Group’s all-electric “MEB” platform for its platform. It will likely be based on the Volkswagen ID4, as the new Ford EV is expected to be around the same size.

What can we expect from the Ford Explorer EV?

The EV is expected to be less than 4.5 meters long to better fit in European cities. Aside from this, it will reportedly come with aero-optimized 19 to 21-inch alloy wheels. 

Heated seats are also expected to be available with the new model with integrated headrests that can massage the driver. Ambient lighting is also available with the EV that can display ten colors.

Ford has also released a few standard features, which include keyless entry, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate controls, a hands-free tailgate, and at least 470 liters worth of cargo space without the 17-liter capacity of its large center console in play.

The Ford Explorer EV is also expected to get 12 ultrasonic sensors, five cameras, three radars, and other advanced driver assist technology for additional features. The EV will also get an assisted lane change feature and clear exit assist. 

The EV is also euipped with a stylish soundbar-style speaker and a 15-inch movable screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities.

Why a Volkwagen platform?

As a backgrounder, Ford and Volkswagen announced a broad collaboration on electric and autonomous vehicles in 2019. The partnership aims to speed up the process for Ford to get more EVs to market while it works on its dedicated platform. 

With this partnership, starting in 2023, Ford expects to be able to produce 1.2 million vehicles over the next six years using the MEB platforms that Volkswagen provides. The American brand even aims to make 600,000 EVs a year in Europe by 2026.

While the specifications of the new Ford Explorer EV are still unknown such as its range and performance statistics, what is known is that it will be available in two trim levels. The first is the entry-level Explorer model, while the other is the Explorer Premium.

However, Ford has disclosed that the new Explorer EV can fast charge. It can do a 10 to 80 percent charge in just 25-minutes. European Ford EV drivers will also be happy to know that the Explorer will have acess to half-a-million charging points across the country by 2024. 

The new Ford Explorer EV will debut later this year in Europe and is expected to start at 45,000 Euros (₱2,637,136).