Ford has filed a patent application that has triggered a new cycle of Bronco Lightning speculation and provides us with even more reasons to be thrilled about the all-electric vehicle. These patents, posted by members of the Lightning Owners Forum, describe the idea of a roof-mounted battery backup system for EVs in detail. It’s a blend of the Thule roof box and the small battery banks that most of us have around to protect ourselves in the event that the phone fails. Ford has attempted to solve this issue, which is particularly relevant to off-road EVs that travel away from the traditional charging infrastructure.
But the patent raises certain concerns about how you’d be able to lift the battery bank off if you’re just an ordinary Joe instead of the Olympic powerlifter. We hope that Ford can come up with some innovative solutions to this issue. The most intriguing aspect of the patent is that the designs show the battery on the four-door Ford Bronco, leading us to think that the Ford Bronco Lightning is right in the near future. We’ll take a look at some of the exciting features you can expect to see in 2025 Ford Bronco PHEV, including the unique roof-mounted battery.
2025 Ford Bronco PHEV
2025 Ford Bronco PHEV Review
The published report provides a distance that is 30 miles, or so which is 48 km in the metric language. Only available with four doors the Wrangler 4xe is said by the Environmental Protection Agency to cover 22 miles (35 kilometers) with a full charge. In Europe there is a WLTP score is set at 44 km (making the total around 27 miles) in the combined testing cycle.
2025 Ford Bronco PHEV Interior
Engine & Specs
Electric motors are integrated into an automatic transmission. You can bet your bottom dollar! The Wrangler 4xe’s drive system is indeed built inside the transmission. Instead of a 10-speed unit that is used in the Wrangler 4xe has an eight-speed gearbox made by ZF. As per the Friedrichshafen-based multinational, said motor develops 100 kilowatts and 245 Nm at full song, converting to 134 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. When combined with the 2.0-liter turbo inline-four engine at the front, the total is 350 horsepower and 470 pounds-feet (637 Nm).
Trims that are high-volume will get the hybrid plug-in treatment first as per MotorTrend. The magazine correctly points out Ford’s engineers designed the T6.2 platform for the Bronco with the idea of electrification in mind by moving the front axle mount forward, creating room for the hybrid bits and pieces. Ford is also seen trying out electrification on Broncos in and throughout Michigan.
In the year of 2019, the former big Kahuna Jim Hackett made it clear that nameplates with high volumes such as those of the unibody Explorer along with the Ranger-based Bronco will be equipped with hybrid electric engines. The Explorer might not be offered as an electric hybrid within the United States, but it is only available as a plug-in hybrid within Europe.
The 4xe is the sole Wrangler sold through official channels across the Old Continent, partly because of stricter emission standards. The standards for fuel economy are becoming more difficult, as is the most recent ruling calling for an average across the entire fleet which is 49mpg (4.8 100 km/l) in the model year 2026.
Fuel Economy
The main advantage, naturally, is the increased fuel efficiency. It’s not clear what kind of improvement we can anticipate with this model Bronco PHEV in this area However, the 4xe Wrangler can achieve a combined 20 miles per gallon, which isn’t excellent, but the car’s all-electric range of driving is an enormous increase in this area.
All-Electric Driving Range
When it comes to the all-electric driving range, we are likely to get approximately 30 miles with the 2025 Ford Bronco PHEV this is among the top benefits of having an electric hybrid plug-in in the first place. It’s the same benefits that an EV provides for small, short distances around town that many drivers do on a regular regularly.
2025 Ford Bronco PHEV Specs
The Bronco EV Will Have A Cutting-Edge Roof-Mounted Battery
Similar to the F-150 Lightning, we can anticipate seeing the Bronco Lightning come with a variety of batteries. For instance, the F-150 Lightning’s 98.0-kWh Standard Range battery has a capacity of around 300 miles when it is fully charged. Its upgraded 131.0-kWh Extended Range battery extends the range to 320 miles with the full charge. It is expected to be available in 2025. Bronco is a long way from the future, however, the battery technology is improving. Based on the model your Bronco is fitted with, it may be in this class or higher.
Many off-roaders are skeptical of EVs due to their restricted availability and inaccessibility to charging infrastructure in specific locations. This is not a great combination, but it is particularly dangerous when traveling in remote areas. Everyone doesn’t want to be in the desert with just 0 percent. Ford’s roof-mounted battery is. We may consider the roof-mounted battery as an extra package with the Ford Bronco Lightning that will bring range anxiety to rest. Just connect the battery to your charging port for more juice and you’ll be back in the driving seat.
The roof-mounted battery is an exciting new feature however it has certain concerns. The biggest concern is weight. Batteries are generally heavy, which raises doubts regarding the durability that the rack on top, as well as the structural integrity of the automobile. In addition, there is the possibility of a rollover when the battery causes the vehicle to be top-heavy. Electric vehicles typically have a lower center of gravity however it could have not been enough to keep the vehicle from tumbling over.
In addition, it’s unclear whether the battery mounted on the roof will be removed. It would appear that this could be one of its major benefits, however carrying a large battery to and from the roof of a vehicle doesn’t appear feasible. Perhaps removing and mounting it could be handled exclusively by a Ford expert or dealer. This is yet to be determined However, the increased capabilities of external battery banks are a great feature. It’s possible to see this feature being implemented on other electric vehicles within Ford’s range.
A unique feature in the F-150 Lightning and likely to be ported over into the Bronco Lightning it’s capability to function as an emergency power source. Ford states the fully-charged F-150 could provide up to three days’ worth of electricity to a home in the case of power interruption. The Bronco might be able to provide power to your home for longer if you have the option of a roof-mounted battery. This is useful in powering camping spots or outdoor activities, increasing its appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. Bronco Lightning’s appeal for outdoors lovers.
If you are charging the 2025 Ford Bronco PHEV and other models, you’ll be able to utilize outlets with 110 or 220 volts for charging at home along with DC fast charging stations for quick refills. Ford has accepted J1772 as the J1772 plug for the standard currently used in their vehicles, but this might change in the upcoming years. The two companies Ford as well as GM have recently revealed plans for future compatibility with Tesla’s NACS (North American Charging Standard) instead of the CCS global standard (Combined Charging System). This will dramatically increase access to charging infrastructure.
2025 Ford Bronco PHEV Pricing and Availability
The Ford Bronco Hybrid and Ford Bronco Sport Hybrid could be launched in 2024, according to the report from Automotive News published on August 28th, 2022. It will compete against those like the Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV and the Defender PHEV from Land Rover. They will also be able to compete with the Bronco Twins form part of Blue Oval’s plan to offer hybrid electric versions for its high-volume models. As of now the Bronco teams at Ford headquarters are in the process of preparing to put Bronco Raptors into production. Bronco Raptor into production.
The added complexity and expense are likely to result in the 2025 Ford Bronco PHEV being quite expensive as well. While it’s likely to be eligible for the tax credit of $7,500 which is a federal credit, it’s important to remember that the Wrangler 4xe price starts with a price of $54,735. This is significantly higher than the base version at $31,195. Naturally, the 4xe is more equipped in many ways, but in all likelihood, they increase the MSRP by thousands of a vehicle.
