AUTO

Ford Built an Electric Bronco, But You Can’t Buy It

July 17, 2025

Ford built a 403-mile electric Bronco, but you can’t buy it in America.
China’s getting a Bronco hybrid with up to 800 miles of range and built-in camping mode.
The new Bronco runs on dual motors, 30+ sensors, and lidar, it’s like an off-road EV tank with eyes.

Have you ever wondered how an electric Bronco could look? Well, Ford’s already built one. Just not for you. Not for America. It’s real, it’s on the road soon, and it’s headed straight for… China.

The Bronco New Energy is what you’d get if someone took the gas version, kept the chunky tires, the upright boxy stance, the rear-mounted spare, and the flush door handles, but swapped the drivetrain for batteries and sensors.

It still carries that familiar attitude, but this version runs either fully electric or as a plug-in hybrid (technically an EREV, which is an Extended Range Electric Vehicle).

Close-up of the electric Ford Bronco New Energy’s front grille and headlights, featuring the Badlands badge and signature flush door handle — _{Close-up of the electric Ford Bronco New Energy’s front grille and headlights.}

The all-electric version packs a 105 kWh BYD LFP battery, rated for roughly 403 to 404 miles of range under the CLTC testing cycle. That’s a serious number. Meanwhile, the EREV version pairs a smaller 43.7 kWh battery with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that acts solely as a generator, pushing the total estimated range to about 800 miles.

You get 137 miles on battery alone before the gas generator kicks in. That’s a lot of ground to cover before needing to stop.

And no, none of this is headed to U.S. dealers. Not yet, anyway. Are you even surprised? You should be.

On power, the full electric version uses a dual-motor system that sends 174 horsepower to the front and 270 to the rear, giving it standard all-wheel drive. The extended-range hybrid version puts out the same 174 horsepower up front, with 241 at the rear. What makes the hybrid interesting is that the 1.5-liter engine under the hood doesn’t connect to the wheels at all. It simply powers the battery like a built-in generator.

It’s huge. The Bronco New Energy stretches out with a 116.1-inch wheelbase, matching the U.S. four-door version. Its total length reaches 197.8 inches, making it nearly nine inches longer than the gas-powered Bronco and significantly longer than the Bronco Sport.

Close-up of the electric Ford Bronco New Energy’s orange body panel, featuring the Badlands badge and signature flush door handle.

Close-up of the electric Ford Bronco New Energy’s orange front hood, featuring the Badlands badge and signature flush door handle

Weight? Just over 5,800 pounds. That kind of mass brings some perks, like a smoother, more planted ride and strong off-road presence. But that weight could make cornering feel a bit like steering a couch on gravel.

Perhaps the most intriguing detail is that Ford’s slapped lidar “laser radar” on the roof and more than 30 high-precision sensors and cameras aimed at semi-autonomous driving. Ford of China teases a “smart cabin” that can initiate modes like “naps, pets, camping overnight,” making it sound part-road‑trip haven, part‑surveillance hub.

Let’s connect the dots. China currently dominates global EV sales, and the electric Bronco New Energy lands right in the middle of that demand. Ford isn’t early to this market, however. GM and several European brands have been active there for years. But now Ford is jumping in with a full-sized electric SUV designed specifically for Chinese buyers, and deliveries are expected to begin in the last quarter of 2025.

Ford Bronco New Energy electric SUV parked at a modern home with a Ford wall charger, highlighting its EV identity and residential charging setup.

Overhead view of the electric Ford Bronco New Energy extended-range hybrid driving a winding mountain road, highlighting its length and dual-tone roof.

So what does this mean for us in the States? The plug-in hybrid seems more likely than a full EV here, especially since hybrids are gaining traction in America, even while pure EV enthusiasm reaches all-time highs.

And Ford has hinted at bringing extended‑range EV tech to the US from 2027 onward. So, we’ll probably see a Bronco hybrid or even EREV way before an all‑electric version.