This system is so innovative because it requires minimal work to the donor Ranger. According to Ricardo, it was “conceived as an overlay bolt-on system that does not require any alteration of the Ford Ranger base vehicle.” That means the Ranger retains its robustness, and the system can be removed and reinstalled on a new vehicle, which is perfect for fleet operations.
The electric drive unit is fully self-contained. It comes standard with regenerative braking, and the owner can choose how large they want the battery to be. All high-voltage components are contained within a robust enclosure to make removal and maintenance easier.
The HEX comes standard with a lightweight, non-independent De Dion rear suspension design. Ricardo says it’s tough, light, and provides better traction. In addition, the De Dion arrangement also allows the suspension and drive units to be decoupled to make the vehicle more efficient.
A De Dion setup can also be run as a dead axle, so you can order this Ranger 6×6 without the electric drive unit. In this case, you get a 6×4, which only makes sense if you want a larger payload.
