Why Automakers Are Pivoting Toward Hybrids and “Extended-Range” EVs—and What Midwest Buyers Should Do Now
If you have been shopping EV (Electric Vehicle) inventory recently, you may have noticed mixed messaging: “EVs are the future,” alongside headlines about automakers revising their plans. The reality is not that electrification is ending. It is that the market is segmenting. Buyers are asking for electrified options that match how they drive today, not just what a long-term roadmap says.
Ford’s December announcement is a clear case study. The company said it is “following the customer” and rebalancing investment toward trucks, hybrids, and more affordable electric platforms. As part of that shift, Ford said the next-generation F-150 Lightning will move to an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) architecture, while the brand expands hybrid choices across its portfolio. Michigan Public also reported Ford is ending the current all-electric Lightning after mounting losses and a slowdown in demand reshaped its near-term EV truck plan.
So what is an EREV? In practical terms, it is an EV that drives the wheels with electric motors, but also carries a small gasoline engine that functions as a generator. That engine does not power the wheels directly; it makes electricity when needed to extend total range and reduce planning risk for long trips, cold snaps, or towing days. Kelley Blue Book describes Ford’s approach as planning a Lightning-branded EREV later, aiming to preserve electric driving feel while adding a “backstop” for the hardest-use days, such as long-distance towing or extended winter travel.
Why does this matter in the Midwest? Because the Midwest often forces a vehicle to live its hardest life: winter temperatures, highway speeds, and long stretches where convenient fast charging is not always exactly on your route. Add towing—where any truck, gas or electric, can see meaningful range loss—and you get a profile where a battery electric truck can still work, but only for buyers whose charging access and route patterns are predictable. For everyone else, hybrids and extended-range designs can reduce the operational friction that keeps many truck buyers on the sidelines.
Market forecasts reinforce why automakers are making these calls now. Cox Automotive’s December outlook described a softer fourth quarter even as full-year U.S. vehicle sales improve versus 2024, increasing pressure to prioritize products that sell consistently and can be built profitably in the near term. InsideEVs, referencing Cox estimates, described 2025 EV demand as unusually volatile, with pull-forward buying ahead of policy changes and a sharp cool-off afterward.
What should shoppers do with this information? Anchor your decision to your “most demanding day,” not your average day. If you mostly drive 25–60 miles, can reliably charge at home, and rarely tow, a battery electric vehicle can still be an excellent ownership experience—even in winter—because the routine is stable. If you frequently tow, drive long distances where you do not want to plan around charging, or need consistent winter trip performance across rural corridors, an EREV or hybrid may deliver a better risk-adjusted ownership experience while still moving you toward electrification.
Second, treat the fueling plan as part of the purchase decision, not an afterthought. An EREV or plug-in hybrid that is plugged in routinely will behave much more like an EV in daily life than the same vehicle used as “gas first.” When you evaluate options, include your home charging reality, your typical parking situation, and the routes you actually drive. That is where a good electric vehicle consultant Midwest buyers can trust adds value.
Sources & References:
https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/ford-reinvests-trucks-hybrids-affordable-electric-vehicles (December 15, 2025)
https://www.michiganpublic.org/economy/2025-12-16/ford-scraps-fully-electric-f-150-lightning-as-mounting-losses-and-falling-demand-hit-ev-plans (December 16, 2025)
https://www.kbb.com/car-news/ford-cancels-electric-f-150-lightning-plans-erev-instead/ (December 16, 2025)
https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights-hub/cox-automotive-forecast-dec-2025-u-s-auto-sales-forecast/ (December 17, 2025)
https://insideevs.com/news/782405/ev-sales-drop-2025-tax-credit-trump/ (December 20, 2025)