Ford Bets on F1 Tech and Public Brainstorm to Build a $30,000 Electric Truck

Ford is trying to solve one of the auto industry's toughest puzzles: a truly affordable electric truck. This week, the company outlined a strategy to develop a battery-powered pickup with a target price of $30,000, a figure that would undercut every current model by thousands. The plan hinges on two unconventional ideas.

First, Ford will tap engineering knowledge from its Formula 1 partnership with Red Bull Racing, set for the 2026 season. The focus on shaving weight and perfecting aerodynamics in F1 could directly address the efficiency challenges that make electric trucks expensive. Reducing drag on a boxy pickup, for instance, could preserve range without adding costly battery capacity.

Second, and more unusually, Ford will launch a public bounty program. Modeled on initiatives in tech security, it will offer cash payments to engineers, suppliers, or even hobbyists who submit ideas that cut costs for specific parts. The goal is to find savings Ford's own teams might miss.

The obstacles are significant. Battery costs, while falling, remain high. Ford will likely use cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and is reportedly considering a smaller truck format than its flagship F-150 to save on materials. The company's electric vehicle unit lost billions last year, making profitability on a $30,000 model a steep climb.

Pressure is also building. Chinese automakers like BYD are producing lower-cost electric vehicles, and while tariffs currently shield the U.S. market, the threat is palpable. No domestic rival has yet committed to such a aggressive price point for an electric truck.

Ford's gamble is that blending racetrack engineering with crowdsourced innovation can succeed where traditional methods have stalled. Whether this blueprint becomes reality or joins a list of faded EV promises will be one of the industry's most watched stories in the coming years.