Ford has announced it will be dropping the diesel powertrain option from the F-150 lineup. The 3.0-L V6 diesel Power Stroke will no longer be offered in favor of the brand’s electric and hybrid offerings. This change is just the beginning as more and more ICE engines will be eliminated as automakers continue to transition to an electric future. 

The 3.0-L Power Stroke’s Short Career

Ford Australia began using the 3.0-L V6 Power Stroke in 2005. The engine added the Land Rover Discovery to its resume in 2017. That same year, Ford announced it would power the 2018 F-150 diesel option.

The diesel engine had best-in-class horsepower at 250 ponies and best-in-class torque at 440 lb-ft. An impressive 25 mpg combined impressed buyers interested in fuel efficiency. The truck outperformed rivals with a maximum towing capacity of 11,400 pounds.

The engine may have had a short run in the F-150, but the change in direction isn’t unexpected. The industry is quickly shifting toward an all-electric future. Automakers will continue to drop ICE engine options to make room for these cleaner alternatives. The 3.0-L Power Stroke is among the first victims of the electric revolution.

Ford cuts the diesel engine from the F-150 lineup

Ford confirmed to Car and Driver that the F-150 is losing a powertrain option. The world’s best-selling pickup currently has six engines to choose from, soon to be seven, with the release of the all-electric Lightning. The automaker will be focusing its efforts on its hybrid and electric options. 

An exact timeline has yet to be announced. It’s unclear if the engine will be phased out slowly or dropped before the next model year. The F-250 and F-350 will still offer a 6.7-L turbo diesel powertrain for buyers who need more power. 

The decision to cut the 3.0-L Power Stroke isn’t based on sales or popularity. Diesel pickup sales went up 28% in 2020. The more is all business. The F-150 lineup is at risk of feeling bloated, and the brand is likely to announce more green-energy options moving forward.

The future of the F-150 is electric

Now that the F-150 will no longer have a diesel option, the automaker focuses on its electric and hybrid offerings. The Power Boost F-150 outperforms the outgoing Power Stroke just enough to take the sting out of losing the diesel option. 

The hybrid F-150 gets one mile more per gallon in fuel economy than the 3.0-L Power Stroke. It gets an impressive 20% more fuel economy than its gas counterparts. The twin-turbo 3.5-L V6 paired with a 47 hp electric motor is the highest output powertrain in the F-150 lineup. 

The hybrid Power Boost puts out 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque. That’s up from the EcoBoost 400 hp and 500 lb-ft. The upcoming Lightning delivers significantly more power. 

Accelerating from zero to 60 in 4.4 seconds makes the Ford Lightning quicker than the S550 Mustang GT. The 2022 Ford Lightning is the fastest accelerating truck under $70,000. Its towing capacity tops out at 10,000, its least impressive trait.

The diesel F-150 is moving over for some exciting pickup trucks. The brand is synonymous with pickups and is eager to adapt its best-selling model to a more sustainable future. The end of the diesel pickup truck is creeping up as brands evolve.