Diesel Trucks are Back in California: What Buyers Need to Know

With gas prices continuing to affect household budgets and business operating costs, more drivers are looking at electric vehicles as an alternative to traditional gas-powered models. For San Jose drivers and businesses, switching to a Ford electric vehicle could offer an opportunity to reduce fuel expenses, simplify certain maintenance needs, and enjoy the benefits of all-electric driving. Ford's electric lineup includes options for different lifestyles and work requirements, from the Mustang Mach-E® SUV to the F-150 Lightning® electric pickup and E-Transit™ commercial van. Before making the switch, it's worth understanding what EV ownership actually looks like, how charging works, and whether an electric Ford fits your daily driving needs. Why Consider Switching to an Electric Ford? One of the biggest reasons drivers consider an electric vehicle is the potential to save on energy costs. Instead of purchasing gasoline, EV owners charge their vehicles using electricity. Depending on local electricity rates, charging habits, driving distance, and vehicle efficiency, this can potentially cost less than filling up a traditional gas-powered vehicle. For businesses operating multiple vehicles, those savings can become especially interesting. A company with predictable daily routes and access to overnight charging may be able to reduce its fuel expenses while keeping vehicles ready for the next workday. Electric vehicles also have fewer routine maintenance requirements than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Since they don't use engine oil, spark plugs, or traditional exhaust systems, owners can avoid certain maintenance services associated with combustion engines. Tire rotations, brake inspections, cabin air filters, and other routine checks are still important, but the maintenance schedule can look different. For drivers tired of watching the gas pump total climb, an electric Ford is worth considering. Which Ford Electric Vehicle Is Right for You? Ford offers electric vehicles designed around different driving needs. The right model depends on whether you're commuting, transporting equipment, or managing a commercial fleet. The Mustang Mach-E® is an all-electric SUV that combines everyday practicality with responsive electric performance. It's a good option for drivers who want an electric vehicle for commuting around San Jose, running errands, and taking longer highway trips. The F-150 Lightning® brings electric power to the pickup truck segment. It offers the familiar functionality of an F-150 with the added benefits of an all-electric powertrain. For businesses and truck owners who want pickup capability without gasoline, the Lightning is an option worth exploring, depending on current model availability. For commercial customers, the E-Transit™ provides an all-electric alternative to a traditional cargo van. Businesses with local delivery routes, service operations, or predictable daily driving schedules may find an electric commercial van worth considering. Each vehicle serves a different purpose, so think about your daily mileage, cargo requirements, passenger needs, and access to charging before choosing. Charging Your Ford EV: What Should You Know? One of the biggest adjustments to EV ownership is changing how you think about refueling. Instead of stopping at a gas station, many electric vehicle owners charge at home while their vehicle is parked overnight. Home charging is often the most convenient option for drivers with access to a dedicated parking space and the ability to install a compatible charging station. You can plug in when you get home and start the next day with additional driving range. Public charging is another option, particularly when traveling longer distances or when home charging isn't available. Depending on the charging station and vehicle, you may be able to use Level 2 charging or DC fast charging to add range while you're away from home. Before purchasing an electric vehicle, consider where you'll charge it most often. San Jose drivers should look at their home parking situation, workplace charging availability, and the public charging stations along their regular routes. How Far Can You Drive on a Ford EV? Driving range is one of the most common questions prospective EV owners have. The answer depends on the model, battery configuration, driving conditions, and how the vehicle is used. For example, the Ford F-150 Lightning has offered EPA-estimated ranges of up to 320 miles with select extended-range configurations. Actual range varies with factors such as temperature, speed, payload, terrain, and towing. Towing and hauling deserve additional consideration, especially for commercial truck buyers. Pulling a heavy trailer can significantly reduce electric driving range, so businesses should evaluate their regular routes and charging opportunities before choosing an electric pickup. For a driver commuting around San Jose or a delivery business following consistent local routes, an EV may fit naturally into the workday. For businesses regularly traveling long distances or towing heavy equipment, a gas or diesel Ford truck may remain the more practical choice. Are Electric Vehicles More Affordable to Maintain? EV ownership can offer maintenance advantages because electric motors have fewer moving parts than traditional gasoline engines. There's no engine oil to change, and regenerative braking can help reduce wear on traditional brake components. However, electric vehicles aren't completely maintenance-free. Tires, suspension components, brakes, cabin air filters, and other systems still require attention. Battery condition and charging habits are also important parts of long-term ownership. Ford electric vehicles include high-voltage battery warranty coverage, with coverage generally extending to 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, subject to the applicable vehicle warranty terms. When comparing the cost of ownership, look beyond the initial purchase price. Consider electricity rates, insurance, maintenance, charging equipment, driving habits, and available vehicle incentives or offers. Explore Ford Electric Vehicles at Mission Valley Ford High gas prices have plenty of drivers rethinking what they spend at the pump. Whether you're interested in an electric SUV for your daily commute or exploring an electric commercial vehicle for your business, understanding the costs and benefits of EV ownership is the first step. Mission Valley Ford Trucks serves San Jose drivers and businesses looking to explore Ford's latest vehicle technology. Visit our Ford electric vehicle FAQ page to learn more about charging, range, and ownership, or browse our new Ford inventory to explore available models. Our team can help you compare powertrain options and find a Ford that fits your driving or business needs.

A commercial van earns its keep by carrying the people, tools, materials, or equipment that make a business run. The 2026 Ford Transit® gives San Jose companies plenty of ways to build around that job, with T-150, T-250, T-350, and T-350 HD configurations, multiple body lengths and roof heights, 2 gas V6 engines, and RWD or available AWD. Cargo capacity can reach 487.3 cu. ft., maximum payload can reach 5,103 lbs., and properly configured gas models can tow up to 6,900 lbs. First, Figure Out What Has to Fit Inside Transit® Cargo Vans come with low, medium, and high roofs and 129.9-inch or 147.6-inch wheelbases, depending on configuration. Overall length starts at 219.9 inches for regular models, reaches 237.6 inches in long configurations, and stretches to 263.9 inches for high-roof extended vans. Cargo volume ranges from 246.7 to 487.3 cu. ft. behind the front seats. A low roof can be easier to live with when San Jose parking structures are part of the route. Medium and high roofs provide more vertical working room for shelving, tools, inventory, and vocational equipment. The correct choice starts with what goes inside the van, not what looks impressive on a specification sheet. T-250 Is the Middleweight That Can Carry Its Share The Transit-250 occupies useful territory between the T-150 and heavier T-350 configurations. Complete-vehicle Cargo Van versions can reach a 9,150-lb. GVWR, with regular and long wheelbases and several roof heights available depending on body configuration. Buyers can also choose RWD or available AWD. For plumbers, electricians, contractors, delivery operations, and mobile-service businesses, T-250 can provide additional capacity for equipment and an upfit without automatically stepping into the highest weight ratings. That's important because commercial vehicles aren't trophies. Capacity earns its place when you're putting it to work. Two V6 Engines, Depending on How Hard You Ask Gas-powered Transit® models offer a 3.5L PFDi V6 producing 275 hp and 260 lbs. ft. of torque or an available 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 with 300 hp and a considerably stronger 400 lbs. ft. of torque. Both pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and AWD available. There is no plug-in hybrid Transit® in the U.S. lineup. Businesses interested in electric power can instead consider the E-Transit™, which uses a rear-mounted electric motor producing 198 kW and an 89-kWh battery. Choosing among them should come down to routes, loads, operating needs, and how the van will spend its working hours. A Work Van Should Be Set Up for Work An empty cargo area isn't much help if employees spend every morning digging through it for tools. Ford offers commercial packages designed around specific jobs, including Electrician Trade, General Contractor, Builder's Prep, Upfitter, Wall Liner, and Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow packages. Depending on configuration, these can provide a foundation for shelving, partitions, storage, electrical equipment, and other vocational hardware. Properly equipped gas Transit® models can also tow up to 6,900 lbs. A good upfit isn't decoration. It's about giving tools and equipment a place to live so the person doing the job can spend less time searching for them. Decide if You're Carrying Equipment or People Cargo Van models concentrate on 2 front occupants and working space behind them. Transit® Passenger Vans take a different assignment, with configurations for 12 or 15 passengers. That makes the distinction refreshingly straightforward: tools, deliveries, and mobile operations point toward Cargo Van, while businesses transporting groups should look at Passenger Van configurations. Standard driver-assistance equipment includes Pre-Collision Assist® with Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, Lane-Keeping System, and Auto High-Beam Headlamps, adding useful support during the miles between jobs. Put the Right Transit® to Work in San Jose Payload, cargo dimensions, roof clearance, drivetrain, towing requirements, and the planned upfit should decide what belongs in your fleet. San Jose businesses can visit Mission Valley Ford Trucks to compare available Ford Transit® inventory, commercial configurations, and upfit options around the work they perform. Once you've narrowed down the van that fits the job, schedule a test drive online.

Ford is taking a different swing at the electric truck with the new Ford Fathom™. Due in 2027, it’s a midsize EV pickup built on Ford’s new Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. That price is going to get attention. The bigger question is how much truck Ford can deliver for it. We don’t have every answer yet, but the details Ford has released give us a decent idea of what the Fathom™ is supposed to be. A New Kind of Ford EV The Fathom™ will be the first vehicle built on Ford’s Universal Electric Vehicle Platform. Rather than adapting an existing gas-powered vehicle for an electric drivetrain, Ford developed this architecture specifically for a new generation of more affordable EVs. Ford hasn’t released horsepower, torque, battery capacity, EPA-estimated range, charging speed, towing capacity, or payload figures yet. Those are some pretty big blanks for a pickup, so there’s still a lot we need to learn before judging its capability. We do know Ford is aiming for more interior room than its midsize dimensions might suggest. The company projects the Fathom™ will have more passenger volume than the Toyota RAV4. For drivers around San Jose, CA who want a truck without dealing with full-size pickup dimensions every day, that could be one of its strongest selling points. Plenty of Technology Comes Standard Ford isn't treating the lower starting price as an excuse to gut the cabin. Every new Ford Fathom™ will get a large touchscreen with navigation powered by Apple Maps, along with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. Digital Key will allow a compatible device to serve as the vehicle key, and owners will be able to access connected functions remotely through the Ford app. The Fathom™ will also be BlueCruise capable. Ford describes it as next-generation BlueCruise capability, although we’ll have to wait for more information about exactly what changes or improvements that brings. Bidirectional Power Could Be a Big Deal One of the more interesting, confirmed features has little to do with the touchscreen. The Fathom™ will support bidirectional power, meaning its battery won’t only take electricity in. It will also be able to send stored energy back out for compatible uses. Ford hasn’t released output figures or all the details about what equipment will be required. Still, there’s obvious potential here. Portable battery power could come in handy at a jobsite, campsite, tailgate, or anywhere else you’d rather not drag along a separate generator. That feature makes sense on a pickup. It turns the battery into something useful even when the truck isn't moving. What We Still Need to Know There are a few numbers that will ultimately decide how good this truck is. Range is an obvious one, especially for California drivers covering longer distances. Charging speed matters nearly as much. Truck buyers will also want firm towing and payload ratings before deciding if the Fathom™ can replace their current pickup. Then there's the standard-range battery itself. Until those details arrive, it's better to think of the Fathom™ as promising rather than proven. The New Ford Fathom™ Arrives in 2027 Preorders are expected to open in early 2027, with more specifications likely to arrive as launch gets closer. Drivers around San Jose, CA, can visit Mission Valley Ford Trucks to learn more about Ford's current truck and EV lineup and keep up with new Fathom™ availability. Once we have the range, charging, towing, and payload numbers, we'll have a much clearer idea of what Ford's affordable electric truck can really do.