New Ford Maverick Hybrid to Replace Wildwood Tramcars
The famous Wildwood tramcars are making way for new-generation vehicles. Unveiled on Sunday, May 4, the next iteration of the tramcar legacy will take the form of Ford Maverick hybrids….
WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY – MAY 27: People walk along the boardwalk days before the Memorial Day weekend, the un-official start of summer, on the Jersey shore on May 27, 2021 in Wildwood, New Jersey. Wildwood, like many beach communities throughout the United States, is looking for a successful and busy summer season after staying mostly closed or partially open last summer due to Covid-19 restrictions. Many resort community retail businesses are also suffering from a shortage of labor as some workers are choosing to stay home and others have changed career paths. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The famous Wildwood tramcars are making way for new-generation vehicles.
Unveiled on Sunday, May 4, the next iteration of the tramcar legacy will take the form of Ford Maverick hybrids. According to the website Wildwood Video Archive.com, it is the first time that the tramcar fleet will be getting an upgrade since the introduction of the "Gig" tramcar.
Although the Ford Maverick vehicles are not plug-in hybrids, they will only be able to operate in electric-only mode for short periods of time under specific conditions.
While many locals have been decrying the change in the break from nostalgia, the technology that's used to power the existing tramcars is becoming outdated. The older tramcars use mechanical systems and parts that are no longer being produced in large quantities.
Wildwood Video Archive cited sources that suggested building a new Wildwood tramcar from scratch would cost upwards of $140,000. The Ford Maverick Hybrid, on the other hand, ranges between $27,000 and $33,000.
While the style will be changing, the open-air design of the tramcars will stay the same, allowing passengers to enjoy the ocean breeze and Boardwalk atmosphere. The classic yellow-and-blue color scheme will stay the same, and the familiar voice announcing, "Watch the tram car, please!" will still be broadcast through the speakers.
According to the Philly Voice, the tramcar's 2025 season will begin during the weekend of May 10-11. Rides start at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Rides will increase over Memorial Day weekend, starting at noon and continuing until Morey's Piers closes at night, generally by 11 p.m. or midnight. Summer service fully begins on May 29 with rides available seven days a week.
