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Even then all one has to do is toss a portable generator in the bed and a couple cans of gas or if one has a tri fuel gen or carb kit Like I used to have, a 30lb propane tank or two to power the gen long enough to charge the truck, seeing how most travel trailers carry their own propane tanks for cooking, heating water, etc.... Guess that's already covered.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
True, but that's impractical in a lot of ways. It takes 7 hours to charge my car at 240v/32A, which is just north of 7 kW. The F150 battery is likely to be at least three times that size.
True, but that's impractical in a lot of ways. It takes 7 hours to charge my car at 240v/32A, which is just north of 7 kW. The F150 battery is likely to be at least three times that size.
We can speculate all day long and neither one be correct in our assessments of what's possible or not, for all we know we might be able to plug in with the generator running in the bed the entire trip lol. I intend to test that theory when I get my truck.
Prudent planning for the trip is an absolute must no matter what. I have the Ford Pass app and a couple other apps that shows where every charging station is in the entire country should I decide to take a trip and/or go camping, both of which will never happen. Still nice to know just as an FYI.
I'm more salty by the fact that it takes 19 hours in 240v to charge the damn battery. I can understand that time on a 120v but on 240v? Something does not seem to be optimized or they misspoke. I really hope it's the latter and not the former.
I'm more salty by the fact that it takes 19 hours in 240v to charge the damn battery. I can understand that time on a 120v but on 240v? Something does not seem to be optimized or they misspoke. I really hope it's the latter and not the former.
Unfortunately it’s about basic math and circuit capacity rather than optimization. These batteries are HUGE. My car charges in 7 hours at 32a, which fills up my little 50 KWh battery. But the extended range battery in the F150 is nearly three times as large. That’s like comparing the time to fill up the 44-gallon fuel tank in my old Excursion compared to the 15-gallon tank in mu Escape. It’s not that the Excursion doesn’t have an optimized filler neck; the pump can only deliver gas at a certain rate.
That’s why the extended range model can support charging as much as 80A, but that only works with the most powerful charging station attached to a circuit capable of that kind of current. The 6-gauge wire I installed for my charging circuit is only capable of 50A, and I’d have to upgrade my household service to push the full 80A. These batteries are several orders of magnitude larger than anything else most of us have ever used.
Unfortunately it’s about basic math and circuit capacity rather than optimization. These batteries are HUGE. My car charges in 7 hours at 32a, which fills up my little 50 KWh battery. But the extended range battery in the F150 is nearly three times as large. That’s like comparing the time to fill up the 44-gallon fuel tank in my old Excursion compared to the 15-gallon tank in mu Escape. It’s not that the Excursion doesn’t have an optimized filler neck; the pump can only deliver gas at a certain rate.
That’s why the extended range model can support charging as much as 80A, but that only works with the most powerful charging station attached to a circuit capable of that kind of current. The 6-gauge wire I installed for my charging circuit is only capable of 50A, and I’d have to upgrade my household service to push the full 80A. These batteries are several orders of magnitude larger than anything else most of us have ever used.
I thought the Cybertruck had less charge time. Nope, 21 hours and 30 minutes for full charge. So I guess an hour and a half difference could be a benefit in favor of the F150.
For a 200 amp breaker panel, your incoming wire needs to be 3/0. Not sure how much Xcel Energy (assuming that's who you have) would charge you for the upgraded wiring, a panel upgrade would be around $3500 or so.
I would love to put the Lightning to a real test. I Fulltime RV and spend a lot of time boondocking out on Federal Lands. I would add a solar bed cover of around 400 watts and see how well it performs totally off grid.
I would love to put the Lightning to a real test. I Fulltime RV and spend a lot of time boondocking out on Federal Lands. I would add a solar bed cover of around 400 watts and see how well it performs totally off grid.
Just FYI, it would take 375 hours to charge at 400w. Just over two weeks, assuming maximum output 24/7.
Just FYI, it would take 375 hours to charge at 400w. Just over two weeks, assuming maximum output 24/7.
My stays are 2 weeks out, one day in, and 2 weeks out again. Thinking if I can marry it to the RV'S 400 watt solar plus run the generator 4 hours a day as I normally do there should be no worries. It would be an interesting experiment. Plus I limit my travel days to only around 200 miles max.
For the ideas to use a generator or solar array to charge the truck...it only needs to charge the battery enough to reach the nearest charging station, it doesn't have to charge the battery to 100%. So yes, both ideas while imperfect have merit.
Being I'm out in the Northwest and Southwest mostly I doubt I would ever find a charging station. I would have to rely 100% on the solar/generator system. Would be interesting to see if that was possible.
I could see trailers having an option in the near future to have a battery pack on it that can be charged between uses. A plug between the trailer and the truck would then extend the range that could be traveled, with the trailer bearing the extra load of those batteries.
I could see trailers having an option in the near future to have a battery pack on it that can be charged between uses. A plug between the trailer and the truck would then extend the range that could be traveled, with the trailer bearing the extra load of those batteries.
Most travel trailers already have a rudimentary system of that sort for powering interior lighting. That 7th lug in a 7 pin trailer connector allows the trucks alternator to charge the trailer battery. It could easily be wired bidirectionally.
My RV operates with 2 big marine batteries and is solar pre-wired. I'm currently running with a 200watt ground panel. But, I plan another 400 watts on the roof. I don't understand why they didn't put solar on the Lightning's roof and offer a solar bed cover.
My RV operates with 2 big marine batteries and is solar pre-wired. I'm currently running with a 200watt ground panel. But, I plan another 400 watts on the roof. I don't understand why they didn't put solar on the Lightning's roof and offer a solar bed cover.
They may be offered as accessories at a later time.
I think it’s hilarious that many people are thinking about the worse case scenario with the F150 Lightning.
For the most part, the only people that might be hauling or towing weight on an everyday basis are contractors.
For everyone else, the range will be just fine for everyday driving and for the few times people will go camping or tow a trailer, Ford has tried to simplify and decrease the range anxiety that most will have via the new features in SYNC 4 and Ford Pass that will take into account the weight of what’s being hauled or towed.
However flawed it may be, I look at worst case scenarios because Murphy is a jerk and shows up at the most inconvenient times. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I'd rather be surprised than disappointed, especially when making a large purchase. I'll give it a couple years before I'd buy one, just to see what quirks these have.
