Hey, folks! Palmer here from the front-page editorial team. Wanted to share a post from our new sister site, Electric Vehicle Forums: https://electricvehicleforums.com/ar...-150-lighting/

(Check out the full story there, but it seems YouTuber Marques Brownlee got his hands on a Lightning this week and noticed that the computer said its range at an 80% charge was 367 miles.)

 

They never mentioned that 300 mile EPA estimated range was with (1000lb) of cargo onboard. Wow this is going to change everything if true.

 

If this turns out to be true, definitely a game changer.

 

6:53 - Frunk as an ice cooler??
Just finished watching this, great and informative. I'd hazard a guess that the Standard battery mileage numbers fall under the same "thought process" as the extended? As in, that's when there's 1,000lb load?

 

It's a great video overview, but it's important to remember they only let him look at a preproduction model. Because it's so early, they didn't let him drive it, and there are a significant number of things that still have to be worked out. I agree the range estimate looks promising, but it's hardly official at this point.

 

This would be a real game-changer. Frankly, I have thought from release that Ford would low-ball the mileage. The reason for not providing battery specifics. I think they are playing with Melon Tusk. If the truck can get close to 500, I’d sell my current truck I plan to keep for towing and backup, and go all in. The $10k cost for the extended range would have me a bit on the fence, but I’m really planning ahead and hoping good info comes out before order banks open.

 

Corresponding article on Engadget
Ford's electric F-150 range estimates are very conservative

 

What gets me is people complaining that the range is going to suck when towing...no duh! Happens regardless of being electric or it has a gas/diesel engine.

Preproduction is pretty close to what we'll get. Usually a few tweaks to software, interior changes, exterior...could even allow for a more powerful battery back to be developed for launch on both the lower end and higher end models. If Ford is smart, they may pull from the Tesla playbook, and offer the same size battery but have it software locked on range side. Save money on production since it's one size and not two or more.

 

No doubt, and that's going to be the biggest practical limitation IMHO. It's more than range, but how do you fit into a charge stall with a trailer? Tesla has us back in, but others charge at the front. But how do you manage a busy charging station with a 30-foot trailer? Is the average buyer going to accept having to disconnect every couple hours they stop to charge? I certainly wouldn't.

Tesla hasn't done that in years, it's an extremely expensive thing to do. A production cost of >$100/kWh means the larger battery likely costs another $5-7,000 to produce. There's almost zero chance they'll put that big pack into the cheaper trucks. My car is the standard range option, and it weighs 300 lbs less than the long range version. My little 52 kWh pack isn't hiding anything.

 

People have to stop and realize that an electric vehicle isn't for everyone, at least not yet. For someone that's going to tow stick with gas or diesel, for someone who's just going to hop around town then electric works out good. I work with a lot of people on construction that for who the F-150 Lightning would be a perfect vehicle. The bottom line is, if you're going to tow you don't by a Honda civic or an electric vehicle to do it with.

 

Agree, but with one caveat. Anyone buying to tow longer distances wouldn't be well-served with an electric truck. I think the Lightning would be great for someone who doesn't tow more than 100 miles or so, but beyond that would become impractical in a hurry.

 

Correct, much like the boat trailer setup in your signature picture. Towing one's boat to a local lake for a daily outing or day of fishing would be well within the ability of the electric F-150.

 

100 miles towing is reasonable for some. But people have to realize the limitations. Jason from Engineering Explained a couple years ago did an in depth video on the Tesla CyberTruck towing capabilities. 100 miles is reasonable, long as its relatively flat grade with few hills and you are going back roads where you might be going 65mph, but slow down every so often and get the benefits of regen braking.

Going off on a tangent for a moment, I'll bet within the next 5 years, trailers will have brakes that could help with regenerative braking. Not sure what it'll take to do it, but I'm sure it'll be brought down to small scale. I know the electric semis will have trailers that will help doing regen braking and could be used as range extenders by having a battery pack installed.

 

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.

 

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.