So I'm looking for a new vehicle to replace one of my Super Duty 6.7Ls, possibly electric and looked into the F-150 Lightning at the dealership. The $7500 tax credit is enticing but the overall cost ($75,000 plus taxes -- pretty much the base model, not Platinum type equipped) simply doesn't warrant a move. Baseline is my SuperDuty vice the F-150 Lightning...'

Baseline vs. F-150 Lightning (Extended Range Battery w/Tow Package)
Tow Capacity (lbs): 16,200 vs. 8500
Range (miles) - clean/no tow vehicle: 565 (16.5mpg *34 gal) vs. 340 (if you're lucky)
Range (miles) - towing: 450 vs. 250 (or considerably less per reports from quite a few owners)
Torque: 1050 ft lbs vs 775

Note: the Lightning is faster 0-60 but I'm not racing on the street, only on dragstrips.


The even bigger PITA is sitting for forty minutes or so "refueling" to 15-80% with the extended range battery. Plus if you "undercharge" these batteries over time they age faster, die sooner -- all lithium ion batteries start dying the minute they leave the assembly line and the "fast" charge only worsens the lifespan. Even worse is Consumer Reports 39/100 Reliability Score (pretty crappy -- see the scoring and review below).

Before I shell out $75,000 plus on a new electric pick em up, they're going to have to do a helluva better than the current product.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars...2024/overview/

 

^^^^Most who have or would consider any sort of EV are most likely already aware of the so-called downsides to owning and operating one, especially how they're so quickly dismissed as impracticle and a hassle to own in other's opinions.

Nothing new in that article sad to say.

 

DITTO above

 

Battery tech is slowly catching up, trouble is, Ford already has billions tied up in lithium ion technology so they are reluctant to optimize due to over stock of current battery tech. If you had a warehouse full you'd want to deplete that stock first before retooling for new.

Wait about 5 years then check into them.

 

My experience with Lithium battery 20 volt hand tools is the things blow 1 out of four before you charge them 4 times. 1 cell totals them. Their soldered together at both ends.
Most likely that ruins them early.

If they work, they work well for several years then won't charge. I'm betting getting them to hot when soldering them, plus usage / recharging too soon totals them all.
I can see no real reason not to own 1/2 dozen 4 amp and above. If you want to work 8 hours a day 6 days a week wid em, go ahead. The convenience # cost of business
you know drop cord not cheap either.

For me the F150 towing an average bass boat, 1 -360-degree mower & good. Forget the camper, buy a F350 5th wheel. Thats my thoughts.

 

Horses for courses. Those who buy a Lightning for use outside the known performance envelope; well, that's on them.

There are excuses and there are reasons. I've been given excuses by untold numbers of folk whom I know from observation an EV would be perfect for their daily use. They take the unlikely extreme and use that to justify not owning an EV. If one listens to them, i.e. hurricane evacuation, et al, a Humvee towing a fuel trailer would be the only vehicle to own.

jack vines

 

in jersey ev owners are getting a letter from the state, https://www.northjersey.com/story/ne...y/75211234007/
state also dropped the sales tax advantage buying a ev ,now it's back to full amount

 

I will preface my posting by saying EVs are not for everyone.

But if you have a place at home to charge, your daily usage is less than 200 miles and don’t tow it could make sense.

We drive 20,000 miles a year with our EV’s. . In the last 2 years I’ve needed to charge away from home only once and it was for 15 minutes to add 75 miles of range to get home with a comfortable reserve. I’ve charged away from home a handful of other times only because I had free charging with the car/trick purchase and wanted to verify DC fast charging worked.

Having 2 dogs and a parrot, road trips are taken with our 5th wheel being towed by our diesel Super duty truck.

Reliability has been exceptional and cost to maintain for our EV’s over the last 10 years has been minimal. . The only cost to maintain has been few wiper blades, cabin air filters, windshield washer fluid and tire rotations. Less than the cost of one oil change on my diesel. The only reliability issue I’ve had with a vehicle in the last 10 years was with my 2019 F-350 Diesel which Ford replaced after filing Lemon Law.

I’m one of the very few posters on this sub forum who actually owns an EV. Others who post here don’t have any ownership experience with EV’s. There are other forums where posters post real world experience. If you’re interested in getting real world informed you should look at these other forums.

 

We've owned EVs for seven years now and are/were strongly considering a Lightning.

Have to say, thus far, this sub-forum has next to no traffic. Lightning owners haven't found it or just don't give a ****e.

jack vines

 

I've had my Lightning for right at 2 years as of December 31st. For me, my lifestyle of commuting to work, running around for work.....it has been a FANTASTIC truck. I pull cargo trailers for events with it....my big 23' Wake Boat for short trips / events and even have powered these events,the PA System, Computers, Lights etc...using the truck. So as mentioned above...it really depends on you, your needs and if it aligns with what you need to do. Driving wise...its solid, fast, comfortable, a pleasure to drive. If I had to pull trailers or go on a lot of long distance trips, it would not be optimal. But the thing I've learned in the close 60,000 miles I've put on it in 2 years is that you can find places to charge it. I just got my Tesla Supercharger adapter from Ford also...so that opens up way more places to charge it. If you pull cargo trailers that aren't that heavy...it doesn't effect mileage that much. My boat, which weights around 8000 lbs...is easily managable with the Lightning...plenty of torque - power to pull it..and the all wheel drive works great at the ramp...but you know that realistically you have about 150 miles of range pulling it.

I charge my truck nightly at home...and its ready to go in the morning... I jokingly call it a glorified golf cart. Expense wise...I estimate my power bill went up about $200 / month with the amount I drive it..so way cheaper than buying gas...guessing the same 30,000 miles for gas at an average of 20 mpg for AWD gas truck would be around $400. No oil changes, fluids, service done. Only tire rotations and allignment. So really it boils down to if your style of living / driving makes sense for EV. My wife - daughter thought I would sell it right away and order a gas version....2 years later... no plans on changing it right now... canceled my Tesla order and my Silverado deposit. I'm a big fan...and drive it daily...

 

Jack... I've loved mine..see my post below.