I’m very optimistic about this new Ford F-150 Lightning, full electric truck and how it can appeal to those that have never before considered an electric vehicle (EV). It’s sexy, but it also gets a lot of work done.
I know, I sound like a commercial. But you need to look beyond the hype and think about the target audience – hard working Americans and people who like to play.
There will always be the impatient glass half empty crowd who says it is still polluting unless the power source is from clean energy. True. Ideally you are plugging into an outlet that is powered by solar or wind panels, or a power grid that has a lot of clean energy sources. That is well underway.
No matter what order these steps take, they are all a step in the right direction. Eventually all the pieces will fall into a beautiful puzzle.
Look beyond the problems and see a great transition that is about to take place in 2023. It was already predicted that EVs will reach parity next year with gas-powered vehicles. While this truck is not cheap, neither are the ones currently on the lot. But it is the number one light duty truck sold today. If Ford can keep that title, just think how many will follow. Other truck manufacturers already have their version under development.
You should begin to see the Lightening on dealership lots in mid-2022. You might want to take a test drive just to see what the future brings, and to let the dealers know that we are interested in EVs.
A much younger version of myself liked to drive muscle cars. I actually had a 1968 Camaro and a 1971 Mach I Mustang back in the 70’s. Neither one of them had the power this new truck has – and all that power without a tailpipe. Last year we had an all-electric Leaf, and it was such a treat not stopping at gas stations or taking time out to get oil changes. No maintenance at all while we owned it.
The new Lightning has a targeted 563 horsepower and 775 lb. -ft. of torque. This is the most torque of any F-150 ever built. It can go from 0-60 in less than 4.5 seconds and top speed of 110 mph. You can find more information online about features that are important to you.
One feature I find very interesting is that the truck can fully power your house (30kWh per day) for up to three days on a fully charged battery, or 10 days if rationing power. This requires some equipment to be installed at your home. Or you can use the truck as a generator on the job site.
Side Note: When Wayne sold Solar, the average house was around 10kWh per day.
Here are some questions that came to mind as I was reading about this truck.
How far will it go?
There are two battery types. The standard battery has a 230 mile range, or you can get an extended range battery that will go 300 miles.
Where can I charge the batteries?
People worry about not having the infrastructure in place to charge EVs. Most of the time you will be charging your EV overnight, at home. One tip I can share is to have a Fast Charger option so if you are traveling, you can recharge in less than an hour at a 150 Kw DC Fast Charging station. Another great feature on this truck is that it has a built-in map showing charging stations and can determine where you should stop based on the trip you are on.
How long will the batteries last?
Not yet determined, but it comes with an 8 year, 100,000 warranty on the batteries.
Side Note: I am researching another article about the new types of batteries being built today, from cradle to grave.
What happens to old EV batteries?
Lithium car batteries are recyclable and can be reused before being recycled. According to an article in Forbes this fall, Tesla lithium-ion batteries are 100% recycled with zero going to a landfill. Lithium-ion batteries are only deemed useful in an EV when they have up to 80% power left. At that point they can be used to store power in the energy grid of wind or solar before they go for recycling.
More on that topic in another article…
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Ford is swamped with orders for the Lightning, which goes on sale next year. Chevy and Ram have electric pickup plans, too. Success is not assured, but if electric pickup trucks get snapped up in places like Kansas, Nebraska and California’s Shasta County, the transition to electric vehicles could prove unstoppable. – LA Times
