Struck by Lightning

I have been thinking about getting an electric vehicle for quite a while, and the Ford F-150 4x4 Lightning was at the top of my list. I was unsure whether the yea-sayers and the nay-sayers were giving me the correct information to inform me in making the purchase.

I liked the idea of no longer burning dinosaur juice to get back and forth to work, but the tried and true system of filling up at the pump made me hesitant to change my ways. On a recent trip to San Jose, California, I discovered that renting a Ford Mach-E, the all-electric Mustang, was substantially cheaper than renting a Hyundai Sonata. I decided to give it a try and really enjoyed the experience.

Back home, my gas-powered F-150 began to show signs of getting tired. While I firmly believe in keeping things running as long as possible, if I put the $6,000 in for needed repairs, I would still have a truck with 100,000 miles on it. So, with a deep breath and utterance to the heavens, I drove to the Tri-cities to try out the F-150 Lightning pick-up.

It turned out the Lightning was a great ride. I swallowed my fears and traded in my old truck for the new. Here are a few things I have learned that you might want to consider if you are considering a similar change.

Paul Ocker

The well-appointed cab has all the tech functionality a driver needs, some they didn't know they needed.

Though we kept the family's hybrid and gas-powered cars, we must think ahead when using the fully electric Lightning F-150. With a shorter range, we will need to look for suitable charging stations as not all are the same, available, or can be used by all vehicles. When traveling off-road, I will need to make sure there is enough range to make it back to a charger, and on cross-country trips, there may be few opportunities for charging in small towns.

It may not sound different from planning trips with gas-powered vehicles but remember that AAA does not carry a can full of battery juice if you run out.

Some may think this article is a "plug" for buying an Electric Vehicle (EV). On the contrary, the intent is to offer my experiences purchasing our Lightning F-150 to people considering if an EV is right for them. Up front, I will say an EV is not for everyone. In considering the purchase and ownership of a fully electric vehicle, you may want to consider the following:

Purchase Price – A new F-150 Lightning will cost about $45,000 to $75,000 before the $7,500 EV rebate. A new gas-powered F-150 will be about $45,000 to $85,000.

Fuel Cost – Using a standard distance of 100 miles, if a gasoline F150 gets 25 miles per gallon, it will burn 4 gallons at about $4.50 per gallon for about $18. Charging for 100 miles at Dayton's fast-charging station costs me about $21. Surprised? I was, however, home charging reduced my cost to $6 for 100 miles. Fast-charging stations cost about 45 cents per kilowatt hour, whereas my level 2 home charger is closer to 14 cents.

Maintenance Cost – The Lightning's routine maintenance basically involves just tires and car washes. Our gasoline-powered F150 required oil, transmission, radiator, and emissions system service. Over five years, the cost of routine maintenance for our Lightning should be substantially less than the gas model.

Fueling Time – The Lightning can be charged at home with one of two chargers. Level 1 is 12 amps and charges at a rate of one mile per hour. Yes, that means it takes about four days for a 100-mile charge.

The 30-amp charger I chose for our home cost $1,000. It takes an hour to charge 15 miles. Charging seven hours or overnight, and I have 100 miles for an easy commute to the Tri-cities.

Pay charging stations offer level two charging up to 48 amps. The public charger in Waitsburg takes about the same time as my home setup, and the ultra-charger in Dayton can provide 100 miles in an hour. I hear some stations are getting up to 200 miles per hour, though these are not yet in our area.

While gasoline vehicles can fill up at a gas station in less than 10 minutes, EV home charging is more convenient and eliminates the time to drive to a gas station.

When traveling long distances, EV drivers will have to allow extra time to charge, which can complicate trips taken as a group that includes gas-powered vehicles.

Range/Mileage - Ford reports that a gasoline F150 can range between 350 and 900 miles, depending on the engine and gas tank sizes. The Lightning has a standard range of 240 miles to 310 for the extended-range option. It must be noted that the range is often less than advertised due to various driving conditions, including hot and cold weather.

We maxed our extended-range model at about 285 miles in the current 90-degree heat, but as temperatures cool, I expect our range to increase. Until it gets too cold and we start using the heater.

Acceleration – According to 0-60Specs.com, the average 0-60 acceleration of a gasoline F-150 is 6.3 seconds, except for the Raptor, which drops to 3.6 seconds. The Lightning has 0-60 acceleration of 3.8 seconds, and yes, I have tried it out.

Towing – Depending on the model, a gasoline F150 can tow between 7,700 to 13,200 pounds, and the Lightning EV can tow between 7,500 and 10,000 pounds. Towing heavy loads can decrease gas mileage or electric range. Contributors on Ford forums estimate that every 100 pounds of extra weight in a truck decreases its fuel economy by 2%.

According to AAA, the drop for the Lightning when towing near its maximum weight can be between 25 and 30%. So, towing locally with the Lightning is fine, but towing to your favorite camping spot or long distance is probably a no-go due to long recovery times to charge.

Cool Things – While I loved my gas-powered F150, the list of cool things about the Lightning goes on and on. There is a truck bed scale that tells you how much you are carrying. The truck can power your house during a power outage, provide extra storage in the "frunk" (yes, the front trunk has a name), and charge another EV. There are power outlets throughout the truck, including a 240V outlet in the truck bed for welders, air compressors, and other power tools. In the cab, the office setup offers plugs galore. You can almost drive the car with your phone.

Paul Ocker

The Lightning's "frunk" takes advantage of the empty space under the hood to add storage.

The bottom line is that while this vehicle might be good for some, it may not be for others. Our primary uses for the new vehicle will include my wife's commute to the Tri-Cities for work during the week, going to 36 hockey games a year in the Tri-Cities, towing our boat to the Snake River, and camping locally on the weekends. This can easily be accomplished by plugging the truck in every night when we get home.

This truck may not be the best choice for someone who travels long distances, operates a farm, hauls heavy trailers, or regularly travels back country roads. However, for our family's use, it was a good purchase, and we are happy to save money and burn less carbon-based fuel. Our gas-operated cars provide us with peace of mind.