LIGHTNING info: Questions and Answers from San Antonio DRIVE Event

[hturnerfamily]

2022 Ford F150 LIGHTNING San Antonio Drive event:

*****Iced Blue Silver Metallic : ) yes, I'm now VERY happy I have stayed with that choice!

FORD provided some terrific opportunities for a few of us OWNERS, with upcoming deliveries, to DRIVE, RIDE, and CHECKOUT the many LIGHTNINGS available at the event...thank you Ford! Here's some quick observations and questions I found answers to:

- if you find yourself pressing the OFF button without remembering to put the truck in 'park', it will do it for you : ) The gear shifter will MOVE, on it's own, back into 'park'.

- the 'STOWABLE Gear Shifter' feature also works smoothly, when parked, but, unfortunately for those trims with the folding 'computer desk', the gear shifter will NOT stow while driving. I can see why Ford may not allow it to, but maybe in Lightning 2.0 models, they will allow for this to happen since the gear shifter is really no longer a 'mechanical' link to any transmission, but just a different 'device' to do the same action as the rotator knob, as on many other EVs, or even the right 'stalk' on a Tesla.

- 'One Pedal Driving' is available in several drive modes. The feature can be either engaged in those modes, or disengaged, if you prefer to drive without it. This feature provides maximum regeneration, but also provides AUTOMATIC application of the brakes, when/if needed, to bring the vehicle to a complete STOP. This also automatically engages the 'HOLD' feature, allowing you to let your foot completely off the pedal, while still remaining stopped. You simply press the pedal when you are ready to go again. This is absolutely terrific when in stop and go traffic - you will LOVE it.

- 'Tow/Haul' mode provides the technology to aid in backing, trailer connecting, trailer sizing and weight scale measurements, etc., but does not otherwise change the 'driving' of the vehicle, since there is no 'transmission' to downshift, etc. Also, while Tow/Haul mode is engaged, and the 'one pedal driving' may not be available, the Lightning CONTINUES to regenerate when you lift off the pedal, even though you certainly may not 'feel' the same effect - also, the weight of any towed item is going to already aid in more regeneration than the truck itself would have, on it's own. 'Losing' regeneration is NOT a factor, it's just a different feel than when one pedal driving is engaged, which also engages the BRAKES, when it needs to. Tow/Haul mode, without one pedal driving, makes the DRIVER apply the brakes.

- TOWING: If you have the additional option of the 'Max Towing' package, you will also get the additional Battery COOLING, which is active regardless of whether you are towing, or not.

- the 'Active Air Dam', which is now already on most all 'regular' F150s, is a feature built into ALL Lightning trim levels - it is an additional 'valance' that deploys downward about 4-6 inches, just behind the front bumper valance, when at speeds of 45mph or higher, to aid in aero for even better range. It automatically 'stows' back behind the front valance when you are then LESS than 45 mph. Unless you are traveling next to an F150 with this feature, you will actually never 'see' it in action, but you can certainly see the Air Dam mechanical device mounted behind the front bumper/valance.


Feel free to ask any follow-up questions, or your own comments, if you feel they are different. My experience with my own EVs in my garage provided some easy 'comparisons' to this great LIGHTNING truck - one pedal driving, 'auto park', etc.

I can also tell you that my 'impressions' of sitting in the driver seat of the LIGHTNING, getting a 'feel' of the environment, the technology, the screens, and the low-speed driving test, this new truck is SO IMPRESSIVE. The Tesla model 3 long-range that I drove 2,400 miles to San Antonio and back is NOT as impressive.
The LIGHTNING is obviously putting you up into a much HIGHER seating position, which provided me more of a 'commanding' feel, but the quite and easy movement of the truck also tells me that DRIVING It long-range will be very comfortable.
Having a very USABLE and spacious front-truck, along with the electrified BED, and the towing capability, makes this THE vehicle, whether for an every-day casual driver, or the contractor going from site-to-site.
I'll also add that the rear seating area is absolutely the largest I've ever experienced. There is a FLAT floor, and even impressive storage under the seats when they are being used, but if you REALLY need a cavernous 'inside' storage area, just FLIP the rear seats up, and 'voila(!), you have another MASSIVE area for multiple uses - dog crates, luggage, golf clubs, a mini-frige, large COOLERS, camping equipment, CASES of beverages(!), or anything else you can think of.

Thank you FORD : )
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William - west central GEORGIA
Iced Blue Silver Metallic 2022 Ford F150 LIGHTNING PRO
- max towing package
- towing technology package
- 9.6kw ProPower Onboard package
BUILD Schedule: MAY 2022
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[Regular150]

How or can we Jump Start a vehicle, tractor, skid steer, etc;. With the Lightning? Jumper Cables came in a nice Roadside Package in my Power boost.

 

[adoublee]

One-pedal could save a life in the case of a medical emergency while driving!

 

[beatle]

Can you drive away without pressing the start/stop button? With a Tesla you just get in, brake, shift, then go. Same for getting out - you just hit park and get out. I know Ford put this in to appeal to non-EV drivers who want that confirmation, but it's really not technically necessary.

Does 1 pedal driving apply the friction brakes at any point other than below 5 mph?

Is the charge rate curve any different with max tow vs. standard?

Why does the Platinum advertise a faster charge rate than even a Lariat ER with max tow?

 

[hturnerfamily]

How or can we Jump Start a vehicle, tractor, skid steer, etc;. With the Lightning? Jumper Cables came in a nice Roadside Package in my Power boost.

The LIGHTNING has easy and roomy access to the 12v battery, located very conveniently in the 'frunk', behind a panel, AND also with additional 'jumper' posts located under the passenger side hood 'access cover'. There is an 'jumper' ICON printed on the access cover, too.

 

[hturnerfamily]

Can you drive away without pressing the start/stop button? With a Tesla you just get in, brake, shift, then go. Same for getting out - you just hit park and get out. I know Ford put this in to appeal to non-EV drivers who want that confirmation, but it's really not technically necessary.

Does 1 pedal driving apply the friction brakes at any point other than below 5 mph?

Is the charge rate curve any different with max tow vs. standard?

Why does the Platinum advertise a faster charge rate than even a Lariat ER with max tow?

FORD has decided to stick with the 'Power' button, since most all of us are comfortable with that simply 'On/Off' operation. It gives you peace of mind that the truck is 'off', while with the Tesla Model 3 I just returned from San Antonio with, NOT SO MUCH! Yes, I get the Tesla idea that you don't really 'need' an on/off button, but it still does not feel comfortable for most of us, yet, to just walk away without knowing for sure. I experienced this MANY TIMES during my travels - but, yes, I guess it does 'work', it still just a little unnerving moving from a 'regular' ignition or push button to something with NO operation to turn 'on' or 'off' the vehicle.

One Pedal Driving is a combination of Automatic Regeneration AND the application of the physical Brakes, IF/When NEEDED. Now, it's safe to assume that under most conditions the brakes would eventually be applied, if the driver does not intervene by pushing the power pedal, but if not, yes, the brakes will start to apply when the system is trying to bring the truck to a full stop.
I would suspect that if you come off the power pedal at 70 mph, no, the friction brakes may not get applied immediately since you may just be wanting to regenerate down a steep grade, but if the truck starts to slow too much, it may then start applying the brakes. At what 'speed' that happens may not yet be known, but since regeneration is certainly a big part of efficiency, you would not expect the brakes to come into play too quickly, until a certainly 'minimum speed' is met - meaning that at slower speeds you would expect the system to start applying the brakes much sooner, such as in stop and go traffic.
We have also yet to see if there is any 'customization' of the one-pedal-driving feature, with the ability to adjust the timing and/or regeneration and/or braking, or even customization or settings changes for the regeneration application itself - such as how 'hard', and how 'quickly' it applies itself.

I think 'Out of Spec' KYLE would be better able to 'nerd out' on this question of why one trim level would be able to charge 'faster' than another... : ) Hear me Kyle? : )

 

[hturnerfamily]

Can you drive away without pressing the start/stop button?

a followup answer to this is somewhat of an OPPOSITE, but 'yes' answer, meaning that since the truck allows for the possible pressing of the 'OFF' button while still in DRIVE, or any gear, I suppose you could come to a stop, press the OFF button, and get out.

as for MOVING without yet having pressed the 'ON' button, that is a definite NO answer. The truck is not 'ON' , ACTIVE, or POWERED, until the 'ON' button is pressed, and pressed WHILE a foot is on the brake pedal. You then choose your gear to move. 3 steps.
You have to do somewhat the same on your Tesla: place the key card on the deck, press the brake pedal, and pull down the right 'gear' stalk. 3 steps.

 

[jpepper07]

Did anyone look at the AT tires on the lariat? Do you feel they are worth losing 150 lbs payload and possible noise/range? I would like my lariat close to 1800 payload. I think AT will put it around 1600.

I was hoping for reviews to talk about tires and payloads more. The payloads seem all over the place between vehicles.

 

[hturnerfamily]

nope, haven't seen much about the tires, and haven't seen anyone really going into details about any of the options - but, one of my first things might actually be to REPLACE the Pro AT tires with street tires - I'm looking for range, not off-road, and not weather concerns.

 

[beatle]

a followup answer to this is somewhat of an OPPOSITE, but 'yes' answer, meaning that since the truck allows for the possible pressing of the 'OFF' button while still in DRIVE, or any gear, I suppose you could come to a stop, press the OFF button, and get out.

as for MOVING without yet having pressed the 'ON' button, that is a definite NO answer. The truck is not 'ON' , ACTIVE, or POWERED, until the 'ON' button is pressed, and pressed WHILE a foot is on the brake pedal. You then choose your gear to move. 3 steps.
You have to do somewhat the same on your Tesla: place the key card on the deck, press the brake pedal, and pull down the right 'gear' stalk. 3 steps.

With Tesla you just need the fob in your pocket to put the car in gear and drive away. No need to place it anywhere.

It'll be interesting to see what happens to the truck when you just leave it without turning it "off." I have a feeling it'll be fine as is and then shut itself off when it sees you go out of range.

 

[hturnerfamily]

actually, the brand new Model 3 long-range required the key 'card' to be placed on the center console, while pressing the brake, in order to put it into 'gear' - but, then you could move the key card anywhere you wish. There is no key 'fob'.

 

[hturnerfamily]

if the LIGHTNING is like my brand new Kia Sorento PHEV - if you leave it 'ON', it will automatically shut down after a certain period - you can set that to 30, 60 minutes, or 'Never'. There may be times when you want the truck to STAY on, though, such as if it is needed in order to allow the ProPower to continue providing power to the outlets, etc. I don't know that I've seen anything about whether ProPower will stay active if the truck were to be turned OFF, or shut itself OFF - I'm sure somebody will test that in the near future.

 

[theblunden]

How or can we Jump Start a vehicle, tractor, skid steer, etc;. With the Lightning? Jumper Cables came in a nice Roadside Package in my Power boost.

It's behind a protective cover in the frunk or bring a battery charger and plug it in the frunk and use the jump feature to be "fancy" lol

 

[VTbuckeye]

In our xc40 EV the car turns on if the key is in the passenger compartment somewhere and someone is sitting in the driver's seat. It was weird at first, but now ... Sit, place foot on brake pedal, select D or R. Sitting down in the car and having the HVAC and radio turn on in now normal. The car turns off when you get out of the front seat or go into the control menu and turn off the car.

 

[beatle]

actually, the brand new Model 3 long-range required the key 'card' to be placed on the center console, while pressing the brake, in order to put it into 'gear' - but, then you could move the key card anywhere you wish. There is no key 'fob'.

Ah never used a model 3 with a card. Model S has a fob, Model 3 uses phone-as-a-key.

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