On the Road with Ralph
Well-known member
- First Name
- Ralph
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2023
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 165
- Reaction score
- 337
- Location
- Mojave Desert, California
- Vehicles
- 2023 Ford Lightning Pro
- Occupation
- Real estate/biz consultant
- Thread starter
- #1
On my most recent trip from West Fork, Arkansas to Landers, California (via Santa Fe, New Mexico in late May 2023), I covered about 1575 miles. I stopped 11 times to charge, not including overnight charging at a hotel in Albuquerque, and a convenience stop at the last DC fast charger before getting home (I could have easily skipped it).
That means I averaged about 143 miles between stops (131 if you include the overnight). This neatly fits my normal practice of driving about two hours between stops. Although I don’t have a calculated number for this, I’d say that, on average, the net EV charging “penalty” (time in excess of restroom use, snack/drink purchases and a few minutes of stretching/walking) was about 15 minutes per charge. So, overall, charging probably added about 2.5 hours to the overall elapsed trip driving time, which was in the low 30-odd hour range. I need to quickly note that some of that time was spent chatting with either other EV owners or people who were simply curious about an electric truck.
I spent a total of $160 for “fuel” (including an allowance based on 5¢ a kW for the charging I did at home before departure) - a bit lower than expected because three “fill-ups” were free. The same trip in a gasoline F-150 truck, based of the gas prices I saw as I crossed the west, would have been in the range of $263 - so about $100 cheaper, despite the relatively high cost of DC fast charging found along I-40. Translated into MPG, the Lightning got the equivalent of 33 MPG (versus 19-20 MPG for a gas truck).
Given the utility and cargo capacity of the F-150 Lightning, I’m satisfied with the equivalent of 33 MPG. However, if all those miles could have been covered using electricity charged at the EV rate I have at my home in the Ozarks, the total electric cost would have been about $55 or 140+ MPG. This gives you a sense of 1) how expensive DC fast charging is; and 2) how cheaply you can operate an EV if you charge mostly at home.
As for charging experiences, I'd rate them fair to good. I don't think there was a single ElectrifyAmerica stop where all the chargers were working correctly. Also, half of the trip took place on Friday, May 26th, when EA's network app support basically flatlined in many parts of the West, including my route. Fortunately, I could use the EA "card" in my iPhone Wallet to authorize the charge at four different stations. In contrast, I had a good and trouble free experience at all of the ChargePoint stations I used; I only wish they were faster.
I’ve stopped twice (once going east, once going west) at the Okemah Travel Center's charging station in Okemah, OK. It is located at the usual gas station/convenience store combo, but is a bit nicer/cleaner than average. On both stops I had drivers of gasoline-powered trucks come over and politely ask about the Lightning.
At a stop in Santa Rosa, NM, my Lightning (foreground) was one of three trucks (including a Rivian and a Hummer EV), as well as a Cadillac Lyriq crossover that had stopped for charging. All were either silver or white. I might add that one of four the EA chargers was completely down, and two others were running at reduced power. This lack of reliability must be addressed and fixed.
That means I averaged about 143 miles between stops (131 if you include the overnight). This neatly fits my normal practice of driving about two hours between stops. Although I don’t have a calculated number for this, I’d say that, on average, the net EV charging “penalty” (time in excess of restroom use, snack/drink purchases and a few minutes of stretching/walking) was about 15 minutes per charge. So, overall, charging probably added about 2.5 hours to the overall elapsed trip driving time, which was in the low 30-odd hour range. I need to quickly note that some of that time was spent chatting with either other EV owners or people who were simply curious about an electric truck.
I spent a total of $160 for “fuel” (including an allowance based on 5¢ a kW for the charging I did at home before departure) - a bit lower than expected because three “fill-ups” were free. The same trip in a gasoline F-150 truck, based of the gas prices I saw as I crossed the west, would have been in the range of $263 - so about $100 cheaper, despite the relatively high cost of DC fast charging found along I-40. Translated into MPG, the Lightning got the equivalent of 33 MPG (versus 19-20 MPG for a gas truck).
Given the utility and cargo capacity of the F-150 Lightning, I’m satisfied with the equivalent of 33 MPG. However, if all those miles could have been covered using electricity charged at the EV rate I have at my home in the Ozarks, the total electric cost would have been about $55 or 140+ MPG. This gives you a sense of 1) how expensive DC fast charging is; and 2) how cheaply you can operate an EV if you charge mostly at home.
As for charging experiences, I'd rate them fair to good. I don't think there was a single ElectrifyAmerica stop where all the chargers were working correctly. Also, half of the trip took place on Friday, May 26th, when EA's network app support basically flatlined in many parts of the West, including my route. Fortunately, I could use the EA "card" in my iPhone Wallet to authorize the charge at four different stations. In contrast, I had a good and trouble free experience at all of the ChargePoint stations I used; I only wish they were faster.
I’ve stopped twice (once going east, once going west) at the Okemah Travel Center's charging station in Okemah, OK. It is located at the usual gas station/convenience store combo, but is a bit nicer/cleaner than average. On both stops I had drivers of gasoline-powered trucks come over and politely ask about the Lightning.
At a stop in Santa Rosa, NM, my Lightning (foreground) was one of three trucks (including a Rivian and a Hummer EV), as well as a Cadillac Lyriq crossover that had stopped for charging. All were either silver or white. I might add that one of four the EA chargers was completely down, and two others were running at reduced power. This lack of reliability must be addressed and fixed.
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