Article: How Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Once in Hot Demand, Lost Its Luster

[1Jetpilot]

0.9 x 131 or 0.9 x 98...

please derive those numbers for me. I know I burn 2.0 mi/kWh, so how do you figure DTE?

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[RickLightning]

please derive those numbers for me. I know I burn 2.0 mi/kWh, so how do you figure DTE?

I'm sorry, are you asking me to multiply 2 x 98 or 2 x 131 for you?

 

[FordLightningMan]

It shouldn’t add that much to the price. Basically you isolate the battery into two separate 400V packs. When you are driving the two packs work in parallel to provide 400V to the motors. When you are charging the two batteries are wired in series to double the voltage. All that needs to be added is a junction box with a few relays that can swap the battery between a series and parallel setup depending on what the truck is doing.

Thanks everyone for the input.

The short of it is that if we had 350kW charge rate up past 50% like the Taycan, combined with access to the Tesla Supercharger network, long distance trips and towing would be easy and accessible even in a SR.

We're so close to doing what people want! I am glad I'm already in a Lightning, but I can certainly understand wanting to wait for the next gen, where this already existing charging tech is hopefully more commonplace. This isn't "solid state batteries are coming" praying, this is tech that's on the road today and just not widely available.

 

[1Jetpilot]

No, I believe I have the 131 with the ER so I would multiply my 2.0 mi/kWh with my battery (131) to get 262, so if I charged to 90% then I would really get 235 DTE

 

[JRT]

Agree the Ford nav sucks. The path of Our road in Maine was moved 75 years ago but the Ford nav still has the old path, through what is now a woods. All other apps get the path correct.

Lol, I lived in Maine and RI, I remember a few cases like this!

 

[JRT]

Maybe I'm a simple man, but why can the new Taycan (and Lucid) charge so much faster than the EV trucks on the road? Battery is the same size as the Lightning SR, but a 15 minute charge is basically all you ever need in the Taycan. I know the Taycan is a $120k+ vehicle, is a good portion of that high cost going towards faster charging?

Put that Taycan charging curve in a Lightning or any other EV, and you essentially squash the biggest concern of the segment. Tech is already there, it just isn't being utilized or is too expensive.

That would be huge help, but the issue will still be infrastructure, especially slow charging cars sitting for hours....

 

[azypather]

These are great trucks and I no way regret my purchase. If you bought them for the right reasons, they are perfect. I never planned to use it as cross-country vehicle and that is where people went wrong in my opinion. It excels as local commuter and errand runner. Charge at home and your topped off every morning.

Absolutely agree. I will say it stings that I paid $75k for my Lariat SR as an early adopter and you can now get an ER for less, but my truck totally works for how I use it. I've yet to use a public charger. Charging at home is cheaper than most since I have solar as well. I expect I will keep it for as long as I possibly can. You simply cannot ask for more features and luxury; its an incredible vehicle. I have a Merc GLE for road trips 2-3 times per year.

 

[RickLightning]

No, I believe I have the 131 with the ER so I would multiply my 2.0 mi/kWh with my battery (131) to get 262, so if I charged to 90% then I would really get 235 DTE

See other thread for full math.

If you NEED THE RANGE, you would charge to 100%.

And, nobody runs down to zero.

 

[F150ROD]

I assume that adds $20k to the price as well?

Nah, the badge adds the $20k but I’m sure Audi and VW are right behind with the same capabilities.

Im not a battery nerd but I am assuming Ford can open up more battery capacity if they chose to, or am I wrong?

 

[Jambar]

NY TImes Business Section Article: How Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Once in Hot Demand, Lost Its Luster - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

It's behind a paywall (maybe you get a free article?). But here are some "fair use" quotes.



The guy loved the Lightning and said he'd like to buy one again someday when the range and the charging station situation are improved.

 

[Jambar]

NY TImes Business Section Article: How Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Once in Hot Demand, Lost Its Luster - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

It's behind a paywall (maybe you get a free article?). But here are some "fair use" quotes.



The guy loved the Lightning and said he'd like to buy one again someday when the range and the charging station situation are improved.

I use my Lightning as a daily driver. Works for me. I traded an Equinox for the 150. Also have a Ram to tow.

 

[1Jetpilot]

0.9 x 131 or 0.9 x 98...

Thank you, RickLightning, I totally get the math now. Just needed to know that the ER battery was 131 kWh battery

 

[sotek2345]

It shouldn’t add that much to the price. Basically you isolate the battery into two separate 400V packs. When you are driving the two packs work in parallel to provide 400V to the motors. When you are charging the two batteries are wired in series to double the voltage. All that needs to be added is a junction box with a few relays that can swap the battery between a series and parallel setup depending on what the truck is doing.

That seems to be the what Chevy is doing, but you can also just run a full 800V architecture (power electronics, motors, etc.). I believe this is how Hyundai/Kia is doing it.

One other thing to note is that only a few charging stations support 800V charging, and none of the Tesla charging network stations that will open up to us soon do.

 

[RickLightning]

Thank you, RickLightning, I totally get the math now. Just needed to know that the ER battery was 131 kWh battery

It is.

As noted, when it's cold there may be less energy in it, but that's reflected in the 1.6 you get vs. the 2.0 you get.

 

[Ventorum94]

When the price of gasoline is again north of $4-$5/gal, watch what happens to demand for large EVs.

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