Need To Know If a Lightning Will Work For Me

[MontanaLightning]

If you have to ask, the answer is no it won't work for you.

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[Adventureboy]

The 70-30% really seems out of whack here. I have an ER with 20k miles. My typical charge is 85% daily. I've charged it to 100% at least once per week for longer trips but never leave it at 100% for more than a few hours. I've been down single digits, as low as 2% multiple times, although I don't recommend this. I DCFC an average of 1-2 times per week. Last week I checked my battery health and it is at 99.5% SOH so the 70-30% is very much overly conservative. At that rate, my battery should last 40 years before dropping to the 80% capacity mark . The truck is meant to drive and the batteries are designed to handle it. If you stick to the 70-30% your battery may last 100 years

 

[invertedspear]

Last week I checked my battery health

I'm assuming using Forscan or something? Is there any way for the majority of us to check this?

 

[BennyTheBeaver]

Don't get an SR, look at the XLT ER's right now. They are essentially on clearance.

 

[Adventureboy]

I'm assuming using Forscan or something? Is there any way for the majority of us to check this?

Some of us use CarScanner on an iPhone and an OBD Bluetooth reader. CarScanner has a specific profile for Lightning/MME so it gives you the details right out of the gate. The Vgate vLinker MC+ OBD Bluetooth reader works for me for CarScanner and is supposed to work with Forscan too but I haven't tried it. There are several OBD readers will work and some that won't.

 

[htobin]

I love my truck, but in my opinion, it would not work well for the usage you describe

 

[Piquette]

There is one other consideration that has not been mentioned in this discussion: do you have a Ford dealer nearby with a service department staffed with competent technicians, well trained in servicing Ford EVs? If so, then proceed. If not, back off until that criteria is met.

I feel that the Service Department at my Concord, NH Ford dealer has my back. This month my Lightning ER has been in twice, 13 days to replace a failing battery module, and 4 days diagnosing two LV battery warnings. Although my first 6 months of ownership were trouble free, sooner or later you will need a good service department.

 

[EmporiaEnergy]

I bought an Emporia 240 plug-in which runs at 40 amps on a 50 amp circuit. That gets me 9kW per hour. Big difference for overnight charging.

Thanks for choosing the Emporia EV Charger! We'd like to note that with when hardwired and using a minimum 60A breaker it's possible to enable 48A charging. If anyone has any questions we're always happy to help!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I am interested in potentially purchasing a Lightning. Doing research before I buy a truck, I borrowed a demonstrator from my dealer for a day & it gave me bad range anxiety watching how precipitously the charge dropped with cautious gentle around town driving. What is real world use the truck everyday range? The SR truck I was driving has a stated 220 mile range. The Ford tutorial on the truck touchscreen advised not charging above 70% & not discharging below 30% of battery capacity for optimum battery life. That only leaves 40% usable battery capacity & by my math 220 miles of range times 40% is only 88 miles of usable range. Holy cow! Is that true usable range? Am I calculating this wrong? If not, even with the extended 320 mile range battery that only works out to 128 miles of usable range. Surely that is not right. Further, the truck that I drove dropped range faster than it rolled up miles on the odometer.

Just about every week I take a 300 mile round trip through a very rural area. Can I realistically make a 150 mile leg without stopping for a charge along the way? When I reach my turn around there will be no charger, unless I buy it & put it there. How long does it take to charge the battery back up with a 120v outlet?

If I buy a Lightning, I would install a charging station at my primary residence. What charger do you recommend from your experience? How much should I expect it to cost?

I am a Ford guy & a truck guy. I like the idea of the Lightning, but don't want to regret buying it. I would sincerely appreciate any feedback that will help me make a good decision. Thanks in advance for any assistance that you can provide!

We're biased, but the Lightning is totally worth it! The available EPA-estimated range of the XLT and Lariat Models with Extended range battery is 320 miles with a variety of charging solutions to meet all your charging needs.

 

[MJ Heat]

We're biased, but the Lightning is totally worth it! The available EPA-estimated range of the XLT and Lariat Models with Extended range battery is 320 miles with a variety of charging solutions to meet all your charging needs.

Can you speak to the Ford recommendation in the Owners Manual that recommends not charging the battery above 70% or discharging below 30% capacity for battery longevity? Does exceeding these recommendations impact battery warranty? If I follow these recommendations, what is the anticipated impact on battery life?

 

[ChrisCon]

You can absolutely drive a lightning as long as you install a charger at both ends ( I love the charge station pro and I’ve used it
For 55,000 miles at 80amps) and you purchase the extended range model . I’ve charged to 90 percent for the life of my truck and many days run it down to 10 % and the ford diagnostic system indicates my battery is still at 100% health . I use both FDRS and CarScanner

Head to the dealer now !
PS - the ford social media account will not reply. It’s kind of a running joke here. Also AMA . I use my truck for work, towing, powering my house . Went from an ice f150 and still in love everyday .

 

[roddiaz1]

Get the Hybrid F-150.
My 2 cents.

 

[BlueLightning]

I am interested in potentially purchasing a Lightning.

Just about every week I take a 300 mile round trip through a very rural area. Can I realistically make a 150 mile leg without stopping for a charge along the way? When I reach my turn around there will be no charger, unless I buy it & put it there. How long does it take to charge the battery back up with a 120v outlet?

I am a Ford guy & a truck guy. I like the idea of the Lightning, but don't want to regret buying it. I would sincerely appreciate any feedback that will help me make a good decision. Thanks in advance for any assistance that you can provide!

***I plugged my F150 Lightning into 120 and the computer told me two days, I then used 220 and it said 4-6 hours.

***GET THE 2024 FULL HYBRID F150 It suits your 300 miles requirement better If you must have a truck, If you do not need a truck and want an EV get a 300 + Tesla Model 3 Long Range for driving, and or a Model Y Long range if you are towing a bit. Take care.

 

[RickLightning]

Can you speak to the Ford recommendation in the Owners Manual that recommends not charging the battery above 70% or discharging below 30% capacity for battery longevity? Does exceeding these recommendations impact battery warranty? If I follow these recommendations, what is the anticipated impact on battery life?

Owner's manual does not say this. It is at owner.ford.com. Don't know what you watched. It is ridiculous.

Charging to 100%, daily, on a fast charger will have no impact on your warranty.

 

[MJ Heat]

***I plugged my F150 Lightning into 120 and the computer told me two days, I then used 220 and it said 4-6 hours.

***GET THE 2024 FULL HYBRID F150 It suits your 300 miles requirement better If you must have a truck, If you do not need a truck and want an EV get a 300 + Tesla Model 3 Long Range for driving, and or a Model Y Long range if you are towing a bit. Take care.

Get the Hybrid F-150.
My 2 cents.

Look at my signature/avatar/whatever that is to the left of our posts. I have both the F150 Hybrid (Powerboost) & the Maverick Hybrid. Love them both! I was just wondering if I could add a Lightning to the stable at this point, & do what I normally do with it.

The Powerboost (4WD Long Bed) reliably gets about 750 miles on a tank & the Maverick goes about 550 on a tank. I drive both like I am an old man, because I am, & get great fuel mileage as a result.

How much, if any, would my driving style affect range on a Lightning?

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