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On the Road with Ralph

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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.

Ford F-150 Lightning From Arkansas to California - 1575 miles Okemah


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.

Ford F-150 Lightning From Arkansas to California - 1575 miles Trucks


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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astricklin

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Its nice to see someone willing to take the standard range truck on a cross country trip. Do you know what your average m/KWh? What would you say was your average speed?
 

astricklin

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How did you plan for route and charging stops for the trip, ABRP, plugshare, Ford Navigation, a combination of those?
 
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On the Road with Ralph

On the Road with Ralph

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Its nice to see someone willing to take the standard range truck on a cross country trip. Do you know what your average m/KWh? What would you say was your average speed?
Here is the thing: I am 68 years old and love to drive, BUT I really don't want to sit in the vehicle for more than 2 or 2.5 hours at a time without stopping and stretching my legs (and relieving my bladder). So the SR Pro works just fine for me. I've made five trips in four months of 500 miles or more, including two of 1500+.

I did not set up a separate trip log for this journey, but my overall efficiency was 2.0-2.1 MPKW. My speed on I-40 was generally 67 to 70 MPH; on long downhills, I would usually let it go up to 75 MPH. Speaking of which...

My route took me through some pretty high ground on I-40 in Arizona and New Mexico; around Flagstaff, my elevation was over 7,000 feet. The low point was the Colorado River, which was a couple hundred feet. But on my detour to Santa Fe, I went up into the mountains to the northeast, and topped out at 10,290 feet. I guess my point is that I made the Lightning do a lot of climbing on this trip, and I am sure that had an impact on range.
 
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On the Road with Ralph

On the Road with Ralph

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How did you plan for route and charging stops for the trip, ABRP, plugshare, Ford Navigation, a combination of those?
The truth is that DC fast charging stations along I-40 are generally well distributed and, while not problem-free, are sufficiently reliable that I never really worried about getting from one to the next. In one case I deliberately ran my charge down to about seven miles so I could take full advantage of free J-1772 charging overnight.

To directly answer your question, I tend to favor PlugShare - I like all the info it provides on the charging stations, including recent user feedback. It also provides an easy to read elevation graph of the trip, which is very helpful when it comes to anticipating range impacts, both good and bad. One nice way to take advantage of a saved trip in PlugShare is to pull it up on the dash screen using Apple CarPlay (probably can do the same using AndroidAuto). If I am going somewhere for the first time, I'll let ABRP look at it; once or twice I have been surprised by a route I did not expect. Frankly, I find the built-in Ford Nav System only modestly useful - it needs A LOT more smarts for me to be willing to put up with its clunky interface.
 

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Maxx

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I guess my point is that I made the Lightning do a lot of climbing on this trip, and I am sure that had an impact on range.
what goes up, must come down. I am sure you got a lot of that energy back. I feel the speed is a bigger factor. I take backroads with my regular 300 mile round trip and get 2.4 mi/KWh. It is rare that I go over 65 and many parts of the trip, below that.

great report. Thanks for sharing. I have not done much public charging. This gives me hope with my standard pack.
 

astricklin

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I agree that 2 to 2.5 hours is time to take a break. Even at only 40 years old, I don't understand how these people that think you need to drive 500+ miles without stopping do it.
 

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I agree that 2 to 2.5 hours is time to take a break. Even at only 40 years old, I don't understand how these people that think you need to drive 500+ miles without stopping do it.
perception of time and reality is different at different ages. When you are young, you are going up the hill, all you see is the sky and that is the limit so you want to go faster with no stops to get there ASAP. After you get to the top and you are over the hill, all you see is the bottom (ground waiting to eat you). Gravity tries to get you there faster and you try to slow down to smell the roses while you can. As I get older I prefer driving slower in backroads to faster on highways, riding bicycles to driving and walking to riding bikes. The slower I go, the more I see. Getting from A to B is no longer a time lost. It is a part of life. Good podcasts and good company helps too.
 

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perception of time and reality is different at different ages. When you are young, you are going up the hill, all you see is the sky and that is the limit so you want to go faster with no stops to get there ASAP. After you get to the top and you are over the hill, all you see is the bottom (ground waiting to eat you). Gravity tries to get you there faster and you try to slow down to smell the roses while you can. As I get older I prefer driving slower in backroads to faster on highways, riding bicycles to driving and walking to riding bikes. The slower I go, the more I see. Getting from A to B is no longer a time lost. It is a part of life. Good podcasts and good company helps too.
I like the way you think! BTW , my wife, her daughter and a close friend will be driving past your place in about 2 hours. We are in Hot Springs and the girls are making a trip up to Crystal Bridges. (I'm still waiting for my Lariat ER)
 

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I like the way you think! BTW , my wife, her daughter and a close friend will be driving past your place in about 2 hours. We are in Hot Springs and the girls are making a trip up to Crystal Bridges. (I'm still waiting for my Lariat ER)
Wish you the best with your truck. That is a long wait.
 

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On the Road with Ralph

On the Road with Ralph

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Ralph
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I like the way you think! BTW , my wife, her daughter and a close friend will be driving past your place in about 2 hours. We are in Hot Springs and the girls are making a trip up to Crystal Bridges. (I'm still waiting for my Lariat ER)
I was in Hot Springs about a month ago on an in-state trip to SW Arkansas. I used the Franklin Charging facility just north of the center of town; nice arrangement, fair DC charging cost.

On the balance of that trip - down to DeQueen, up to Mena, then back to West Fork (via Roland, OK where there is a Francis Energy DCFC) - it was like crossing an EV desert. I picked up a small amount of electrons at two Level 2 chargers along the way, but mostly had to rely on the Lightning's efficiency at 55 mph to keep from exhausting the battery pack.

I would LOVE to spend more time off the interstate highways, but the lack of DCFC charging in rural America makes it a challenge. However, with careful planning/routing, it is possible to do many trips into the countryside with even a SR Lightning.

Ford F-150 Lightning From Arkansas to California - 1575 miles Lightnin


I stopped in Mena, Arkansas, for some charging while eating a very good pizza at a restaurant just a block or so away. Without those electrons, I would not have made it to the next DCFC.
 

davehu

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I was in Hot Springs about a month ago on an in-state trip to SW Arkansas. I used the Franklin Charging facility just north of the center of town; nice arrangement, fair DC charging cost.

On the balance of that trip - down to DeQueen, up to Mena, then back to West Fork (via Roland, OK where there is a Francis Energy DCFC) - it was like crossing an EV desert. I picked up a small amount of electrons at two Level 2 chargers along the way, but mostly had to rely on the Lightning's efficiency at 55 mph to keep from exhausting the battery pack.

I would LOVE to spend more time off the interstate highways, but the lack of DCFC charging in rural America makes it a challenge. However, with careful planning/routing, it is possible to do many trips into the countryside with even a SR Lightning.

Lightning.jpg


I stopped in Mena, Arkansas, for some charging while eating a very good pizza at a restaurant just a block or so away. Without those electrons, I would not have made it to the next DCFC.
Ah, the rural electron desert. I have family in Dallas and Houston. Dallas will be doable in the Lightning but our normal route down 59 to my daughters place take 7 hrs without stopping at all. There are zero fast chargers (that I'd trust) in a 300 mile stretch.
 


 


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