I'm glad I have my Lightning....

[chl]

My wife’s Prius went from 55 mpg down to 30 mpg when work location changed.

I originally went to Ford dealer intending to trade my Tesla in on a MME. I asked why all the Lightnings were under the delivery area overhang. The sales rep told me that employees were buying them. My sales rep took delivery of a Platinum to replace his Flash. there were 4 being delivered to sales reps and sales managers due to the great plan deals. Between X-Plan discount, rebates, incentives, a $2k PCO, plus zero % interest on a Lease I couldn't pass it up.


Our Prius gas engine would not cut off unless the gas engine was at operating temperature and the HV Hybrid battery was above a certain charge level. The 3 mile, 7 minute commute to my wife's new work location never allowed enough time for the gas engine to get to operating temp. So the trip was all on gas engine.

I agree that It was very efficient when my wife was commuting across town. The gas engine would stop at red lights and when moving below a certain speed as long as the HV battery charge level and the gas engine was up to temp. But when her work location changed to a 3 mile and 7 minute commute, the gas engine rarely got up to operating temperature, so it continued to run. It never went to battery only mode.

Strange.

We have a 2015, maybe it's different, it has several operating modes including a battery mode for short trips:

The 2015 Toyota Prius has three main driving modes: Normal, Eco, and Power (PWR), plus EV (Electric Vehicle) mode for short distances. Normal mode is the default, providing a balanced driving experience. Eco mode prioritizes fuel efficiency by reducing throttle response and optimizing climate control. Power mode enhances throttle response for quicker acceleration. EV mode allows the Prius to run solely on electric power for short distances, reducing fuel consumption and emissions

Well, 3 miles and 7 minutes couldn't use too much gas anyway.

We usually are in the normal mode, but on longer trips use the Eco mode.

Haven't used the EV mode very often, not a big battery so not sure how far it would get us on battery.

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[chl]

That’s not true of (most) currently produced plug-in hybrids. When we use our XC90 PHEV around town, the engine never runs.

Even our 2015 regular Prius has an EV mode for really short trips on battery only.

 

[flyct]

Prius EV drive mode range is 0.6 miles It’s designed to back out of driveway early morning without engine running it’s not designed as primary propulsion.

here are some pages from 2015 manual I found.

.

 

[Mcgyverrod]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha?

Yup, sold my 2016 Taco with 135k on it and bought my 2023 Lariat ER. Charge at home with solar and especially happy with fuel costs projected to rise up about 20% in California. At 2.4 miles/Kwh, I am very happy.

 

[Traconesu]

This might be in the wrong category, But...
I just read a review of a 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4x4 Double cab Hybrid P/u in the Sunday Auto section of the paper.
Some of you may know that before my lightning I had a 2006 Taco Access Cab 4x4. I loved that truck.
Until one day on my way to p/u my partner from her chemo treatment I got hit in the front drivers corner, long story short, it got totaled.
I had looked at the CT earlier, but when the Lightning came out I dumped the thought of a CT and wanted a Lightning. I was planing on selling my 96 Ranger XLT, and keep the Taco, But the above had different plans. I got $20k for the Taco, and took that along with my bank account and bought my Lightning.
A wise decision, 18 months later.
The reason why I being this up is the 2025 Taco Hybrid in the article costs MORE than my lightning did. My 2006 Taco was $38k, the 2025 Taco is now $76k.
The lightning in my opinion is the better value. With the Hybrid, there is still an ICE, that requires services a hole lot more often than my Lightning, still Gas station stops & the whim of OPEC.I know there are Pro's and con's to all vehicles, I'm just glad I ended up here...
Just an Observation...
Marsha?

I love my lightning also. I don't believe I'll ever return to an ICE vehicle. I must say though, I'd never purchased an EV if I had to depend on public chargers. I love being able to just plug in at home to fill up. No more gas stations. No more oil changes. I believe I'll have very little brake work needed . I've actually charged my home solar batteries and ran my home from my truck via the bed 240 volt receptical. Just love it.

 

[Traconesu]

I love my lightning also. I don't believe I'll ever return to an ICE vehicle. I must say though, I'd never purchased an EV if I had to depend on public chargers. I love being able to just plug in at home to fill up. No more gas stations. No more oil changes. I believe I'll have very little brake work needed . I've actually charged my home solar batteries and ran my home from my truck via the bed 240 volt receptical.
I occasionally get a little charge from my solar system which is eally great. I Just love it.

 

[RickLightning]

We had a Fusion PHEV. In winter, engine ran to create heat, killing the initial 10 minutes of efficiency. Then highway used rest of the battery up, unless you manually locked it into gas mode, which my wife never did. Car wasn't smart enough to turn off electric mode at highway speeds.

The only reason we bought it to replace our 7 year old Fusion Hybrid, over a hybrid, was the thousands of dollars less cost due to over $11k in rebates. Sold it to net a 3 year cost of under $2k as I recall.

 

[MaintGrl]

We had a Fusion PHEV. In winter, engine ran to create heat, killing the initial 10 minutes of efficiency. Then highway used rest of the battery up, unless you manually locked it into gas mode, which my wife never did. Car wasn't smart enough to turn off electric mode at highway speeds.

The only reason we bought it to replace our 7 year old Fusion Hybrid, over a hybrid, was the thousands of dollars less cost due to over $11k in rebates. Sold it to net a 3 year cost of under $2k as I recall.

Rick, I was wondering what size of battery did the PHEV have. Sounds like it was really meant to be a round towner vehicle.

 

[RickLightning]

Rick, I was wondering what size of battery did the PHEV have. Sounds like it was really meant to be a round towner vehicle.

7.6kWh, with an estimated 21 miles of range. In the winter, that was about 12 or 13 miles of range.

 

[MaintGrl]

7.6kWh, with an estimated 21 miles of range. In the winter, that was about 12 or 13 miles of range.

WOW, so it's only good for a trip to the grocery store, on Battery. I can't see how that would be worth the extra cost of a PHEV

 

[RickLightning]

WOW, so it's only good for a trip to the grocery store, on Battery. I can't see how that would be worth the extra cost of a PHEV

That's the beauty - it wasn't extra cost.

The Fusion PHEV, with rebates, cost less than the Fusion Hybrid, with rebates. THOUSANDS less. The downsides were it was heavier, and the trunk was smaller.

At the time we had a 2013 F-150 for the big vehicle, and my wife drove the Fusion to/from work, about 25 miles roundtrip, and to the grocery store. On any long trips, we tended to take the truck.

And, due to the rebates, when we sold it, we hadn't spent $2k in 3 years.

Specifics:

MSRP - $39,390
Purchase price with A/Z and rebates/credits - $23,148.76.
Total cost with sales tax - $25,257.69.
Total cost to own including money factor, acquisition fee, listing costs, accessories - $27,465.03
Sold to Carvana - $25,546.

Total cost to own - $27,465.03 - $25,546 = $1,919.03.

 

[MaintGrl]

That's the beauty - it wasn't extra cost.

The Fusion PHEV, with rebates, cost less than the Fusion Hybrid, with rebates. THOUSANDS less. The downsides were it was heavier, and the trunk was smaller.

At the time we had a 2013 F-150 for the big vehicle, and my wife drove the Fusion to/from work, about 25 miles roundtrip, and to the grocery store. On any long trips, we tended to take the truck.

And, due to the rebates, when we sold it, we hadn't spent $2k in 3 years.

Specifics:

MSRP - $39,390
Purchase price with A/Z and rebates/credits - $23,148.76.
Total cost with sales tax - $25,257.69.
Total cost to own including money factor, acquisition fee, listing costs, accessories - $27,465.03
Sold to Carvana - $25,546.

Total cost to own - $27,465.03 - $25,546 = $1,919.03.

So, in one form you sold it for more than you paid for it, and had it for 2 years. Basically only paying for superfluous stuff, ie. "money factor, acquisition fee, listing costs, accessories"
Good deal.......!

 

[RickLightning]

3 years, but yes. Then we did the 2021 Mach-E, selling it when our ordered 2021 came in as a 2022, and making thousands. So, from 2018 to 2022, we had no costs for vehicle ownership including insurance.

Then we made up for it by buying a 2022 Mach-E and a 2022 Lightning, and watching EV values crumble...

 

[CD4TNF]

3 years, but yes. Then we did the 2021 Mach-E, selling it when our ordered 2021 came in as a 2022, and making thousands. So, from 2018 to 2022, we had no costs for vehicle ownership including insurance.

Then we made up for it by buying a 2022 Mach-E and a 2022 Lightning, and watching EV values crumble...

The Lightning's used value has held. Last year prices were in the $40k-$60k. Pretty much the same this year. Maybe a little lower with some higher mileage vehicles.

Looks like the used Lightning prices have gone up in the past few months.
https://www.cargurus.com/research/price-trends/Ford-F-150-Lightning-d3147


EV values are decreasing because one company in particular has an oversized weight on the average. Overall it looks like other brands have found their market equilibrium.


Folks here talking about their $36k 2016 Toyota. That's $49.5k in today's dollars.


Hopefully as more of us Lightning owners get out there and can share our stories. The ICE trucking community will do that same price and cost over time analysis. Coming to the same conclusion as us that an EV truck is cheaper and plenty of truck to get the job done.

 

[Traconesu]

Yup, sold my 2016 Taco with 135k on it and bought my 2023 Lariat ER. Charge at home with solar and especially happy with fuel costs projected to rise up about 20% in California. At 2.4 miles/Kwh, I am very happy.

I traded in my 2018 prius and 2014 F150 on my 2022 platinum. I also do most of my charging off my excess solar. I've used my truck to power my home on several occasions after repeated cloudy days. I've already had 3 of my battery modules failing, and hoping the other 6 modules will fail prior to my 8 yr warranty is up. But I'm still never returning to an ICE vehicle regardless what happens. This has been the perfect truck for me.

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