RIP RAM BEV

[Firn]

Yep, I'm 100% with you. I'd even say it would be great if they had it they should offer even smaller battery packs (like I'd almost gladly take a like 75-100 mile range for my truck) assuming the generator is portable enough to easily setup.

@Ford Motor Company, you would sure as heck sell a LOT more SR packs if one could extend the range when needed. Guys here on the forum have done exactly that already!

Hmm. SR pack at the higher voltage of the ER. Drop 500lbs, give it more HP, call it the Lobo...

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[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Interesting ideas, and with a genny, it can do other jobs when you like, and be back-up during utility outage for your home, etc etc.
The generator with the efficiency of an engine that can run one RPM, at maximum fuel/output power is far and away better than any ICE engine, not to mention doing completly away with transmissions, and their troubles...10-speed comes to mind...

 

[hajalie24]

I know I'm a broken record here but I want a (Ford certified) external generator connection.

Let me RENT a generator for the few times a year i need it. Just give me the connection out back so I can connect a 5, 10, 20kw generator and extend my range.

You would need something like a 50kw generator, otherwise you're just adding what, another 50-100 miles before still needing to recharge eventually?

 

[trev5150]

Just rent the whole truck. Plenty of places rent pickup trucks that would meet the needs for occasional longer range trips and towing. Much cheaper to pay $300-$400 for a weekend rental a few times per year than sit on $20,000 more expensive vehicle.

Nonsensical premise. The person who could buy any such truck and only use it a few times a year for long trips because they have other vehicles to rotate through doesn't really care about the money in the first place or buys it through their LLC as an expense.

And no one buys such a truck and only uses it occasionally.

 

[trev5150]

I don't understand the appeal of this at all. EV trucks are great for people that don't do a lot of long distance driving. If that's your use case, you gain, low cost operation, a frunk, etc... There is a huge market for those that don't do long range driving but politics and poor marketing have not allowed people to understand the distinction of the two types of drivers (in other words, its not for everyone but it may be for you). There is equally a huge market of buyers that do a lot of long distance driving. So with this REV, you lose your frunk or a section of your bed for this heavy generator 100 pounds isn't that heavy, regardless if you use it or not (a loss of efficiency 100 pounds is barely noticeable). Your battery will be smaller to offset this weight unlikely, meaning you will go through its life cycles faster unlikely. You must now go to gas stations occasionally and do oil changes again simple task - not a bad trade off. If you don't use your generator often, the fuel gets stale and the seals dry up the lacquering process is a scare tactic that takes take many more years than people will have you think - use the generator every once in a while, do preventive maintenance checks and services and use fuel stabilizers. You also gain the complexities and expense of specialty repairs well that was EV's to begin with and becomes a moot point with adoption, so that point is a wash. Why in the world would you get something like this over a proven ICE f150 if you do a lot of long distance driving? Why are you here then? All I see are problems waiting to happen for no extra benefit other than saying look at me I am saving the planet by hauling around a gas generator in my inefficient EV truck. All it takes is enjoying that acceleration to justify the EV truck.

Responses in line. Thermodynamics is not your friend in your arguments.

 

[Firn]

Responses in line. Thermodynamics is not your friend in your arguments.

It won't be "100 pounds", you are talking of a system that has to deliver 70kw continuously. Engine, fuel and emissions systems, fuel tank, and the actual generator. Stand alone 50kw generators can run between 2000 and 4000lbs.

Fuel issues happen in a matter of months, less in different climates. Dealing with carbs you see this often.

The complexity comes from having BOTH systems.

Thermodynamics has nothing to do with what he said...

 

[RLXXI]

Those jokers better refund my deposit lol. Called them today and got the typical wait for a person music, then after about 5 mins of being reminded to stay on the line it goes to a voice mail box ughh.

 

[Altivec]

Responses in line. Thermodynamics is not your friend in your arguments.

100lbs???? Where did you get that info? From what I know of the truck, it's going to have a 3.6L Penstar V6. That engine alone is over 400lbs, then you have a 27 gallon gas tank, where the fuel alone weighs close to 200lbs. Then you have Oil, cooling, and all the extra components/wires required to convert mechanical energy to electricity. Maybe thermodynamics lied about being your friend too.

 

[Firn]

You would need something like a 50kw generator, otherwise you're just adding what, another 50-100 miles before still needing to recharge eventually?

Depends on the baseline efficiency.

I quick threw the issue at gpt to get this plot of range at various efficiencies. This assumes you use 80% of the battery capacity between charges and the generator provides the maximum rate the Lightning can handle (from AC source, 19kw, just for argument sake). Ignore the 60mph statement.

 

[RLXXI]

Nonsensical premise.

no one buys such a truck and only uses it occasionally.

Umm, my 2013 XLT has 30k miles on it, shared by a 2011 Dr650 with 2300 miles on it and I bought one of these trucks. My commute is 4 miles round trip. Had it 3 months now and just rolled over 1k miles.

 

[Maquis]

We had 3 Chrysler family minivans over the years. They got progressively worse. We sold our 2006 in 2012(?) and I swore I would never buy a Stellantis product. I had a 1982 Jeep CJ7. When Chrysler bought them in 1987, that was a sad day (although Jeep had perfected the rusting windshield frame).

I will never buy a vehicle with a gas engine of any type in it again, unless EVs go away.

I had a 79 CJ5 and it was one of the best vehicles I ever owned. I’ve driven several rental Chrysler/Jeeps post-Stellantis and my God it’s unbelievable how far they’ve fallen.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

at 60 mph the lightning running down the hwy without a trailer uses about 30kwh per hour.
A separate charging system could supply 30kW and the truck would drive until you run out of gas for the back up generator.
If we say the truck with a trailer is using double the energy - 60kWh per hour, then the choice is larger genny, or limited range extension:

If we keep the 30kW generator as above, the genny can start as soon as the truck starts running pulling the trailer, the truck has 131kWh full charge and the gen-set adds another 30kWh each hour, but the truck+trailer use 60kWh (say) per hour.

After the first 60 miles, the truck used 60kWh, but the gen set added 30, so your 131-60+30 = 101kWh.
After 120 miles, the truck used 120kWh but the gen set added 60, so your 131-120+60 =71kWh left.
Effectively the truck is using 60 but gaining 30 each hour, and the result is like driving without a trailer. ie net 30 kWh per hour. Total range of the truck + trailer with 30kW genny is 262 miles.

A generator that can charge the truck while you drive doesn't have to supply the full load of the truck to be a range extender.

 

[Heliian]

I'm speechless

LOL, up here, the people who buy Dodge rams or ram trucks or whatever you want to call it are not ev people. Ram is just the cheapest truck you can buy and they will continue to draw just on that premise. Forget about the ram gas locomotive battery ev/hybrid too, there isn't any savings to be had.

The only reason they came up with the design was for those people who claimed they needed 1000 miles on one charge and had to win the imaginary cross country 131hrs of le mons race because stopping periodically and not pissing into jugs was for the weak.

Stellantis will be getting bailed out soon enough.

 

[DavidYo]

Lol, everything is definitely subjective. I Love the frunk and use it daily but as a decades long truck user no way I would sacrifice the truck bed before the frunk. I can put stuff in a box but I can’t load furniture or mulch/gravel in the frunk.

I am open to the idea of having a generator just to charge the batteries. I am probably in the minority of opinions here in that I’d prefer it to be located in the bed of the truck and not my precious frunk!

 

[DavidYo]

That makes sense for the occasional trip or for someone who uses a trailer and needs to drive 500 miles between trips but I have a 28kW inverter generator and it takes up most of my lightnings bed and is crazy loud. Surely it could be a bit more compact but this isn’t really practical. And a 60kW generator!?! If you need to take long trips more than a few times a month I would just stick to a smoker for now and wait for the tech to catch up. Buy a Nissan leaf for around town driving to sneak in the green miles

at 60 mph the lightning running down the hwy without a trailer uses about 30kwh per hour.
A separate charging system could supply 30kW and the truck would drive until you run out of gas for the back up generator.
If we say the truck with a trailer is using double the energy - 60kWh per hour, then the choice is larger genny, or limited range extension:

If we keep the 30kW generator as above, the genny can start as soon as the truck starts running pulling the trailer, the truck has 131kWh full charge and the gen-set adds another 30kWh each hour, but the truck+trailer use 60kWh (say) per hour.

After the first 60 miles, the truck used 60kWh, but the gen set added 30, so your 131-60+30 = 101kWh.
After 120 miles, the truck used 120kWh but the gen set added 60, so your 131-120+60 =71kWh left.
Effectively the truck is using 60 but gaining 30 each hour, and the result is like driving without a trailer. ie net 30 kWh per hour. Total range of the truck + trailer with 30kW genny is 262 miles.

A generator that can charge the truck while you drive doesn't have to supply the full load of the truck to be a range extender.

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