2026 F-150 Lightning STX Model Introduced. Replaces the XLT

[Firn]

There's been reports from users that regularly charge to 100% on these trucks for hundreds of thousands of miles with no ill effects. Since Ford precalculated usable battery size and SOC, there's less on the table for what's known in the industry as "CYA"

Example using my own truck specs, it's listed as having a 123kWh battery yet the owners manual clearly shows it to be quite a bit higher at 142.1kWh. My bet is they balanced this out beforehand to as mentioned, CYA, so that when we charge to 100%, we're actually only charging it to 90-95% (cya buffer).

It's easier to understand in terms of hp for an ice vehicle, every gear head knows Ford leaves a lot of power off the table to (CYA) their engines from rapid unscheduled disassembly. Introduce custom tuning.

I don't know of any way to get more power from these ev platforms however, charging to 100% daily should not be an issue.

Quick conversations with AI...

If you daily drive 14,000 miles a year in a 98 kWh Lightning in a hot 100 °F climate and charge it to 100% every day, you’re looking at roughly 15 years before the pack falls to 80% capacity. In contrast, someone with the 131 kWh pack in a mild 70 °F climate, charging only to 90%, would see cycle life stretch far longer—on the order of 40+ years of use at 14,000 miles per year. In other words, heat and high charge limits cut battery life dramatically, while a larger pack, cooler temps, and gentler charging make degradation nearly a non-issue.

Although yes, this is Ford providing CYA, it is also Ford ensuring a truck with a usable lifespan in somewhat demanding conditions and environments. Taking those numbers and make the lightning a work truck, towing a trailer daily for 24,000 miles a year in a hot climate, and now that battery hits 80% capacity remaining in 6.7 years.

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[RLXXI]

Quick conversations with AI...

If you daily drive 14,000 miles a year in a 98 kWh Lightning in a hot 100 °F climate and charge it to 100% every day, you’re looking at roughly 15 years before the pack falls to 80% capacity. In contrast, someone with the 131 kWh pack in a mild 70 °F climate, charging only to 90%, would see cycle life stretch far longer—on the order of 40+ years of use at 14,000 miles per year. In other words, heat and high charge limits cut battery life dramatically, while a larger pack, cooler temps, and gentler charging make degradation nearly a non-issue.

Although yes, this is Ford providing CYA, it is also Ford ensuring a truck with a usable lifespan in somewhat demanding conditions and environments. Taking those numbers and make the lightning a work truck, towing a trailer daily for 24,000 miles a year in a hot climate, and now that battery hits 80% capacity remaining in 6.7 years.

Key aspects of the Ford F-150 Lightning battery warranty:

• Duration: 8 years or 100,000 miles from the warranty start date.
  
  
• Coverage: Protects against defects in materials and workmanship, as well as excessive capacity loss.
  
  
• Capacity Guarantee: Ford guarantees the battery will maintain at least 70% of its original capacity for the warranty period.

Perhaps as a work truck it might be a concern. For all intents and purposes most of these trucks are mall crawlers.

 

[Firn]

Key aspects of the Ford F-150 Lightning battery warranty:

• Duration: 8 years or 100,000 miles from the warranty start date.

Warranty wasnt the point, it would have been outside that already in just over 5 years; 80% was used since thats the industry standard. Point being its not just CYA, its intended to give a good solid lifespan for pretty demanding use cases. My worst case there was a standard range doing 100 miles daily, every day, 5 days a week, every week of the year, pulling a trailer, in 100 degree weather. As you said, thats not the norm.

 

[RLXXI]

Point being its not just CYA, its intended to give a good solid lifespan for pretty demanding use cases. My worst case there was a standard range doing 100 miles daily, every day, 5 days a week, every week of the year, pulling a trailer, in 100 degree weather. As you said, thats not the norm.

Your point reflects .1% of the motoring public at best I'm sure. I'm not going to waste any sleep worrying about something that'll never happen in my trucks lifetime, much less my own.

 

[loutotheis]

Had I not gotten a flash earlier this year, I probably would’ve gone for this model; and eventually just put all season tires on it.

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