Important Update: Ford EV Roadmap & Future of F-150 Lightning (EREV Next Gen Model) - ⛔️ ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS

[02Reaper]

Well, I can't say that I didn't see this coming. Been a lightning owner since October of 22. Thinking back now, I'm kind of mad at myself for trading in my paid of 2016 3.5 ecoboost. Here's my outlook. We aren't there yet in charging, I'm not opposed to going back to gas, but what choices does Ford leave me with right now? If I was to go back with a Ford truck, because I'm in the country and everyone needs a truck, but I want one that is capable and reliable. That leaves me with a choice of a full-size truck for things around the house and for trips also. So what am I supposed to do....Go out and get me a new unreliable Ford truck with either transmission issues, phaser issues, and wet belt issues? Ford, with the quality of your trucks and suv's here lately and your mind that could change in the drop of a pin, you really leave people with little choice for going back with you on a reliable vehicle.

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[Danface]

I get it but I still feel a bit like a guinea pig. Ford should "do something" for us BEV owners if one decided to purchase another Ford vehicle (a couple of K off a purchase)

 

[evowner]

This climate change denier administration won't be around for much longer. This vehicle is a gem. Ford will again be a loser instead of a leader. What a shame. Found On Road Dead. Bringing back old memories.

 

[Daragh]

Not unexpected to be honest, given the continuous fiscal losses, materials overhead and the anti EV sentiment at the Federal level. Ford is no different than any large corporate listed American company, they are driven by stock price and ever higher profit demands of investors and shareholders, customers have and always will come second to this in the medium to longer term. Way of the corporate world, we all got the Lightning because of this very mechanism! Ford invested heavily in EV tech and build out (as did other manufacturers) they just misread the true demand and the American consumers intolerance for lower range and higher charge times. It’s disappointing for sure but it’s no different than them exiting the “small car” segment a few years back. I’m sure over the next several decades battery technology will improve significantly ideally with solid state becoming viable with new materials, continued research and innovation. ICE vehicles won’t get much more efficient given the basic physics of efficiency and heat loss in combustion engines. At some point battery technology will be comparable for range and that’s really when EV’s will win in the USA. I’m still a big fan of my Lightning, had planned on keeping it for 10 years or so anyway so in my case resale isn’t a massive concern as don’t believe there would be many buyers for a 10 year old EV of any sort let alone a truck. But I totally understand the feeling that Ford has basically turned its back on its EV customers.

 

[CavRider]

Thank you for bringing the update here in a timely fashion.

This. I just bought a Mach-e to compliment our Lightning and am so happy to be out of the oil change and engine maintenance business.



Same!

I hope my 2023 lasts me at least another six years to see Ford and others come back around to BEVs. If something happens between now and then, I’ll find another brand. No oil changes for this family. The charging infrastructure is only getting better. The justification for this is silly, just say you’re losing your ass on the truck, no excuses are needed.

How many of us know people that have actually went back to gas engines after having electric? I don’t know any. I have a bunch of neighbors, friends, and coworkers that are in a group chat and all of us are going 100% BEV.

I get it for special cases where you need to tow a lot but we’re not buying these trucks to primarily tow long distance.

In addition to my Lightning I personally know two other people who bought early (22-23). One of those switched back to gas. Range issues.

So, in my little world, 33% retraction.

 

[Jamchampnate]

I get it but I still feel a bit like a guinea pig. Ford should "do something" for us BEV owners if one decided to purchase another Ford vehicle (a couple of K off a purchase)

They should definitely start with Bluecruise free for life.

 

[reddog21]

Based on the lackluster Lightning sales, how can anyone say this is a bad idea? I know everyone here loves their truck on this board, but Mach-E sales have outpaced the Lightning by a fairly wide margin, which means the market right now for an all-electric truck isn’t looking great.

I don’t mind the idea, so I’ll wait to see the details. Hopefully, it’s not a full-blown V6 that Dodge is using.

 

[MannyG20]

Legacy automakers are a joke...Not a surprise as Ford and the stealerships want that maintenance money, which EREV will give them. This solidifies the fact that I will not be remotely interested in a Ford for our next car. I am never going back to gas, such an antiquated technology. No thanks.

As a Mach-E owner I too will not go back to gas but to call it an antiquated technology is just plain false. Modern ICE engines are actually cutting edge technology. If you are are simply referring to the fact that ICE engines have been the dominant means of locomotion for the past 150 years, I would say that you are forgetting that electric motors were around back then, but much like today they didn’t offer the advantages that ICE offered the public.
EV is the future, maybe, but if we need a bridge such as hybrids or EREV to get there then I for one am all for it.

 

[sotek2345]

as an original 'pure ev' 2022 LIGHTNING PRO SR owner, I can see both sides, although, personally, the long-term is not made up of EREV vehicles, except for those who have definite plans, or a business-use, to tow long range.

My LIGHTNING is NOT to tow. My LIGHTNING is NOT to use in business. My LIGHTNING is simply my vehicle, just like a MachE is to others, or a ModelY is to many, or a Nissan LEAF still is to yet a few.

I can see a manufacturer offering BOTH options, but deciding to go solely with a single 'powertrain' type of vehicle, is yet, still not the answer, long term...


as to an EREV and how it works, I can see the value, and it certainly solves many 'range anxiety' issues, or 'charge anxiety' concerns, but it also presents MORE potential annoyances, and costs, such as now having to stop to 'fill up' with gas, having to endure the NOISE of a constantly running High-Output engine right in front of the driver, and now having to MAINTAIN the engine, just like in the typical engine-based vehicle.

Some will submit that they have a home generator and have never had many maintenance needs, but that is really a totally different use-case scenario, as it is rarely used.
An onboard EREV generator engine is likely going to be CONSTANTLY used, and at constant HIGH-SPEEDS, for hours and hours on end, unlike most any typical generator engine.

I admit that the manufacturers may design better long-term high-output generator engines, with possibly lower maintenance needs, but these are also going to come at a HIGH price - such as similar generator packs found to power 'whole-home' needs - you can imagine that the typical 'Generac' type whole-home generator is not a low-cost product.

The EREV will now also need the additional storage and mechanical equipment needed to bring this to fruition: a sizable gas tank, and it's storage location. a gas tank filler inlet location. additional Electrical wiring and connections and Converter to provide the engine output to the battery pack. Will the EREV need DCFast Charging? maybe not. Radiator: now a must for the new engine, and the equipment to get that cooling to where it is needed, and the tank and cooling lines, as needed. Maybe some of this will be integrated with the current battery pack cooling system.

We'll see. I won't rule it out, although if I get my SLATE truck, first, it's doubtful I'll ever move to any 'engine' vehicle, again. I like the SCOUT, too, but if they move to only an EREV version, it's doubtful, as well.

My LIGHTNING has performed so well, I have no need to even consider anything else, regardless.

Don't forget the size of the engine that will be needed to meet full power demand when the battery is drained. There can likely be some buffer by load spreading, but I would think they would need at least either the Coyote V8 (boosted)? or the 3.5L twin turbo Ecoboost. We have 580HP and 775 ftlbs of torque (ER variants), it takes a lot of motor to match that.

 

[sb020397]

This is so disappointing. Just purchased 2025 Ford Lightning about 4 months ago. Wanted to get a Tesla this time but I'm a Ford guy and decided to stay loyal. Mistake. The tech with a generator / engine sounds cool but we also do not want the maintenance. The EV's take a significant hit on value but this announcement crushed the value on my 2025. Feel sick about it today.

 

[sotek2345]

Based on the lackluster Lightning sales, how can anyone say this is a bad idea? I know everyone here loves their truck on this board, but Mach-E sales have outpaced the Lightning by a fairly wide margin, which means the market right now for an all-electric truck isn’t looking great.

I don’t mind the idea, so I’ll wait to see the details. Hopefully, it’s not a full-blown V6 that Dodge is using.

It will have to be either a boosted V6 or a v8 or else you get a huge power drop off when the battery is depleted.

 

[Adventureboy]

It will bring another EV FORD will abandon.

Ford won't be able to abandon EVs and survive as an automotive manufacturer. They will not have a viable business going forward if they do. They do, however, need to focus on building EVs on a platform that can be profitable and reliable. Hopefully, UEV is in that direction.

It is inevitable that EVs will continue to take market share, as is shown by the global pace of adoption. North America will need to catch up to remain relevant.

 

[CavRider]

I'm so angry right now. So f'ing angry.

The points I want to note...



1) People who have lightnings use them as trucks more than ICE customers do.

2) The Pro was - and still is - the vehicle that most people wanted.

3) PHEV is the wrong step.

4) What does the White House have on Ford?

Where is point 3 coming from? Ford is not talking about a PHEV.

 

[detansinn]

I am planning to get 10-15 years out of my ‘23 Lariat. Hoping that we’ll see another proper electric F150 again by then.

Like others, I am not interested in the complexity and maintenance of an EREV. Even looking past those issues, the frunk was a step change in pickup truck utility. I wouldn’t want to give that up and stuff things in the cab again.

 

[electricpig]

Ford won't be able to abandon EVs and survive as an automotive manufacturer. They will not have a viable business going forward if they do. They do, however, need to focus on building EVs on a platform that can be profitable and reliable. Hopefully, UEV is in that direction.

It is inevitable that EVs will continue to take market share, as is shown by the global pace of adoption. North America will need to catch up to remain relevant.

IMHO, Ford will kiss the feet of the orange one, and delay the new platform at the very least, or out right cancel it in year or two. Cancelling will likely hinge midterm elections, but delay is all but certain.

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