What the coming F-150 Lightning EREV needs (per Motor Trend)

[MountainAlive]

Things you would expect are mentioned in here. But still no details yet on the actual vehicle Ford is planning.
https://www.motortrend.com/features/ford-f150-erev-lessons-from-lightning

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[ClevelandBeemer]

I don’t understand the need for the truck to have 700+ miles of range. Almost nobody is going to go that distance without stopping.

The biggest opportunity IMO is charging speed closely followed by price. If the truck could charge from 10 to 80% in around 15 minutes, then there’s no need for a range extender for 98% of 1/2 ton truck buyers.

 

[PJnc284]

I don’t understand the need for the truck to have 700+ miles of range. Almost nobody is going to go that distance without stopping.

The biggest opportunity IMO is charging speed closely followed by price. If the truck could charge from 10 to 80% in around 15 minutes, then there’s no need for a range extender for 98% of 1/2 ton truck buyers.

The big thing with those range numbers is to make the people feel warm and fuzzy on the off chance they tow. Have a Ram 1500 and I couldn't even make it the 400 miles+ it gave me on a tank when we went to Florida last year. I started getting antsy after about 3 hours so 200 miles in 15min would be nice. You'd need to average almost 500kW or be a heck of a lot more efficient than the Lightning. Right now the lightning only adds about 42kWh or ~75 miles @ 1.8mi/kWh in that time.

 

[Altivec]

The only thing that the upcoming f150 lightning needs, and is a deal breaker for me without it, is a BEV variant.

 

[jamelski]

Ford really missed on canceling the lightning. The extended range vehicle is ridiculous. Like someone said above I can go about 200 miles and I need to go to the bathroom and get a bite to eat and drive again. I don’t know how anyone does 345 hour marathon driving but to each his own I’ll wait for the Democratic president to come into power and bring back the Ford lightning so stupid.

 

[Shawnson]

The big thing with those range numbers is to make the people feel warm and fuzzy on the off chance they tow. Have a Ram 1500 and I couldn't even make it the 400 miles+ it gave me on a tank when we went to Florida last year. I started getting antsy after about 3 hours so 200 miles in 15min would be nice. You'd need to average almost 500kW or be a heck of a lot more efficient than the Lightning. Right now the lightning only adds about 42kWh or ~75 miles @ 1.8mi/kWh in that time.

the thing most it us don’t get, which apparently every other ICE truck buyer gets, is why are all these people worried about towing long distances for that one opportunity that they might actually do it. The vast majority of 150 customers do not tow.

 

[MountainAlive]

My hope is still that Ford offers the next Lightning in two flavors - pure electric, or EREV version. Both could be assembled at the same plant I would imagine if they share as much of the design as possible between the two.

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

Because towing, and has beed to tow, are different things.

I have a Lightning, and a travel trailer, and doing any distance using my one and only truck that cost a lot of money is not feasible.

CAN it do it? Yes. Would you want to? No. An hour of driving for an hour of charging is not feasible. And even for shorter distances the need to find a dcfc within 15 minutes of your destination is severely limiting.

You, are the reason an EREV makes sense. However I wish they would also have a BEV variant that improved upon the first gen BEV Lightning for the other 98% of customers.

 

[TwentyTwentyThree]

Need a mega frunk

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[K6CCC]

The biggest opportunity IMO is charging speed closely followed by price. If the truck could charge from 10 to 80% in around 15 minutes, then there’s no need for a range extender for 98% of 1/2 ton truck buyers.

Bingo! Jack the pack voltage up so the 500A limit on CCS-1 can get more power into the battery. Granted, a lot of the charging infrastructure can't really handle an 800 volt battery, but that will change over time and do what Hyundai (maybe others too) is doing with the step up converter in order to use lower voltage chargers. I would love to see us actually getting a 350 KW charge rate!

 

[COrocket]

I don’t understand the need for the truck to have 700+ miles of range. Almost nobody is going to go that distance without stopping.

The biggest opportunity IMO is charging speed closely followed by price. If the truck could charge from 10 to 80% in around 15 minutes, then there’s no need for a range extender for 98% of 1/2 ton truck buyers.

People want 700 miles of range so they can tow 250+ miles without stopping and that’s what they are used to with gas 150s. Is it a completely silly expectation for 1/2 ton owners? I think so, because most people pulling campers, hot shot trucking, vehicle transport etc. across the country are already using at least Super Duty or equivalent.

However, for reasons discussed ad nauseum on this forum, Ford (and their dealerships) were unsuccessful in educating the market to show that the Lightning is a cost effective and convenient alternative to the use case for most F-150 owners, which is a lifestyle vehicle for private owners or low to moderate mileage jobsite usage for commercial customers.

 

[TwentyTwentyThree]

The argument for this absurd range be it with a massive battery or an engine paired to a big battery pack is nonsensical.

 

[Altivec]

You, are the reason an EREV makes sense. However I wish they would also have a BEV variant that improved upon the first gen BEV Lightning for the other 98% of customers.

Let me fix that for you. You are the reason ICE makes sense.... Traveling long distances with fast refuelling was solved a long time ago. For those of us that DON"T use our trucks for long distances, we now have no viable solution (well at least at Ford). I Have zero interest in a truck with a tiny battery and hauling a useless engine around instead of a useful frunk.

I agree with you completely. A BEV will fill the gap for many more people than where an EREV would be better choice over a much cheaper ICE truck that already solves the problem they have with BEV

 

[Pod]

EREV just not for me. I do not really understand this strategy. Ford missing the mark.

 

[ChippewaBarr]

We can all discuss why an EREV isn't needed (I agree) but the reality is - even if people don't need all the extra range, they still will not be spending money buying the truck due to that perceived need - and sales are all that Ford cares about. These people could buy an ICE truck, of course, but that's not what they want.

To be honest my dream combo is Lightning BEV and luxury minivan EREV lol...I did say dream!

Back to the article's points...

Make Sure It’s Quick
Absolutely not necessary - the pickup/0-60 on the current Lightning Platinum (heaviest option) is better than like 90% of the entire car market, EV or ICE...it will probably be faster by default as they will likely reduce battery and add generator for a slight net weight loss.

Keep the Frunk if Possible
Absolutely necessary - I'd argue I would look elsewhere if it removed or even reduced it. MT seems to believe it's not possible to keep but there's no way Ford engineers couldn't figure out a way. A likely smaller battery combined with some brain power should open some space for like a 100kW generator (which would be around the size of a carry on/standard suitcase). Maybe put it where the spare is? Integrated into the box? Who knows. I refuse to believe Ram couldn't size reduce theirs.

Retain a Quiet Cabin
Absolutely necessary - no real notes, EVs almost need this due to no engine sound and road noise. Not sure if my Platinum has more sound dampening but even coming previously from a Lexus, I was impressed.

Improve Fast Charging Speeds
Absolutely necessary - should be like 400kW minimum but honestly anything better than the 150kW now would be nice.

Tighten Up the Steering and Body Control
Can keep the same - again no notes but I've never really noticed any severe body roll or loose/tight steering...others can educate me though if they have.

Achieve Better Range While Towing
Necessary - but not anything extreme. I think matching the gas models (350mi moderate weight with V6) would be completely fine.

Beat the F-150 Hybrid’s Range
Absolutely not necessary - 800mi is so overkill for almost anyone. 600mi total would be more than enough...that's six straight hours of driving basically...who isn't stopping somewhere in there?

Improve the Digital Experience
Absolutely necessary - however the real improvements I would like are the computing hardware (CPU/GPU or APU) since it's sooo sluggish...a 100$ Chinese tablet performs light-years faster. Software is largely okay and with more makers moving to fully Google/Apple made UIs, the onus will be on them and not Ford (or other makers)

Spruce Up the Interior
Can stay the same - granted I have a Platinum so I guess mines as good as it can be but it's still a truck, just keep it comfy and practical (take cues from Ioniq 5 or something).

Not sure why I felt compelled to provide a review of this but I think I'm pretty easy to please if Ford wants another sale.

TLDR - I need the frunk kept the same or better, range better but not by a ridiculous amount, better hardware for the tech to run on, and way better charging speeds. Make it happen Ford, just make the same truck with a generator and some improvements...these aren't huge asks...

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