What exactly does the Platinum have that makes it get less range? Just the wheels?

[TaxmanHog]

Also note that per Ford, the platinum can tow 8,500lbs while the lariat max tow is rated for 10,000lbs. Basically because of the extra curb weight of the platinum.

And the wheels/tires makeup

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[lipnorth]

I just replaced my General Grabber tires that came with the vehicle, they were quite worn after 40k miles and replaced them with new General Grabber tires that supposedly have longer life (we shall see). I think I am seeing a noticeable decrease in range but it could also be the summer heat.

 

[mattskr]

Make sure you are running the Platinum at 44-45 PSI. I think it’s higher than Lariat. At 45 psi I easily get 2.0+ kWh/mi at 70-75 mph.

 

[Alan168]

Here's another data point for this conversation:
Last weekend I drove to our Vermont campsite, which is about 80 miles, one way. I almost always use Bluecruise set at 67 mph. I normally get 2.0 mi/kwh with average driving conditions. On this latest trip, I was really loaded with materials and supplies to build decks for our campsite. The on-board scales showed 1,350 pounds with passengers, which is far heavier than our normal weekly trips to Vermont.

I traveled on Bluecruise set at 60 mph and recorded 2.4 mi/kwh - a 20% increase in "efficiency". The driving conditions were virtually average, as documented by nearly 4 years in my Lightning logbook. The moral of this story is that weight is not nearly as important as speed. This is not surprising to those of us that have driven this amazing vehicle for any length of time.

Based on this recent experience, I think the range loss is partly due to weight, but the greater factor is the size, rolling resistance and aerodynamics of the 22 inchers.

My baby is a '22 Platinum with 32,000 miles on 22 inch Grabbers (aired up to 45 pounds cold).

 

[Henry Ford]

FWIW...

AI says about 2023 trim variations:

-----
Wheel size:
Breakdown by Trim:
Pro & XLT (Standard Range): Equipped with 18-inch machined/alloy wheels (paired with 275/65R18 tires).
XLT (Extended Range) & Lariat: Standardizes up to 20-inch alloy wheels (paired with 275/60R20 tires)
Platinum: Features the largest 22-inch bright machined/alloy wheels (paired with 275/50R22 tires)
-----
Impact on the Vehicle:

Efficiency & Range: The larger 22-inch wheels on the Platinum are heavier and feature a wider, less aerodynamic profile compared to the 18-inch and 20-inch setups. This contributes to the Platinum's slightly lower EPA-estimated range (300 miles) compared to extended-range XLT and Lariat models (320 miles)

Ride Quality: The 18-inch and 20-inch wheels leave more room for tire sidewall, which provides better cushioning and forgiveness over harsh, bumpy roads. The 22-inch wheels, while visually striking, offer a stiffer, firmer ride.

----
Weight Breakdown by Trim:
Pro & XLT (Standard Range): ~6,015 lbs
XLT (Extended Range): ~6,361 lbs
Lariat (Standard Range): ~6,170 lbs
Lariat & Platinum (Extended Range): ~6,590 to 6,893 lbs
-----
Range Differences by Trim:
Pro: Standard-Range battery is standard. Range: 240 miles
XLT: Available with Standard-Range (240 miles) or Extended-Range (320 miles).
LARIAT: Available with Standard-Range (240 miles) or Extended-Range (320 miles)
Platinum: Extended-Range battery is standard. Range: 300 miles

-----
Key Weight Factors:
The Battery: The larger Extended Range battery pack alone weighs roughly 1,800 lbs, adding about 300 to 400 lbs to the truck's total weight compared to the Standard Range
Trim Add-ons: Higher trims like the Lariat and Platinum include luxury features (power tailgates, upgraded audio, premium interiors, panoramic sunroof) which slightly increase curb weight.
Towing/Payload Trade-off: While the heavier Extended Range trims (like the Platinum) have higher towing capacities, all Lightnings must be mindful of their payload limits, which max out at around 2,235 lbs for the Pro and 1,800 lbs for the Extended Range trims
-----

Answering questions on an enthusiast forum with AI is pretty meta considering the algorithm was almost certainly trained on data from the forum.

 

[Henry Ford]

Make sure you are running the Platinum at 44-45 PSI. I think it’s higher than Lariat. At 45 psi I easily get 2.0+ kWh/mi at 70-75 mph.

I recently aired down to about 38 psi to improve the ride on the crappy roads in my town. Well worth the small loss in range to me.

 

[Zaptor]

The weight of a Platinum owner's wallet is considerably greater than the rest of the ER fam; this additional unsprung mass no doubt contributes to range loss...

-Zap

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