Lightning range extending with active ride height control

[Stevo]

Spotted this Lightning at CES. It has a future concept product installed on it that is stated to extend the range of the Lightning. The model pictured here allows for ~40mm of travel. The system will automatically lower the vehicle depending on speed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Improvement is not published on the information at the show but was stated at 10%. A set is installed on this test vehicle.

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[Zaptor]

Adjustable ride height is the feature I miss the most going from my RAM Limited which had it to the Lightning... RAM's has what I think is about 4" of ride height adjustment, Entry/Exit, Aero, Normal, Offroad 1 and Offroad 2. The RAM similarly lowers itself to Aero at highway speed with no input from the driver. I would be very interested in an aftermarket system for our Lightnings, as long as they don't think it's worth $5k+. Interesting that this seems to use a helical geared drive type system to raise and lower, where the RAM is simply airbags. I'll be watching for this to hit the market. Thanks for the share.

 

[Randall Stephens]

I’ve had an air suspension before, and I don’t ever want one again. Unless somehow they last for 200k miles with no maintenance required.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I’ve had an air suspension before, and I don’t ever want one again. Unless somehow they last for 200k miles with no maintenance required.

I've had them and I think it depends on the system. The one in my Tesla is nearing 200k with no maintenance outside of standard alignments. Due to design issues it did cause frequent problems for the half shafts though.

That said, it was the older style with simple air springs and didn't really offer much in terms of a suspension. It did allow for slightly better efficiency (nowhere near 10%)

I would love the suspension on the Rivian, 6" total of adjustment was amazing on that truck. The driving characteristic changes, the dampening is simply amazing. I would love to have that suspension system on the Lightning but it hasn't proven to be the most reliable so far with a lot of the earlier models having leaks...

On a different note, 40mm = 1.5". If it truly gets 10% better efficiency/range, Eibach lowering springs would be quite an affordable option to increase range..

 

[Rockyl32]

doesn't the active air damn account for this?

 

[RickLightning]

dam...

 

[F150ROD]

Spotted this Lightning at CES. It has a future concept product installed on it that is stated to extend the range of the Lightning. The model pictured here allows for ~40mm of travel. The system will automatically lower the vehicle depending on speed to improve aerodynamic efficiency. Improvement is not published on the information at the show but was stated at 10%. A set is installed on this test vehicle.

Damn this would change everything for me!

Could this be coming for T3? I looked at their site and they don’t sell to the public.

 

[Lytning]

I would like to see a written, money-back, guarantee on that 10%. It is easy to state an efficiency improvement and not back it up with a written guarantee.

 

[Stevo]

Damn this would change everything for me!

Could this be coming for T3? I looked at their site and they don’t sell to the public.

They said they want to sell this to Ford to includes on future vehicles.

 

[RickKeen]

This mechanical ride height adjustment would be more attractive to me than air. Would want a bit more than 40mm, though. 100mm (4") of travel would be preferred (esp useful on the back axle also for empty/loaded anti-squat compensation).

 

[Stevo]

A mechanical ride height adjustment would be more attractive to me than air. Would want a bit more than 40mm, though. 100mm (4") of travel would be preferred (esp useful on the back axle also for empty/loaded anti-squat compensation).

This is a pure mechanical solution. I agree more travel would be better. I personally want the truck to sit lower all of the time.

 

[Heliian]

There are good reasons that all vehicles aren't equipped with adjustable suspensions. It's expensive, maintenance intensive, unreliable compared to stock, adds weight and complexity and the efficiency gains aren't worth it.

 

[Randall Stephens]

I've had them and I think it depends on the system. The one in my Tesla is nearing 200k with no maintenance outside of standard alignments. Due to design issues it did cause frequent problems for the half shafts though.

That said, it was the older style with simple air springs and didn't really offer much in terms of a suspension. It did allow for slightly better efficiency (nowhere near 10%)

I would love the suspension on the Rivian, 6" total of adjustment was amazing on that truck. The driving characteristic changes, the dampening is simply amazing. I would love to have that suspension system on the Lightning but it hasn't proven to be the most reliable so far with a lot of the earlier models having leaks...

On a different note, 40mm = 1.5". If it truly gets 10% better efficiency/range, Eibach lowering springs would be quite an affordable option to increase range..

Mine was on a crown Vic, and we wound up just running with a spring swap kit. I’m not a big car person, so when stuff breaks it’s a hassle for me, not a “time to upgrade” thing, which I know a lot of people enjoy, and that’s cool. I see this is a mechanical system I think, which should be more reliable than air, but it’s just one more thing to fix when it breaks, and for me the whole electric idea was the get away from things that break, as misguided as that is.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

doesn't the active air damn account for this?

Only on the front. I'm sure air gets disturbed as it goes by the football sized wheel gaps.

 

[Lytning]

There are good reasons that all vehicles aren't equipped with adjustable suspensions. It's expensive, maintenance intensive, unreliable compared to stock, adds weight and complexity and the efficiency gains aren't worth it.

Changing the ride height also changes the vehicle Center of Gravity, which surely negatively impacts Electronic Stability Control.

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