Blue Oval Says Next Gen Ford F-150 Lightning Customers Will Be Long Distance Drivers

[Garyl]

Ford Promising, Really? I have lived a fairly successful life following a few simple tenets. One being "Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on Me". Follow the Ford playbook. Ford
advertise 30K truck. Ford makes one 30K truck for every 20 of the 50k version. Ford Dealer add 5K to said truck Ford only sells 100K trucks instead of 250K it need to "breakeven" Ford abandons said truck because they didn't sell.

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[ClevelandBeemer]

Ford Promising, Really? I have lived a fairly successful life following a few simple tenets. One being "Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on Me". Follow the Ford playbook. Ford
advertise 30K truck. Ford makes one 30K truck for every 20 of the 50k version. Ford Dealer add 5K to said truck Ford only sells 100K trucks instead of 250K it need to "breakeven" Ford abandons said truck because they didn't sell.

The $30k low cost platform is the entire point of the universal EV platform. I think it’s too early to assume what happened to the Lightning will happen to the universal EV platform. There are so many other factors that culminated to kill off the BEV Lightning. Interestingly enough, these same factors didn’t seem to impact the Mach-E.

Time will tell, however I believe Fords universal EV platform will be significantly more successful domestically than Slates offerings.

 

[GoodSam]

I think we will be waiting until the late 2030s for the double capacity HV battery per weight, volume, cost we want.
Perplexity AI:
hypothetical next‑gen truck:
-A silicon‑rich high‑nickel Li‑ion pack is a plausible 2030‑ish solution for a long‑range variant, offering maybe 10–25% better pack‑level Wh/kg and Wh/L than a high‑nickel graphite pack, at neutral to slightly higher $/kWh.
-It fits nicely as a mid‑term step before or alongside solid‑state, and has a clearer path to use existing manufacturing infrastructure than full solid‑state does.

 

[RickLightning]

Yes It will be an interesting test of consumer wants.

Does the consumer want to deal with Car Dealer?
Does the consumer want to be forced to buy a $2000 "package " just to get a simple $200 upgrade?
Does the consumer want the ability to customize there truck?

If Slate stays true to there stated principals I really think it will become the 2027 version of the VW Bug. AS long as they don't dream of becoming the next big car company and stay grounded in there roots I think they have a chance.

their...
their stated principles...

You mean The Thing.

IMO, Slate will fail. We will see.

 

[Garyl]

The odds are not in Slate favor. Keeping the cost structure under control is probably the key to THEIR survival, but in the world of social media and influencer's unlikely things are possible. Probably not a lot of people under 50 even remember "The Thing"

 

[WhipSticks]

Really, the issue is that batteries are developing so quickly, that within two to three model years you will be able to purchase an EV truck that can tow longer distances without the generator. Then you will have lost your frunk for no good reason. The frunk is high on my list of great ways to use the space afforded by not having an engine.

I will struggle along with my Lightning that can only realistically haul short distances (say 100 - 120 mile round trip) for a couple of years. At that time, if the market options are compelling, I might sell and upgrade. But it won't be to an EREV with a gas/diesel generator onboard.

And 45k miles in, this Lightning is the best vehicle I have ever owned.

 

[windydrew]

I’m sure there is a market out there for people who want an EREV Lightning, but it would be amazing if Ford could also offer a pure BEV version of the next gen Lightning as well, built off the same platform as the EREV version.

This is the answer. Please do both, Ford....

 

[MichaelCA]

The $30k low cost platform is the entire point of the universal EV platform. I think it’s too early to assume what happened to the Lightning will happen to the universal EV platform. There are so many other factors that culminated to kill off the BEV Lightning. Interestingly enough, these same factors didn’t seem to impact the Mach-E.

Time will tell, however I believe Fords universal EV platform will be significantly more successful domestically than Slates offerings.

But will it get meaningful software updates that actually go out to the whole fleet?

 

[ClevelandBeemer]

But will it get meaningful software updates that actually go out to the whole fleet?

Time will tell. Given Ford is going to central compute, it should significantly streamline the update process.

 

[shoopg]

They won’t, they’ll be regular F150 drivers that drive their truck to work and never use the gas generator.

Maybe once a year they’ll tow their buddy’s boat to the lake. Hope they think the EREV was worth it

 

[GoodSam]

they’ll be regular F150 drivers that drive their truck to work and never use the gas generator

As probably noted elsewhere, another problem arises with these EREVs, the gas generator has to be used periodically to keep the fuel from going bad (maybe drop some Stabil in?).

 

[KahnDawg]

Does Ford have shares in Cath Bags or something?

Or do they think that only men drive long distances?

I'm joking, obviously, but I fail to see how *any human* can be safe on the road without taking regular breaks every few hours. And that break time is perfect for a recharging stop.

When I drive from Oregon to SoCal (which I do a fair bit) I usually cover 600-700 miles in a day. That's more than enough for safety. Ok, if you're towing, you may end up doing less (the last time I towed cross country from Oregon to Colorado I did about 500 miles a day I think) but seriously.

WHAT... IS... THE... OBSESSION... WITH... DISTANCE?

I think some folks believe they are willing to drive for longer stretches than they typically do in practice, as well as the requirement of a mandatory stop(s) for charging versus a potential stop for rest/safety.

I roadtrip with my friends all across the SE USA and all agree that our bodies are ready for a break about the same time the truck needs some electrons.

I understand how the towing range may dissuade those utilizing the truck for destinations beyond 70 miles one direction on a semi-daily basis. That said, I have towed U-Haul car haulers loaded with full size trucks on several 350 mile trips and don’t have any reservations about doing it again.

 

[RickLightning]

As probably noted elsewhere, another problem arises with these EREVs, the gas generator has to be used periodically to keep the fuel from going bad (maybe drop some Stabil in?).

Not a problem. Ford addressed that years ago with PHEVs. First, the fuel system is pressurized. Second, at a certain point, it notes no new gas added, and turns on the gas engine to use it. On our 2018 Fusion PHEV, as I recall it was 18 months.

 

[dorbi]

Not a problem. Ford addressed that years ago with PHEVs. First, the fuel system is pressurized. Second, at a certain point, it notes no new gas added, and turns on the gas engine to use it. On our 2018 Fusion PHEV, as I recall it was 18 months.

It's still a problem. The generator needs to be run to maintain the seals, and infrequent/short gen run time can lead to condensation in the oil. You're describing what Ford did on the Fusion to try to mitigate the problem. This just means that the generator will be run when you don't need it, which is inefficient and a waste of money. Even if you drive solely on electric, you have to maintain the generator.

The other problem is people tend to use PHEVs as traditional/parallel hybrid, and don't plug in. Which means their efficiency is terrible.

 

[RickLightning]

It's still a problem. The generator needs to be run to maintain the seals, and infrequent/short gen run time can lead to condensation in the oil. You're describing what Ford did on the Fusion to try to mitigate the problem. This just means that the generator will be run when you don't need it, which is inefficient and a waste of money. Even if you drive solely on electric, you have to maintain the generator.

The other problem is people tend to use PHEVs as traditional/parallel hybrid, and don't plug in. Which means their efficiency is terrible.

So the EREV is a bad idea. Totally agree.

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