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Yes, exactly. A typical automotive gasoline engine offers maximum efficiency at about 70% to 75% of peak power; a typical generator hits its maximum efficiency at about 85% of its peak power. So I suspect that Ford will use a naturally-aspirated Cyclone/Duratec 3.5L V6. This is a relatively...

Yes. Here's the issue I have with the EREV: Looking back at 2025, I would have used the gas range extender 7 days out of the year: two road trips, each with 3 driving days each, and one long local driving day of almost 200 miles. There were no trips or activities that I didn't do because of...

I feel like the Ford engineers will ask themselves this question, too. On a road trip, probably towing a trailer -- you will eventually get to the point where both the battery and the gas tank are low, but the trip isn't done yet. So now what? As I see it there are basically two options: You...

Yes; ideally both EREV and BEV versions of the Lightning should be available. A build-to-oder option that: deletes the ICE genset, increases the usable EV battery into the 120-140kWh range, and adds a DC fast-charging port would be great.

More than the social media viewpoints, I think that a lot of truck buyers purchase their vehicles for what they hope to do (eventually), and wish they could do (if only ...). So for example, lots of people purchase Raptors but never take them off-pavement (it is estimated that only about 20% of...

I think that it is probably that the EREV Lightning will be a close copy of the much-delayed RamCharger EREV. IIRC, the Ram truck will have a Pentastar 3.6L V6 turning a 130kW generator, about 70kWh usable battery storage for ~145mi electric range, and ~545mi gas range. Stellantis has been...

Thanks for the update, Brian. It's good to hear the news straight from the horse's mouth. I'm disappointed that Ford won't be offering a BEV version of the new Lightning. It seems like a relatively small engineering lift to offer an optional "remove the engine and add more batteries and a...

I'm guessing that you will probably never use DC fast charging with the EREV Lightning. If you're on a road trip or towing and need range, you add gas. Overall, gas miles will be cheaper than most DC fast charger miles, and cheaper than the rates I've seen for some AC chargers at hotels. I'll...

I'll be driving my '23 ER Lariat for the foreseeable future. In my use, I'll probably get to 150,000 miles in another 6 1/2 years, so I expect to be looking for a new truck sometime between the beginning of 2031 and the end of 2034. I will definitely be looking for a BEV, and will probably want...

Great write-up, and great truck. Your observations mirror mine here in the Atlanta area (though with less ice). I charge on $0.07-and-change electricity, and commute ~75 miles a day, 2-3 days a week. I've got 42,000 miles on the factory Hankook tires (and like you, have worn down the edges). I...

I think that Ford's strategy should have been to offer all the options in F-150 drive-trains: Conventional V8, EcoBoost V6, PowerBoost hybrid, PowerBoost plug-in hybrid, Pure EV, and EV with a gas range extender. There are some significant use cases where an EREV Lightning would be a good...

I set it to 90% and plug in whenever I'm home. Currently at 2 2/2 years and 42,000 miles on my '23 ER Lariat, and CarScanner shows a 99.5% battery state of health.

Yeah. Reports are the Ford is on track to lose close to a billion dollars (and possibly a good bit more due to this new fire) simply because they can't produce enough F-150's to meet demand. I'm sure they're willing to sacrifice a lot just to keep that F-150 production line putting out as many...

Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; three times is enemy action. -- Ian Fleming, Goldfinger (1959)

I am confident, based on things I've seen as well as statements from Ford, that they are actively working on a EREV F-150. Assuming that there is an EREV F-150, a BEV F-150 could be as easy as leaving the ICE engine and generator out.

While it is likely that a 40A on-board charger would be slightly cheaper than a 48A unit, that savings may well be offset by the cost to specify, procure, warehouse, and distribute an additional part number. Each unique part has a certain a mount of "overhead" costs -- so you can also save money...

Many shops bake the finish at 200F to dry and cure it quickly. This is too hot for EV batteries. Each EV carmaker has a maximum temperature and time specification (IIRC, Ford is 140F for no more than 45 minutes). Of course, if you're going to paint and dry at room temperature, that is no problem...

At one time, Ford's website had Tech Specs documents for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 model years. I have all three versions archived on my PC, but I can only find the 2022 version on Ford's site. If the others are still available, they didn't appear in the results of my quick Google search...

Personally, I wouldn't, unless the price is so low that this is practically free. Because of the electronics in this area of the truck, repairs are likley to add up fast. A teenager hit the rear taillight assembly in my truck, and did not break any of the sensors. The repair involved removing...

I don't buy this perspective. From available reporting, Ford started working on an "electric F-150" in February 2018. It is hard for me to believe that the first Trump administration (remember, inaugurated in January 2017) was "breathing down Ford's neck" to build electric pickups. It is much...