Trucked Up EVs
Well-known member
- First Name
- Simon
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2025
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 119
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
- Vehicles
- F150 Lightning Flash, Chevrolet Bolt
- Occupation
- Content Creator
- Thread starter
- #1
Sponsored
Maybe an electric truck or timber roads aren't for you.
I love my Lightning. However, the right to repair is being undermined via the move by OEMs to create components that are not serviceable by the owner. This is not about whether the Lightning is a great truck or not. This is about the move to software-driven control over DIY maintenance.Maybe an electric truck or timber roads aren't for you.
Even if Ford approached the Lightning like they should have and consolidated the dozens of modules into one or two centralized hubs, you still would not be able to service them…….I love my Lightning. However, the right to repair is being undermined via the move by OEMs to create components that are not serviceable by the owner. This si not about the Lightning as a great truck. This is a bout the move to software-driven control over DIY maintenance.
As I made perfectly clear in the video, this is not about EV trucks specifically, or the Ford Lightning exclusively, although, I point out the experiences from a Lightning owner's perspective. This is about ALL modern vehicles, and the risks faced with the experiment auto makers are carrying out at our potential detriment.
Who's whining and ranting?what is this nonsense driving around and ranting, looking like you haven't yet showered for the day? it is just dangerous, irresponsible behaviour.
posting up here asking us for ideas? posting unprofessional whiny rants about getting ignored by multiple successful reputable international corporations?
Why does this guy get so much free air space here?
Why are the mods allowing this self-promotion driving traffic to his channel? is this guy a sponsor here? what is this?
I'm an owner and this guy does not speak for me. I'm not ever going to watch any of this garbage content either but I would hope he's keeping this forum out of his mouth when making this garbage content.
It's true, and that's a major concern we as consumers should be addressing.Even if Ford approached the Lightning like they should have and consolidated the dozens of modules into one or two centralized hubs, you still would not be able to service them…….
I hear you. But let’s say the Lightning was made with one centralized compute unit, that way OTA’s and upgrades would be super easy from a manufacturer perspective. You still need electronics know how to service said unit if there’s a failure. Mechanics also need to up their game in the electrified world.It's true, and that's a major concern we as consumers should be addressing.
Modern vehicle manufacturing processes are not in any way geared to the consumer or the local mechanic. Quite the opposite. The focus of every part and design is on manufacturing efficiency and cost savings. In fact, in the fine print of most new vehicles, you don't even own or have the right to modify, access, or directly update the modules, their software , or firmware. I am concerned that as this process accelerates, what is the outcome? Will all vehicles become throwaways after their warranty?
I love my Lightning, and in the upcoming "The Ultimate Lightning Build" series, one thing we'll be celebrating is how much of the F150 Lightning is still open to modifications and DIY repair and maintenance. It's one of the primary reasons I and so many others love them and buy them.
As I said in the video, I worry about that fully vanishing in the next generation of pickups, not just EV trucks.
All great points.I hear you. But let’s say the Lightning was made with one centralized compute unit, that way OTA’s and upgrades would be super easy from a manufacturer perspective. You still need electronics know how to service said unit if there’s a failure. Mechanics also need to up their game in the electrified world.
Also from a right to repair perspective, is Ford preventing you from doing anything? Ford is certainly not Tesla in 2020. Manuals, parts, and diagnostics/programming are readily available. Hell there are even aftermarket tunes for some EV’s like the Porsche Taycan, so I can’t say that right to repair is an issue across the board.
Btw in your homemade sentry mode video. Instead of using the trucks 12v system, you could have powered the system on its own battery. Black view has multiple battery options for their cameras.
Now I’m confused. Is it a right to repair or cost of parts issue? As we ask for more complex features, blind spot detection, cross traffic detection, cameras, complex lightning, and more, these parts themselves will become more expensive as the complexity increases. Just the cost of modern features.All great points.
With the Lightning cancelled and what Ford is replacing it with is the supposed future, however. Out of all the EV trucks to-date, the Lightning is certainly the most serviceable, but like I said, it's every modern vehicle out there now, not just our EVs.
There was a great post recently on the forum about a tail light and its cost of replacement, much like my side mirror. It's one modular piece, with parts of the ADAS system in it, etc. Replace both and you'll need deep pockets.
Yes, I thought about a separate power source. There's a few out there.