Farley says Ford is behind in EV (vs. Tesla and China) so Ford can't afford to "walk away from EVs."

[SpaceEVDriver]

We have both a ‘22 Mach-E and a ’23 Lightning. This is the first time in more than 30 years I’ve owned a Ford. It wasn’t purposeful, it was just that Ford didn’t make anything I had any interest in owning. That is, not until they decided to make the Mustang and Lightning.

IMO, there are still no other vehicles on the road that compare with the Mustang or the Lightning in value+quality. I would prefer a Ranger/Tacoma sized BEV pickup. We’d consider a Bronco BEV or a Maverick BEV.

We’re have no brand loyalty, so we’d drop the Ford brand in a second for our next vehicle if another brand offers a BEV that meets our needs better than whatever Ford has on offer when we’re shopping next.

Sponsored

 

[gbuydos]

I am glad I leased mine. I saw all the "sketchiness" happening with EVs and debated buying or leasing. In the end got a great lease deal and will turn back in 36 months. Now I don't have to worry about owning a discontinued model and all the crap that goes along with that.

If the world changes, maybe I can get something later.

 

[Revenge]

All CEOs are like this with reacting to shareholder value needs. That said, at 34k miles on my 23 XLT ER, I'm very happy with the truck, the road tripping is just not ready for most consumers.

I honestly do wonder if Ford could have saved more cost buy using g the exact same body as ICE, with maybe 2 fenders changed, one to remove gas door and one to add electric door.

They could have just replaced the gas door with the electric door thus putting the charger connection where it should have been so we could back into the charger stalls.

 

[richl025]

if this is an oblique reference to the state of US charging infrastructure, you need to get out more. By the end of this year, I will have charged in 18 states from Florida to California, and even though I own a standard range Pro, there is nowhere I haven’t been able to go.

Things have gotten better even during my short tenure of EV ownership - but large charging deserts still remain, especially out west. Pull up PlugShare map and look at northern & eastern Montana, for example.

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

Things have gotten better even during my short tenure of EV ownership - but large charging deserts still remain, especially out west. Pull up PlugShare map and look at northern & eastern Montana, for example.

I’m in western Colorado right now and my truck spends 70% of its life in the wide open West. One of my homes is in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I cross deserts - both EV and real - ALL THE F-KING TIME. My understanding of the state of charging in the US is based on actual driving, not a PlugShare map.

 

[Altivec]

As for common content with the ICE F-150, over 30% of the parts are the same. Body components are not what drives the cost. What Farley and other legacy execs are waking up to is that in order to make cost competitive EVs, you must radically change the engineering and the manufacturing process. So the answer is not more commonality with the gas powered versions, it’s less. Like zero.

I agree to what you're saying to some extent. What Ford is doing with their new general EV platform is definitely the way to go for passenger vehicles. BUT not for Built Ford Tough Trucks. I chose the lightning because it is a truck. A fully boxed steel frame, beefy control arms, heavy armour plating(basically truck first, efficiency and cost be damned) and it shares accessories with the Ice F150. I will gladly pay more to keep it that way. I have zero interest in saving 10K to get a passenger car that looks like a truck. They need to keep the lightning separate from that. The biggest cost is in the battery. As battery tech keeps improving and prices drop, there will come a time when an EV F150 is cheaper to build then an ICE F150. They just need to be patient for that time. We are talking about the #1 selling vehicle platform. Why deviate from that winning formula.

 

[richl025]

I’m in western Colorado right now and my truck spends 70% of its life in the wide open West. One of my homes is in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I cross deserts - both EV and real - ALL THE F-KING TIME. My understanding of the state of charging in the US is based on actual driving, not a PlugShare map.

Glad to hear, but honestly, as far as western states, Colorado and California are probably the major outliers.

Plus, there is a real difference between the "wide open west," and "away from the Interstate".

If you have some method of finding hidden chargers out west (divining rod?) besides PlugShare, I'd love to know about it....

 

[EV Engineer]

As an actual Ford stockholder, and as someone who has overseen the design and engineering of a specialized EV, I disagree with just about everything in this comment.

i’m in the middle of my 16th EV road trip of more than 1500 miles. So I cannot fathom what you mean when you say that the truck isn’t suitable for long distance travel. In fact, it is the most comfortable vehicle I have ever driven cross country. And if this is an oblique reference to the state of US charging infrastructure, you need to get out more. By the end of this year, I will have charged in 18 states from Florida to California, and even though I own a standard range Pro, there is nowhere I haven’t been able to go.

As for common content with the ICE F-150, over 30% of the parts are the same. Body components are not what drives the cost. What Farley and other legacy execs are waking up to is that in order to make cost competitive EVs, you must radically change the engineering and the manufacturing process. So the answer is not more commonality with the gas powered versions, it’s less. Like zero.

Oh c'mon this cannot be serious. I would argue the EXACT opposite. The American EV's are fine, it's the lack of basic infrastructure that's holding us back.

Sure you can get anywhere in the USA, but there are some real places that are a headache. Having to drive into the inner city for a fast charger, having to charge at a dealership on a Sunday and there's no bathroom or amenities. Showing up to a Telsa Charger that is a V2 only so you're adapter doesn't work.


None of this happens with gasoline. And until similar strides are made you just cannot say the infrastructure is ready for mainstream adoption.

 

[jc17fw]

As an actual Ford stockholder, and as someone who has overseen the design and engineering of a specialized EV, I disagree with just about everything in this comment.

i’m in the middle of my 16th EV road trip of more than 1500 miles. So I cannot fathom what you mean when you say that the truck isn’t suitable for long distance travel. In fact, it is the most comfortable vehicle I have ever driven cross country. And if this is an oblique reference to the state of US charging infrastructure, you need to get out more. By the end of this year, I will have charged in 18 states from Florida to California, and even though I own a standard range Pro, there is nowhere I haven’t been able to go.

As for common content with the ICE F-150, over 30% of the parts are the same. Body components are not what drives the cost. What Farley and other legacy execs are waking up to is that in order to make cost competitive EVs, you must radically change the engineering and the manufacturing process. So the answer is not more commonality with the gas powered versions, it’s less. Like zero.

I share similar sentiment as Ralph here. In my first year of ownership, I’ve driven 13k miles with 4 trips >1k miles and one 4.7k mile trip from Texas to Maine and back. Comfort and performance have been exceptional in a variety driving and weather conditions.
Charging has been no problem with adequate planning. Although, admittedly, I did sweat bullets once getting to 0% SOC due to less than adequate planning. ABRP, PlugShare, Google have been most helpful when and if I pay attention.

 

[Markip]

I have always been against Ev's untill I really sat down and realized how much I am spending on fuel a month and when you factor all that in with an Ev msrp the savings are real almost instantly. And once people come to realize that the minor inconveniences iron them self OUT. It also helped that the dealer let me test drive the car for 24 hours to experience it and charge it all before judgment was placed on the machine. I live in Ontario and I commute 230km daily and the truck has been a dream I have put 8000km on in 9 weeks and I loved my 5.7 ram with 480,000km but the lightning is hands down far superior. To any gas truck. Mind you always room for improvement in towing but not a deal breaker what so ever. Lightning owners must do better job advertising the product because Ford has missed the opportunity.

 

[MountainAlive]

I have always been against Ev's untill I really sat down and realized how much I am spending on fuel a month and when you factor all that in with an Ev msrp the savings are real almost instantly. And once people come to realize that the minor inconveniences iron them self OUT. It also helped that the dealer let me test drive the car for 24 hours to experience it and charge it all before judgment was placed on the machine. I live in Ontario and I commute 230km daily and the truck has been a dream I have put 8000km on in 9 weeks and I loved my 5.7 ram with 480,000km but the lightning is hands down far superior. To any gas truck. Mind you always room for improvement in towing but not a deal breaker what so ever. Lightning owners must do better job advertising the product because Ford has missed the opportunity.

Many of us completely agree the advertising for this truck is non existent. I guess we need to create some fan films or something ha.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I was at a charging station a few days ago - we have "Petro-Canada" gas stations that also have DCFC - these are handy for the convenience stores attached, and simple things like Washer Fluid and a squeegee.
Guy in his F-150 ICE is gasing up, sees the Lightning charging and he is pretty excited - 'wow a Lightning ! Hey can I ask you about your truck !
I wasn't going anywhere for 15 minutes anyway -"sure, what would you like to know?"

There is quite a bit of interest out there, so I try to be an honest and helpful ambassador.

 

[JRT]

Not just west, Mississippi is terrible coverage away from main areas.

And I get it, you love your SR Pro and tripping, I've read you stories and respect the dedication.

But there are over 620k sold F150 ICE this year so far that never need to plan gas stops. It is effort and just isn't ready for annual sales of over 700k F150s on the road.

We have enough problems now.

 

[Firn]

As an actual Ford stockholder, and as someone who has overseen the design and engineering of a specialized EV, I disagree with just about everything in this comment.

i’m in the middle of my 16th EV road trip of more than 1500 miles. So I cannot fathom what you mean when you say that the truck isn’t suitable for long distance travel. In fact, it is the most comfortable vehicle I have ever driven cross country. And if this is an oblique reference to the state of US charging infrastructure, you need to get out more. By the end of this year, I will have charged in 18 states from Florida to California, and even though I own a standard range Pro, there is nowhere I haven’t been able to go.

As for common content with the ICE F-150, over 30% of the parts are the same. Body components are not what drives the cost. What Farley and other legacy execs are waking up to is that in order to make cost competitive EVs, you must radically change the engineering and the manufacturing process. So the answer is not more commonality with the gas powered versions, it’s less. Like zero.

I have to be contrary to this view.

You are an enthusiast, which also means there is a bit of a bias. Not saying that in a bad way.

The lightning does road trip, and its as comfortable as it always is. However the time spent to charge is annoying when trying to reach a destination. Dare I say that for the majority of us the journey is not the goal, the destination is. And in that the time spent charging is frustrating. Not impossible, but frustrating. Hauling two adults and two kids on a limited timescale to reach a vacation? Yeah, 35 minute stops every 2-2.5 hours gets old real fast. Trying to push 1000 miles in one day, a trip i happen to make regularly. That went from a long day to a murderous one. That used to be a 14hr drive, now its 19.5.

Not saying it cant be done, or that your mindset is wrong, just that your mindset is yours and not the same as others.

As for chargers, that IS still an issue. Its not impossible to plan the trip, I actually enjoy doing so. However you DO have to plan it. There is no "hey, look at that, let's throw the truck on a charger and check it out", if bio breaks come up its fuss with an app, not "let's stop there and get a charge". Stopping for ten minutes, just to stop 30 minutes later at your planned charge stop is frustrating. It IS possible to charge, and do so relatively easily, in most locations. It is not however as universal as getting gas, not by a long shot.

I completely disagree that in order to make cost competitive EVs they have to change their production process. They are a business, cutting cost IS THE big thing to do EVERYWHERE. There is no special cost cotting on a Lightning vs the regular F150, every penny spent making ANY vehicle is a penny that isnt profit regardless of what powers it. I want an EV that was made by the hundred years of lessons learned making gas cars, not something new.

 

[RickLightning]

Oh c'mon this cannot be serious. I would argue the EXACT opposite. The American EV's are fine, it's the lack of basic infrastructure that's holding us back.

Sure you can get anywhere in the USA, but there are some real places that are a headache. Having to drive into the inner city for a fast charger, having to charge at a dealership on a Sunday and there's no bathroom or amenities. Showing up to a Telsa Charger that is a V2 only so you're adapter doesn't work.


None of this happens with gasoline. And until similar strides are made you just cannot say the infrastructure is ready for mainstream adoption.

Anyone who shows up at a Tesla charger that is incompatible is either uniformed or clueless.

Sponsored