Ford EV Range vs GM posted range

[flyct]

I currently lease a 2024 Platinum "ER" and previously owned a 2023 Lariat Extended Range Lightning . They both never reached the published range even in South Florida driving a max of 65 MPH.

I have friend who owns both a Cadillac Lyriq EV and a Chevy Silverado EV SRT. Both of his vehicles can get published range even at 75 MPH.

I'm a little jealous. His Silverado can get the published 460 miles of range even at 70 MPH. Tonight my Lightning was showing 260 miles of range at 80% charged. His Silverado was showing 370 miles at 80% charged.

Another thing that bothers me is the VERY Few Blue Cruise mapped roads in Florida. GM super Cruise has many many more roads where Super Cruise can be used on.

If I am still able to drive when the lease is up I will definitely consider a GM EV Truck as a replacement.

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[WXman]

The range while towing is the deal breaker for me. GM's trucks can TOW farther on a charge than a Lightning can make it with no trailer. Granted, the way GM did it isn't magic....they just stuffed a HUGE battery in there. Repair/replacement of that battery pack will be astronomical in cost in the future.

 

[mr.Magoo]

Is this a my buddy's d--k is bigger than mine post?

The length of a piece of string is not universal. While I'd assume the Silverado is more slippery (ie efficient) than the Lightning, it could also have a substantially bigger battery so range vs SoC is not directly comparable.

Lightning range used to be more optimistic, but people complained and it took a more realistic/pessimistic approach, it's probably not helping your comparison.

For a truck, just take your battery size X 1.9-2.0 and you have a plausible range at 65-70mph.

 

[flyct]

Is this a my buddy's d--k is bigger than mine post?

The length of a piece of string is not universal. While I'd assume the Silverado is more slippery (ie efficient) than the Lightning, it could also have a substantially bigger battery so range vs SoC is not directly comparable.

Lightning range used to be more optimistic, but people complained and it took a more realistic/pessimistic approach, it's probably not helping your comparison.

For a truck, just take your battery size X 1.9-2.0 and you have a plausible range at 65-70mph.

@mr.Magoo

As a long time EV owner I am realistic in my expectations.

I'm on my 10th EV in 11 years. Started with a 24 kWh Leaf which was local only car. In addition to my 2024 Lightning Platinum with ~131 kWh usable, we currently have Tesla Model Y's with ~75 kWh usable. The Silverado has a HUGE ~205 kWh battery and from what I gather ist's efficiencly is similar to the Lightning.

At 70 MPH the published efficiency of the Silverado is between 1.9-2.0 mi/kW so it's has a similar drag coefficient as my Lightning.

My 300 mile range Lightning was mostly perfect for my use case, until recently where am going to need to routinely tow a 7000 lb enclosed trailer 125 miles one way at 65 MPH.

Just last week I helped the friend negotiate his deal on is 10,000 mile used Silverado RST Max Range. It had an original MSRP of $99,000 and he paid low $60;s for it. It was a GM manufacture owned executive truck.

Don't get me wrong. until I needed to tow 125 miles the Lighting was the perfect truck for us. Plus we leased it for 39 months with a $25,000 discount, $0 out of pocket and 0% interest.

The Ford Blue Cruise doesn't have any of the roads we will tow on mapped so it's useless. The GM works on 95% of those same roads.

 

[mr.Magoo]

@mr.Magoo

As a long time EV owner I am realistic in my expectations.

So, then what is the purpose of the thread/post?

To highlight that Ford was deceptive in their range estimates ? If so, please show us where they talk about anything other than EPA.

To highlight that EPA testing is years behind evolution and really need to be updated to be relevant for EVs? 100% agreed!

 

[RickLightning]

@mr.Magoo

As a long time EV owner I am realistic in my expectations.

I'm on my 10th EV in 11 years. Started with a 24 kWh Leaf which was local only car. In addition to my 2024 Lightning Platinum with ~131 kWh usable, we currently have Tesla Model Y's with ~75 kWh usable. The Silverado has a HUGE ~205 kWh battery and from what I gather ist's efficiencly is similar to the Lightning.

At 70 MPH the published efficiency of the Silverado is between 1.9-2.0 mi/kW so it's has a similar drag coefficient as my Lightning.

My 300 mile range Lightning was mostly perfect for my use case, until recently where am going to need to routinely tow a 7000 lb enclosed trailer 125 miles one way at 65 MPH.

Just last week I helped the friend negotiate his deal on is 10,000 mile used Silverado RST Max Range. It had an original MSRP of $99,000 and he paid low $60;s for it. It was a GM manufacture owned executive truck.

Don't get me wrong. until I needed to tow 125 miles the Lighting was the perfect truck for us. Plus we leased it for 39 months with a $25,000 discount, $0 out of pocket and 0% interest.

The Ford Blue Cruise doesn't have any of the roads we will tow on mapped so it's useless. The GM works on 95% of those same roads.

BlueCruise is disabled when towing...

 

[flyct]

So, then what is the purpose of the thread/post?

The purpose was to discuss the comparison between Ford and GM range estimates and the enormous range a Max Range GM truck gets. I wish Ford had put a 205 kWh battery in the Lightning.

Here is his screenshot of his range remaining after driving 100 miles from dealer to home At 65-70 MPH. He started at 80% and after 100 miles he was at 69% with 318 miles remaining.

My Platinum Lightning does have massaging seats and power running boards which the Silverado doesn’t have. We love those 2 features...

And here it is after driving into town the next day. It has estimated 243 miles of range with 52% of battery remaining. Amazing.

 

[RickLightning]

I'm missing the point. Bigger battery, more range. Got it.

Here's what would be interesting. Charge both vehicles to the same level. Make sure both battery temps are the same. Drive the same distance, and see what efficiency is reported.

If his efficiency (miles per kWh is more than yours by more than 10%, post back).

It's no surprised that a battery that is 56% bigger goes further.

 

[flyct]

I'm missing the point. Bigger battery, more range. Got it.

Here's what would be interesting. Charge both vehicles to the same level. Make sure both battery temps are the same. Drive the same distance, and see what efficiency is reported.

If his efficiency (miles per kWh is more than yours by more than 10%, post back).

It's no surprised that a battery that is 56% bigger goes further.

You didn't miss the point! Exactly, Bigger Battery, more range.

The single trip he made actually had a 10% better efficiency than my Platinum does on a similar trip. He did 2.1 and I do 1.9 mi/kWh at same speeds. Time will tell if it continues to beat the Lightning range.

But he lacks PaaK, pushbutton keypad on the door post., Power Running Boards and massaging seats.

I no longer carry any keys in my pocket with the Teslas, Lightning Paak and a keypad on the house and cabin.

 

[TaxmanHog]

You didn't miss the point! Exactly, Bigger Battery, more range.

This is the point I took from the initial post, it's very enticing to consider a truck with more range, more importantly for towing my race trailer to & from the track.

Hoping to do this up to ten times during the 2026 racing season, I can make it happen with the Lightning, just need to pay attention to charging stops going up and back home.

With the GM offerings I'd only need one stop for the route.

When 2030-2032 rolls around Ford needs to have better offerings for me or they might lose a life long customer.

 

[Firn]

Both of his vehicles can get published range even at 75 MPH.

I mean, I think this point was pretty obvious.

A vehicle thats gets advertised range when you are actually driving for range is important. Yes, EPA testing is one way to do it and nobody is arguing that Ford didnt do that, but knowing how far you can actually drive rather than a number that doesnt represent the real world is helpful.

I love my lightning and know how to work with it, but when actually hitting the highway the "320 mile range" isnt actually so, its actually more like 250, which is actually less than 200 with charging consideration.

 

[Wattsgas]

I think Ford got the battery size about right. It would have been nice to give us the full 143kw, which would provide us an additional 10%. I think the optimal size would be about 165kw.

I don't think there is an issue with giving us the extra capacity. Full capacity is not going to be used that frequently. Just away to keep us from charging the packs to 100% .

Plus, probably not too long until there is a piggy back battery available.

Can you imagine trying to charge 205 kw at home after a trip? Might be bad at 80 amps, but can you imagine 30amps?

 

[bc1]

I suppose it is all relative. Drove 170 miles yesterday starting at 100% showing 270 mile range and ended at 12% in approximately 10 to 15 degree temps with the heater cranked up to plus or minus 80 most of the time. Around 20 miles at 68 mph and around 100 miles at 79 mph. Recharge is done with 122 kwh added. Figures out about 1.4 miles per kwh. It's just that last 60 miles showing 53% to get home at midnight that makes you wonder about those figures on the dash.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I find it interesting that GM is doing so well in the EV market. Seems the Blazer and all Cadillacs are selling well, and I assume their trucks are doing ok. And yet Ford isn't.......

At first I didn't like the looks of the Silverado EV, but as time has gone on, it's starting to grow on me. I actually wouldn't want the biggest battery, but I could see getting one in a few years if they keep it around (and deal with GM interior quality).

 

[davehu]

I find it interesting that GM is doing so well in the EV market. Seems the Blazer and all Cadillacs are selling well, and I assume their trucks are doing ok. And yet Ford isn't.......

At first I didn't like the looks of the Silverado EV, but as time has gone on, it's starting to grow on me. I actually wouldn't want the biggest battery, but I could see getting one in a few years if they keep it around (and deal with GM interior quality).

"you assume their trucks are doing ok" you know what happens when you assume. Silverado EV sales are in the tank. The last month before losing the EV credit Chevy sold 1464 trucks. Ford sold 3,900. It's only a matter of time when they pull the plug also.
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