Sponsored

RLXXI

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
27
Messages
1,195
Reaction score
985
Location
3rd rock
Vehicles
2025 F 150 Flash, 2013 F 150 XLT, 2014 Escape, 2011 Suzuki DR 650SE
Occupation
Automotive Technician
Would people REALLY need to install a charger for those? I've had my Lightning since July and have been home charging using the 110v charger that came with the truck, topping off once a week at a DCFC nearby. My commute is 50 miles daily, so it can't QUITE keep up. So for someone with an EREV or PHEV, would they really need a level 2 at home?

And for what it's worth, I got slow rolled by my first electrician and that slowed me down until I moved on to #2. Now I'm close enough to see if there's any good deals for Black Friday.
Your dealer didn't give you a code to order the FCSP? Got my truck in June and it came with free install as well. Ford promise 2.0, check the date to see if you qualify.
Sponsored

 

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
36
Messages
544
Reaction score
685
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
you just wait a few more years and see if you have the same opinion. I thought my EREV Cadillac ELR was the best thing ever. Until I found out that small battery in there takes a beating. You chew through its life cycles like no tomorrow. constant engine issues and maintenance due to it not being used. Lack of 3rd party mechanics that will touch it due to its complexity.

I get it, because I felt the same as you. BUT... I will never buy a hybrid or EREV again. Battery tech and infrastructure just keeps on improving. Wasting development and factory funds on ancient/inferior technology while your competitors are doubling down on future technologies will not end well.

My hope for Gen 2 lightning is that in their quest to cheapen it, they make sure it stays a truck. I bought a lightning over its competitors because it's really a truck.
Towing is part of the truck things. I think that’s why they are considering EREV. Even people don’t tow, they want to be able to. It’s my only complaint with my flash. If I only had another 100 miles of towing range it would be perfect.
 

Altivec

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2024
Threads
1
Messages
257
Reaction score
466
Vehicles
2023 Lightning Platinum, 2014 Cadillac ELR
Towing is part of the truck things. I think that’s why they are considering EREV. Even people don’t tow, they want to be able to. It’s my only complaint with my flash. If I only had another 100 miles of towing range it would be perfect.
That doesn't change anything I said. I tow a lot with my lightning. 99% of the time, it's well under 100miles so no charging is necessary. A couple of times a year I do take it out long distance. When towing with my gas trucks, I would have to stop for gas more often too, an EREV wouldn't be any different, probably worse because it's going to have a smaller tank. Yes, I'm stuck at a charger for maybe 20 minutes longer than a gas stop a few times a year. How about all the savings in time not having to go to a gas station for the other 99% of the time. All the time savings and costs in maintenance, dealing with fuel stabilizers, and added complexity. I know which one I would choose.

I know for some, they tow long distance a lot. If that were me, I would be getting a gas F150, end of story. If that's all you do, when are you going to gain anything from the EV side of a EREV. Just hauling a heavy battery around for the fun of it.

If you are someone that tows long distance often but stick around the city a lot too where you will be taking advantage of the battery, then expect to chew up its small battery life cycles within the trucks usable life. In other words you will reach a point where you will have to decide to spend big bucks on a battery replacement or write-off the truck. That's where I am at with my ELR with only 50k miles on it.

There might be some niche case use where an EREV would be the best choice but I would not be able to pin point it. Batteries will continue to get better, infrastructure will continue to get better. China already has cars going insane distances with extremely fast charging speeds. Ten years from now, this conversation will be meaningless everywhere except for the US where bad after bad decisions keep getting made.
 

NW Ontario Ford Lightning

Well-known member
First Name
Robert
Joined
Feb 14, 2025
Threads
1
Messages
513
Reaction score
633
Location
NW Ontario Canada
Vehicles
2024 F-150 SR Lightning XLT, 2023 Escape Hybrid
Occupation
Contractor
I would just like to see pull-through chargers along the main hwys - yeah they are planned, and in some places actually being built, but not my neck of the woods...yet.
 

Maineiac12

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 14, 2024
Threads
36
Messages
544
Reaction score
685
Location
Iowa
Vehicles
2024 F-150 Lightning Flash 312A
That doesn't change anything I said. I tow a lot with my lightning. 99% of the time, it's well under 100miles so no charging is necessary. A couple of times a year I do take it out long distance. When towing with my gas trucks, I would have to stop for gas more often too, an EREV wouldn't be any different, probably worse because it's going to have a smaller tank. Yes, I'm stuck at a charger for maybe 20 minutes longer than a gas stop a few times a year. How about all the savings in time not having to go to a gas station for the other 99% of the time. All the time savings and costs in maintenance, dealing with fuel stabilizers, and added complexity. I know which one I would choose.

I know for some, they tow long distance a lot. If that were me, I would be getting a gas F150, end of story. If that's all you do, when are you going to gain anything from the EV side of a EREV. Just hauling a heavy battery around for the fun of it.

If you are someone that tows long distance often but stick around the city a lot too where you will be taking advantage of the battery, then expect to chew up its small battery life cycles within the trucks usable life. In other words you will reach a point where you will have to decide to spend big bucks on a battery replacement or write-off the truck. That's where I am at with my ELR with only 50k miles on it.

There might be some niche case use where an EREV would be the best choice but I would not be able to pin point it. Batteries will continue to get better, infrastructure will continue to get better. China already has cars going insane distances with extremely fast charging speeds. Ten years from now, this conversation will be meaningless everywhere except for the US where bad after bad decisions keep getting made.
I don’t tow over 100 often but it would be nice to take my camper out of state once in a while. Again, people don’t buy things for what they actually do… they buy for what they want or think they will do. It’s not rational behavior, it’s just reality.

The battery size required to get a longer towing range isn’t practical yet so that’s where a gas range extender could be helpful. EVs and EREVs can both exist alongside each other. It’s not a zero sum game.
 

Sponsored

Rayden

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 11, 2025
Threads
4
Messages
66
Reaction score
49
Vehicles
'23 Lightning Lariat ER
Your dealer didn't give you a code to order the FCSP? Got my truck in June and it came with free install as well. Ford promise 2.0, check the date to see if you qualify.
Only works on new vehicles, unfortunately. My used '23 didn't qualify.
 

Timeless Epoch

Well-known member
First Name
Chad
Joined
Mar 3, 2025
Threads
4
Messages
148
Reaction score
213
Vehicles
2024 F150 Lightning Platinum
Occupation
Professionally: Disaster Recovery - Recreationally: Watchmaker
That doesn't change anything I said. I tow a lot with my lightning. 99% of the time, it's well under 100miles so no charging is necessary. A couple of times a year I do take it out long distance. When towing with my gas trucks, I would have to stop for gas more often too, an EREV wouldn't be any different, probably worse because it's going to have a smaller tank. Yes, I'm stuck at a charger for maybe 20 minutes longer than a gas stop a few times a year. How about all the savings in time not having to go to a gas station for the other 99% of the time. All the time savings and costs in maintenance, dealing with fuel stabilizers, and added complexity. I know which one I would choose.

I know for some, they tow long distance a lot. If that were me, I would be getting a gas F150, end of story. If that's all you do, when are you going to gain anything from the EV side of a EREV. Just hauling a heavy battery around for the fun of it.

If you are someone that tows long distance often but stick around the city a lot too where you will be taking advantage of the battery, then expect to chew up its small battery life cycles within the trucks usable life. In other words you will reach a point where you will have to decide to spend big bucks on a battery replacement or write-off the truck. That's where I am at with my ELR with only 50k miles on it.

There might be some niche case use where an EREV would be the best choice but I would not be able to pin point it. Batteries will continue to get better, infrastructure will continue to get better. China already has cars going insane distances with extremely fast charging speeds. Ten years from now, this conversation will be meaningless everywhere except for the US where bad after bad decisions keep getting made.
I agree there is a potential big gap between the marketing of an EREV and the reality.

I could be wrong but I don’t think Ford is going to go down this path. Ford already has difficulty in making a profit with a pure BEV F150. Adding the expense of a combustion engine will only make that more difficult.

I also think that as BEV trucks become more popular, we’ll see trailer and RV manufactures start to offer better aerodynamic profiles. I am optimistic we’ll see 150 to 200 mile towing ranges in the next 10 (maybe 5) years where the tow vehicle doesn’t weigh as much as a Sherman tank.
 

RLXXI

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Threads
27
Messages
1,195
Reaction score
985
Location
3rd rock
Vehicles
2025 F 150 Flash, 2013 F 150 XLT, 2014 Escape, 2011 Suzuki DR 650SE
Occupation
Automotive Technician

Maxx

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2021
Threads
48
Messages
2,243
Reaction score
2,678
Location
MD
Vehicles
23 Pro, Sky RL, Frontier, Aurora V8, Buicks, ....
I agree. I'm 76 and expect my 2022 platinum to at least carry me through the 8 year warranty. That will put me at 80 years old. At that age I'm hoping I won't need another new truck.
I am right up there with you. Transitioning from electric trucks to electric wheelchairs will be smooth as butter. And our tail lights won't cost as much to replace.
Sponsored

 
 







Top