Important Update: Ford EV Roadmap & Future of F-150 Lightning (EREV Next Gen Model) - ⛔️ ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS

[Shmoe]

I do think the achilles heel here is that EREV is not enough of either EV nor Fuel to make anyone happy. If it's a 50kwh battery that needs to be charged, and a fuel tank that needs fuel, but also fuel stabilizer because you charge it every night.... but then arguably also have to fill it up... As many people said in this thread early, it's maybe the best of both worlds, but it's also both worlds.

What was your perspective from the Volt side? I see a bit here, but did it all just seem like a lot?

A sad, stupid compromise of a car that leaves noone happy.

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[Brons2]

Hi everyone,

I have owned two Volts (2012 and 2017 MY) and I loved them both. My only issue was battery range. I wish Chevorlet would have given us 100 -150 miles of electric range (we only had 40 and 52). I then transitioned to the Bolt EUV and loved it. However, I then purchased a fishing boat and needed something bigger that I could tow with.

I do agree with Ford that towing range is an issue. I will be watching with interest when the new Lightning EREV comes out. I am not sure if you are reading this Ford (or Brian), but a 100-150 mile battery range on an EREV would be perfect for most people (including myself). Also, please keep DCFC for those of us who want to use it.

I love my Lightning period. However, for my next vehicle, I will be looking for a vehicle that can handle those few longer road trips that I take each year when I need to tow my boat. This is why I seriously considered the Ramcharger when it was announced.

this is the issue with all PHEV and EREV. there's never enough EV only range.

 

[electricpig]

Absolutely not.

Riddle me this Batman... why was it exactly the same in the late 1800s and early 1900s, by actual records, before diesel trucks and interstate highways and aerosol cans and all the other things the tree huggers claim is ruining the planet? If we use records, and not assumptions, there is nothing new going on.

Well I see the arrogance in your earlier post was no accident, as well as your self appointed expert opinion. Dunning Kruger expert.

 

[jrex727]

There is only one in the lead there, and they only are a couple years away from being true fully autonomous. The only other one close might be Waymo, but can all of that technology ever be retrofitted and installed into an every day car sold off the lot?

I am going to keep the lightning for as long as I can. I traded My 2011 F-150 I had for 11 years. Good family car especially as kids are big now.

Just bought the Lightning a few months ago and am nervous about dealership support.

Hopefully Ford dealerships service departments get better at servicing EV's or EREV's in the future. The one closest to me is not very good. The 2 issues I have had so far has taken way too long and truck mostly sitting in the back lot.

Service centers for under warranty EV or EREV needs to be a major overhaul by Ford! A loaner for almost 2 weeks for the heated steering wheel retrofit doesn't seem sustainable. I bought the 8 year 100,000 ford premiumcare Plus ev protect plan. We will see how it goes. 8 years and 80K miles to go.

 

[Mikerson]

I’m extremely disappointed by this announcement. I have been a Ford driver since I was 15. My dad retired from Ford credit. I have owned five ford trucks so far in my life including my 2023 Lariat Lightning. I will not be buying any sort of EREV truck and will be looking elsewhere for my next one unless Ford has a change of heart.

I’d like to remind everyone how important it is to keep the pressure on @Ford Motor Company (not Brian). In the 90s when Ford tried to make the FWD Probe into the next Mustang, there was an outcry among Mustang fans and so Ford changed their minds. We don’t have decades of Lightning BEV owners/history to draw on but we have to make our voices heard.

Perhaps leaving this quote in regards to our beloved and best selling EV truck from Thomas Edison, friend and partner with whom Henry Ford built the first electric truck.

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Thomas A. Edison

 

[wescravinshocker]

Hi F-150 Lightning owners,

I’m coming to you today with an update on our product roadmap. There has been a lot of speculation recently and we just went live with some news. So, I want to give you the facts straight from Ford, explain what is changing, and more importantly, why.

With the F-150 Lightning, we proved an electric truck could be a hit, and it has remained the best-selling electric pickup. Let’s be real about what we’ve learned from you, the owners, and the market over the last few years. You love the electric performance, smoothness, and the tech, but for those that drive long distances, take frequent trips or tow heavy loads across state lines often, an F-150 Lightning might not be the truck for them. And we want it to be.

We took a bet, produced an amazing product that so many people love, and now we’re making adjustments in response to evolving market realities, consumer preferences, and the regulatory environment. No one could have predicted how the EV landscape would change in the U.S., which has impacted the industry.
That is why our next-generation F-150 Lightning will be an EREV. 100% electric power delivery, sub-5-second acceleration – and adds an estimated 700+ mile range with locomotive-like towing capability. That is a game-changer for our customers. Like the current F-150 Lightning, the next-gen version will also offer exportable electricity that can power everything from work sites to camp sites to homes during a power outage.

For those who aren’t familiar with EREVs, this isn't a traditional plug-in hybrid. This is an electric vehicle with an on-board generator. It’s designed to give you the electric capability you enjoy around town, but with the range and towing confidence of a gas truck when you’re hauling a boat or camper. It will be assembled right here in Dearborn at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.

What this means for the current generation F-150 Lightning and “T3” truck​

Production of the current generation of F-150 Lightning will end this year, and we have also made the decision to no longer produce the next-generation full-size electric truck, also known as “T3”. For those that still wish to purchase a MY25 F-150 Lightning, we have good inventory and interested customers can purchase from dealer stock.

If you have an order in, or were waiting on one, please contact your dealer immediately to see if your vehicle will be built or if they can match you to an existing stock unit.

As for existing Lightning customers who might be coming off lease or looking or a new Lightning, we are looking at the following:

• Assist early adopters to purchase or lease a new 25MY Lightning
• Offering extensions to customers who wish to extend their leases beyond the original term
• Providing dealer support to help match customer with available inventory

What about support for my current F-150 Lightning?​

I know reading "production is ending" can be nerve-wracking for current owners. I want to be clear: We are committed to ensuring ongoing support of your vehicle’s software updates, quality and experience. Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years. The team is not walking away from the current F-150 Lightning, and I’m not going anywhere.

The Ford Universal EV Platform​

While we shift F-150 Lightning to EREV, we are absolutely maintaining our plans and investment in the next generation of affordable EVs. The new Universal EV (UEV) platform is now more important than ever for Ford. UEV platform development is well underway. This flexible architecture will underpin a new family of smaller, more affordable, and cost-efficient vehicles—starting with a midsize pickup in 2027.

There is no impact to Mustang Mach-E. Mustang Mach-E is a great success story and is now available in almost 60 markets across the globe. It continues to be a standout electric SUV and plays an important role in the portfolio.

Other News: Battery Technology​

We are also making moves to make our business more sustainable. We are repurposing our Kentucky battery plant to build large-scale battery storage systems (for grid and industrial use), and our Michigan plant will be focusing on prismatic LFP cells. The same Michigan plant will be ramping up production in 2026 to power the new midsize electric truck built on our new Universal EV Platform.

Ford has been in manufacturing for over a century. We understand power management, thermal systems, safety engineering, and large-scale manufacturing. Our licensed LFP prismatic technology is proven, and our brand represents long-term accountability critical for 20+ year infrastructure investments.

I know this is a lot of news, and for the BEV purists, this might be tough to hear. We have a huge opportunity to get more people driving electric – whether that be plug-in hybrid, extended-range electric or pure electric vehicles and our plans set us up to succeed in this mission.

You can read the press release on this news here. I’ll be in the comments a later tonight to answer what I can.

Brian from Ford

When can we expect to go back to work at REVC? I am in the skilled trades. I loved working there and love my LIGHTNING.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I don’t have an issue with Ford shifting to the EREV. Scout has pretty much the same concept in the vehicles they are preparing to bring to market. I am concerned that Ford is going to basically tank the value of our vehicles by stopping production and bringing a far more capable product in as its replacement. Why would someone buy my 300 mile range 2022 Lightning when they can get a new 700 mile range vehicle? I love my truck but I think this is really going to screw those of us who invested in these trucks thinking Ford was going to stand behind its product.

In short view, yes. In long view, history favors good vehicles with short production runs.

 

[sotek2345]

80mph for 5 hours so a 400 mile trip.
1.25miles / kwh efficiency with a 200kwh battery has us at 250 miles. We need 150 miles ER.

150 additional miles at the same efficiency would need 120kwh. To land at exactly 0% at the end of our trip means we have 5 hours to generate it -> 120kwh/5 hours means a 24kw generator would be needed.

(The generator can use the whole time because the 80mph at 1.25mi/kwh implies a burn rate of 64kw --this is more than the 24kw so there instantly "room" for the ER charge).

Quick backwards check:
200kwh + 24kw * 5 hrs -> 320kwh
320kwh * 1.25 miles / kwh -> 400mi

Why are you assuming such a HUGE battery for the EREV? Ford is making this change to bring down the cost of manufacturing so they can make a profit on each sale. The only way to do that while adding an ICE engine is to substantially shrink the battery. Likely something in the 40kwh to 60kwh range, but maybe smaller. Given that and your math, you would need a motor that can output closer to 60kW, and that would leave you with no reserve passing power at 80mph - you would just be able to overcome air resistance.

 

[Texas Dan]

So many of these posts appear to indicate that the Lightning is going to be abandoned by Ford, I think that’s far from the case. The new EREV Lightning is probably going to have the same electric motors and the same battery modules but just less them. I just hope EREV sales keep Ford EV research alive until Ford can figure out how to build lighter, bigger battery packs that charge faster and cost less.

 

[Timeless Epoch]

So many of these posts appear to indicate that the Lightning is going to be abandoned by Ford, I think that’s far from the case. The new EREV Lightning is probably going to have the same electric motors and the same battery modules but just less them. I just hope EREV sales keep Ford EV research alive until Ford can figure out how to build lighter, bigger battery packs that charge faster and cost less.

Ford already stated it would be about 1 second slower in the 0-60. That math would say, assuming a similar curb weight, of about 460HP. So 120HP less. That would also make sense, because you would want the ICE part of your EREV to put out close to the EV part of your EREV so that you don't end up with a limp noodle after the small battery is flat. You also don't want a huge motor. Net net, the EREV lightning will be lower performing truck than our lightnings.

 

[jsamp17]

Why are you assuming such a HUGE battery for the EREV? Ford is making this change to bring down the cost of manufacturing so they can make a profit on each sale. The only way to do that while adding an ICE engine is to substantially shrink the battery. Likely something in the 40kwh to 60kwh range, but maybe smaller. Given that and your math, you would need a motor that can output closer to 60kW, and that would leave you with no reserve passing power at 80mph - you would just be able to overcome air resistance.

It was part of the homework. The post I was answering set the hypothetical 200kwh battery. I agree it will be a lot less. So much less so that they have to do something else with the cells their factory will be making.

 

[Turbo Dizzle]

I wonder what this means for insurance rates? So do we pamper the truck now to ensure it lasts, or drive it until the wheels fall off

 

[ColonelPanicked]

I was hoping to see an EREV Lightning, to be honest. I get some don't like them but, it made sense to me. I was hoping to see a "frunkless" build and a range extender under the hood. But not instead of the BEV, just complementary to it (i3 style).

If it has 100-150 miles of EV range, I'll probably be interested. Also, HVAC buttons please.

 

[bballr4567]

I have an idea we can test this theory. Go get a generator fire it up in your garage. Get back with us on your results.

A portable generator is much different than a generator that has to meet emission standards. Vehicle engines have to meet emission standards and gladly, you can't just kill yourself with one running.

Just where do we not have enough power for EV charging stations? I don't have any numbers, but my gut says just one of the many many huge data centers built these days will consume more power than all of the charging stations US wide in a day. If there is any kind of power shortage it has nothing to do with EV's.

You are right, the data centers are a problem but they've been green lit by almost every single community as they "make money" for that area. Doesn't make sense to me either.

China produces 9 billion KWh of energy with 60% of it coming from coal. The US produces about half of that with only 16% coming from coal (that's from 2023 as for some reason the EIA hasn't updated numbers)

However, people keep touting China and comparing the US to them where in the US, the grid has to cover far more miles and they have far more EVs on the road and being purchased.

From Dec 1st to 14th, yes, two weeks, they sold 476,000 NEV vs the US sold 346,000 in the 3rd quarter. They're yearly NEV vehicle sales are going to top 12 million (over 50% of the total market) and the US is going to be around 16 million total vehicles with around 10% being NEV.

*Still early with no coffee so some numbers might not be correct but please correct me if not.

 

[sotek2345]

I wonder what this means for insurance rates? So do we pamper the truck now to ensure it lasts, or drive it until the wheels fall off

I have been looking at a few different options on exactly this. Do I dump it now before the resale values completely collapse and spare parts are still available? Unfortunately I am still ~$7k upside down on my loan which is a LOT of negative equity to refinance. Do I hold for another year and hope I break even? Do I keep it until the loan is paid off and hope the insurance rates don't go nuts and spare parts stay available? Right now I am leaning towards #3 as the best option, but who knows how things will go.

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