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

[WXman]

People like @Shmoe need to understand how business works. In business you make products that are profitable. What you don't do is build products that you will bleed money on so that you can appease a handful of people.

Why did Ford and GM stop making extended cab midsize trucks? Why did they stop offering manual transmissions on ALL of their trucks? Why can't you get a 6' bed on a midsize? There are myriad formats that people wanted and still want to this day, but the OEs don't build them because there isn't a business case for it. IT'S NOT PROFITABLE.

The Lightning is the best selling EV pickup truck in America, and even the Lightning accounts for less than 5% of F-series sales. If you look at the entire electric pickup segment, it's a tiny fraction of overall truck sales.

So like it or not, this is a brilliant move by Ford Motor Company. "American consumers are stupid." No, we're not. China and much of Europe is a completely different market. Those people don't enjoy loading up a camper and driving hours to a remote site to spend a weekend with their families. They embrace EVs over there because they work better over there. In the U.S. it's a different ballgame. TRUCKS here need to haul heavy and tow heavy for distances. EREV is the answer.

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[21st Century Truck]

I love my truck.

 

[swajames]

Ok so answer this. Why did ev sales plummet? Answer because the tax credit ended. So what does that tell you? It means that good or bad many Americans don’t want an ev. The average ev costs in many cases thousands more than a comparable ice vehicle. You say evs are “taking off” in other countries. You realize that many of those countries have subsidies like we used to. I wonder if they stopped that would their sales drop? You also have to keep in mind that the culture in other countries is quite different than ours. They tend to drive less miles and have smaller cars. Everyone here wants an suv or a truck. Different strokes.
My opinion is that I don’t think the government should be artificially creating the market.

To your first bolded point, what it really means is that too many Americans were susceptible to lobbyist-driven FUD and misinformation, and to the second there are few greater subsidies than those offered to the fossil fuel industries. So if there really is an opportunity to get government out of the market, then get them out there too.

 

[astrand1]

I hate it when government does what it's supposed to do by promoting the adoption of new technologies through incentivizing both the consumer and manufacturing sides...

They have been incentivizing it for yrs now and look how it turned out. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

 

[astrand1]

To your first bolded point, what it really means is that too many Americans were susceptible to lobbyist-driven FUD and misinformation, and to the second there are few greater subsidies than those offered to the fossil fuel industries. So if there really is an opportunity to get government out of the market, then get them out there too.

Yes! I agree the oil companies should not be getting any subsidies. Level playing field. I prefer government stay out of many things to be honest.

 

[Shmoe]

They have been incentivizing it for yrs now and look how it turned out. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

For years without a comprehensive infrastructure package that supported both the charging gaps and incentivized manufacturers to pursue EVs.

It's not like we have some huge selection of decent EVs in all prices ranges or anything... that's the actual problem.

If China ever gets in our market, we are cooked. And we will deserve it.

 

[LUXMAN]

Guess you missed the part where they're launching a new battery storage business?

Oh no. I saw it. I read the whole thing. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[WXman]

And you get all the fun of oil changes and scheduled maintenance and extra money to Ford again. Dealers are gonna love it, and you!

1) No, I never give money to dealerships for basic maintenance that men should be doing themselves at home. I haven't for the last 30 years and I won't in the future.

2) I will GLADLY and with joy change my engine oil and filters on a schedule if it means that my wife and I can enjoy long trips with our camper again, not stressed over finding that next charger in the perfect location, and hoping that it's compatible with the truck when we get there, and praying that it's not out of order when we get there. To be able to gas up and go again means freedom. A 15 minute oil change twice per year is SO worth it.

 

[astrand1]

For years without a comprehensive infrastructure package that supported both the charging gaps and incentivized manufacturers to pursue EVs.

It's not like we have some huge selection of decent EVs in all prices ranges or anything... that's the actual problem.

If China ever gets in our market, we are cooked. And we will deserve it.

You understand that one of the biggest reasons their cars are so cheap is that their own government subsidizes them. I will say that the quality and features on the Chinese cars are pretty damn good. But again it’s about price. If china were to get into the us market and keep the prices low hell yeah people are going to buy. I guess we will just have to wait and see how things shake out.

 

[Landscaper]

Five years here, two EVs. But like I say, just because it has a gas tank doesn't mean you have to put gas in it? Sounds like it still plugs in..

I don’t get the impression that it plugs in. Maybe I missed it

 

[LUXMAN]

I understand Ford's decision. I'm just saying I don't like it. But they are a public traded company that needs to make money. I understand that. But at the same time they're putting out an announcement on the lightning forum. Lol like they thought they'd get a lot of backers on that front. @Ford Motor Company doesn't seem to have a clue about its audience in this context.

That said, there's lots of sponsored ads that I'm seeing on this thread for the scout forum and the Rivian forum. LOL

 

[Shmoe]

1) No, I never give money to dealerships for basic maintenance that men should be doing themselves at home. I haven't for the last 30 years and I won't in the future.

2) I will GLADLY and with joy change my engine oil and filters on a schedule if it means that my wife and I can enjoy long trips with our camper again, not stressed over finding that next charger in the perfect location, and hoping that it's compatible with the truck when we get there, and praying that it's not out of order when we get there. To be able to gas up and go again means freedom. A 15 minute oil change twice per year is SO worth it.

With words like this, it's a wonder anyone ever got you in a BEV in the first place.

Enjoy being big oil's winback.

 

[The Weatherman]

Ok so answer this. Why did ev sales plummet? Answer because the tax credit ended. So what does that tell you? It means that good or bad many Americans don’t want an ev. The average ev costs in many cases thousands more than a comparable ice vehicle. You say evs are “taking off” in other countries. You realize that many of those countries have subsidies like we used to. I wonder if they stopped that would their sales drop? You also have to keep in mind that the culture in other countries is quite different than ours. They tend to drive less miles and have smaller cars. Everyone here wants an suv or a truck. Different strokes.
My opinion is that I don’t think the government should be artificially creating the market.

I agree with the last part of your statement 100%. Our government should not be artificially creating the market. DROP THE BAN ON IMPORTS!! Let the free market work. If our government doesn’t want to subsidize the technology, fine. But don’t prohibit me from making a Capitalism Free Market decision to buy something else.

 

[Shmoe]

I agree with the last part of your statement 100%. Our government should not be artificially creating the market. DROP THE BAN ON IMPORTS!! Let the free market work. If our government doesn’t want to subsidize the technology, fine. But don’t prohibit me from making a Capitalism Free Market decision to by something else.

100% true.. it sure ain't a free market if you don't have to compete with cheaper/better alternatives that are also being artificially held back from the market.

 

[mr.Magoo]

TRUCKS here need to haul heavy and tow heavy for distances. EREV is the answer.

It doesn't feel like it's the answer, it's just a solution to a different problem.

The same people who were complaining about the range of the Lightning will now have to find something else to complain about because the majority of them will still buy a traditional ICE vehicles when they realize that the EREV is 25,000 more than the standard version.

There's a handful "enthusiasts" who will buy it because it allows them to be "different" but I'm guessing it's at least a 1:1 ratio of people gained to people lost because it isn't a pure EV, so my hunch is that it won't outsell the Lightning, and if that's that case is it really "the answer" - only the future can tell.

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