Initial range after charge well below advertised range- 2025 Flash

[flyct]

Based on real driving:

2023-Lariat ER. bought in Sept 2023. 100% charge in Nov at 2,577 miles: range estimate was 319 miles

100% charge last night at 16,000 miles. range estimate is 334 miles

Excellent displayed range.

What is your mi/kwh displayed on your trip meter for the 16,000 miles?

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[ScottC]

I purchased a new 2025 Lightning Flash. I love the truck however after charging to 100% the range never is above 260- 270 miles- not the 300-320 that’s advertised. Now, I’m not so naive to think I will actually attain that actual range, but I’m not at all pleased that it never gets even close to the advertised range estimate at 100% charge… by a lot. Temperature during charge was 70-80 degrees. When I charge to 80% it estimates total range of about 225 miles, which extrapolates to the same 260 or so. Does anyone else have this experience and should I press for a new battery?

welcome! Agree with all postings it’s related to your driving habits and you can reset a couple of times to get an accurate reading of how you’re handling the car overtime. Actually woke up this morning to 100% SOC found my miles have picked up to 279. I bought my 24 Flash in February and was down in the 269 to 270 range but as temperatures have warmed up and my lifetime driving habits have improved a little to 2.2 from 2.1. I think I’m getting a tad more miles on the meter. But 270 is an adequate range in just about every car I’ve ever owned so it’s a solid amount IMO.

I love my Flash!

 

[flyct]

welcome! Agree with all postings it’s related to your driving habits and you can reset a couple of times to get an accurate reading of how you’re handling the car overtime. Actually woke up this morning to 100% SOC found my miles have picked up to 279. I bought my flash in February and was down in the 269 to 270 range but as temperatures have warmed up and my lifetime driving habits have improved a little to 2.2 from 2.1. I think I’m getting a tad more miles on the meter. But 270 is an adequate range in just about every car I’ve ever owned so it’s a solid amount IMO.

I love my Flash!

You have a 2024 Flash with a 131 kWh battery per your profile. The original poster has a 2025 Flash which has a 121 kWh battery. That 10 kWh difference equates to 21-22 miles of less range at 2.1-2.2 mi/kwh.

 

[davehu]

Excellent displayed range.

What is your mi/kwh displayed on your trip meter for the 16,000 miles?

I didn't have a trip counter on from the beginning but have been resetting it twice a year. My driving is 90% local. 10% highway
this from Nov 2023 through mid April 2024

This from apri1 2024 through Nov 2024

And lastly from Dec 2024 - mid May 2025

 

[Whammy Bar]

Dear all- thanks so much for all the useful information. And sorry for the redundant question. I was not aware that this estimate was dynamic based on past driving habits. Much of my driving is highway so I will try resetting the history to see if it goes to 320 (although estimate was the same 260-270 miles when first purchased with 14 miles on the vehicle). When I asked folks at the dealer the response I got was conflated with actual range and not estimated range, but these answers are very helpful- thank you!!

You're not getting 320 miles mostly highway unless you stay under 50mph.

At 70 AVG, you should be good for around 240 miles - thats from 100% to 10%.

 

[abcut973]

...Take the efficiency number (miles per kWh) after your week of typical driving and multiply it by 131. That's your typical driving range for the weather/terrain....

Theoritically yes. But I don't believe we have access to the full 131 KWh. Therefore, your actual range will be a little less.

 

[Dfair]

Most folks don't realize that many ICE vehicles are in the same boat. I have a 2017 hemi charger. In the winter I don't drive it much, but to keep the battery charged I often pull it out of the garage and let it sit running for 20 minutes or so.

Normally the ramge estimate is around 350, but when I filled it up in March after several zero mile 20 minute run sessions, the range displayed was something like 110 miles. It takes several normal trips before the range display gets back over 300.

 

[nate002]

Theoritically yes. But I don't believe we have access to the full 131 KWh. Therefore, your actual range will be a little less.

2024 Flash ERs have 143.4kWh capacity, but only 131kWh is useable.

2025 Flash ERs have ~134kWh capacity, but only 123kWh is useable.

Edit: To add, there are apparently some 2025 Flashes out there with the 143.4kWh battery. The change was made mid-production at some point.

 

[Zprime29]

2024 Flash ERs have 143.4kWh capacity, but only 131kWh is useable.

2025 Flash ERs have ~134kWh capacity, but only 123kWh is useable.

Edit: To add, there are apparently some 2025 Flashes out there with the 143.4kWh battery. The change was made mid-production at some point.

I forgot about the 2025's getting a slightly smaller battery, good point. I should have said to multiply by your truck's useable capacity. I ball park 130 for my mental estimates. Last time I charged to 100% I topped out around 129kWh. I'm ok with that for a 3 year old truck w/42k miles.

 

[flyct]

I didn't have a trip counter on from the beginning but have been resetting it twice a year. My driving is 90% local. 10% highway
this from Nov 2023 through mid April 2024

My driving history is 80% highway at 65 mph and 20% local. I’m averaging 2.1 mi/kwh.

Like I stated earlier I charge at 80% and consider 15% as lower limit before I charge. So I only get to use 85 kWhs or 65% of the 131 kwhs. That’s roughly 180 miles of range for daily usage.

If I were to go on aroad trip I’d start out at 100% but also fast charge to 80% every stop thereafter. After about 180 miles driven, I’d be looking for the nearest DC Fast charger. That’s well below my 300 mile EPA Range but after 2-1/2 to 3 hours in the driver seat I need a bathroom break and need to stretch my old legs.

Same thing when I’m towing my RV with my F-450. 3 hours and I need a break, The only difference is with the RV I fill up every other stop Or about 360- 400 miles. And we bring the bathroom with us ?

 

[davehu]

My driving history is 80% highway at 65 mph and 20% local. I’m averaging 2.1 mi/kwh.

Like I stated earlier I charge at 80% and consider 15% as lower limit before I charge. So I only get to use 85 kWhs or 65% of the 131 kwhs. That’s roughly 180 miles of range for daily usage.

If I were to go on aroad trip I’d start out at 100% but also fast charge to 80% every stop thereafter. After about 180 miles driven, I’d be looking for the nearest DC Fast charger. That’s well below my 300 mile EPA Range but after 2-1/2 to 3 hours in the driver seat I need a bathroom break and need to stretch my old legs.

Same thing when I’m towing my RV with my F-450. 3 hours and I need a break, The only difference is with the RV I fill up every other stop Or about 360- 400 miles. And we bring the bathroom with us ?

Ditto all that for me!

 

[chl]

I purchased a new 2025 Lightning Flash. I love the truck however after charging to 100% the range never is above 260- 270 miles- not the 300-320 that’s advertised. Now, I’m not so naive to think I will actually attain that actual range, but I’m not at all pleased that it never gets even close to the advertised range estimate at 100% charge… by a lot. Temperature during charge was 70-80 degrees. When I charge to 80% it estimates total range of about 225 miles, which extrapolates to the same 260 or so. Does anyone else have this experience and should I press for a new battery?

EVERYONE DOES.

Ignore the range calculation, focus on the percent battery remaining and treat it like a fuel gauge.
Watch your miles per kWh on various speeds and distances, and you will get a feel for how far you can go before you need to add energy.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Since Ford doesn’t recommend past 90 percent charging points you might never see 240/320 advertised .

They recommend that you generally charge to 90%, but they also don't prohibit or discourage a 100% charge either.

If you're planning a road trip, the night or early morning before departure, pump it up to 100% to give you that extra energy to travel with, the type of driving will determine how much 'actual' range will be seen.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Doesn’t the 2025 Flash have a smaller battery? (122kWh)

edit: missed the post above me before I posted

The early builds have 131kw, while JOB-2 builds have 121kw, it is documented on the window sticker, and we had a recent discussion on another thread about what to look for on the VIN to confirm which version the truck has.

 

[jjupi91897]

I purchased a new 2025 Lightning Flash. I love the truck however after charging to 100% the range never is above 260- 270 miles- not the 300-320 that’s advertised. Now, I’m not so naive to think I will actually attain that actual range, but I’m not at all pleased that it never gets even close to the advertised range estimate at 100% charge… by a lot. Temperature during charge was 70-80 degrees. When I charge to 80% it estimates total range of about 225 miles, which extrapolates to the same 260 or so. Does anyone else have this experience and should I press for a new battery?

Are you charging at home or DC public charging? I don't get as much range it seems when I DC public charge. Maybe it's to protect the battery. When I charge at home with 90 percent SOC, at the temperatures you mention, it's over a 300 mile estimate.

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