Raptor vs Lightning: the numbers

[pirate4x4lance]

I asked chat gpt to analyze my typical driving over a years time with my old raptor vs my lightning as I was curious what my time waiting for charging vs going to a gas station…

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[SpaceEVDriver]

That’s about right, but don’t forget to include time and money spent doing maintenance on the Raptor vs the Lightning. I’ve spent less than $200 and less than four hours on maintenance for both EVs in 58 months of combined ownership. The Tacoma maintenance was costing me >$400/year and several hours if I paid the shop to do the maintenance and many more hours if I did it myself. The other ICE vehicle was similar.

 

[pirate4x4lance]

Good point!

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

AND the two trucks do not offer the same over all driving experience, 0-60, passing capability, and just plain fun-factor. LOL.

I have a similar outcome per year with about $7400 CAN net savings from gasoline, plus the oil changes, eventual exhaust work, diff fluid service, transfer case - don't even get started on 10-Speed Transmissions... The Lightning is a lot quieter, quicker, and FUNNER !

 

[Heliian]

Yes, the lightning is cheaper to operate than my old 2.7l even.

Another added bonus is that I'm not buying expensive gas station snacks.

 

[Athrun88]

That’s about right, but don’t forget to include time and money spent doing maintenance on the Raptor vs the Lightning. I’ve spent less than $200 and less than four hours on maintenance for both EVs in 58 months of combined ownership. The Tacoma maintenance was costing me >$400/year and several hours if I paid the shop to do the maintenance and many more hours if I did it myself. The other ICE vehicle was similar.

This. So many EV naysayers forget about all the maintenance required for ICE/hybrids. Their arguments are always the same: batteries will be expensive to replace, charging infrastructure sucks, blah blah blah. I usually ask them how much to replace/rebuild transmission/diff/engine, how much they spend on oil/fluid changes, brakes, etc... They usually clam up after considering those and when I say with my driving habits (I'm currently at 30,000km in my 1st year of ownership), I'll break even within 5 years with the expectation that the truck will last over 8-10yrs, especially with charging at home.

 

[pirate4x4lance]

Dove a little deeper and added maintenance and my typical driving over a three year period.

 

[Mal106]

Very nice comparisons. My '23 Ecoboost was a bit less than the Raptor but not much. The anti EV crowd is really concerned about how long it takes to charge yet they actually spend more time at gas stations overall than charging.

One thing that surprised me is that I haven't ever driven tired in the Lightning. I don't think at 9000 mi it's because it is new. More likely my stops on long road trips are longer and more frequent.

I held off until Tesla opened their chargers but infrastructure, price transparency and the resulting lack of competition are still frustrating. If anybody that can afford it and the means to charge at home were forced to use an EV for a month, with few exceptions, they'd never go back.

 

[Vulnox]

Very nice comparisons. My '23 Ecoboost was a bit less than the Raptor but not much. The anti EV crowd is really concerned about how long it takes to charge yet they actually spend more time at gas stations overall than charging.

One thing that surprised me is that I haven't ever driven tired in the Lightning. I don't think at 9000 mi it's because it is new. More likely my stops on long road trips are longer and more frequent.

I held off until Tesla opened their chargers but infrastructure, price transparency and the resulting lack of competition are still frustrating. If anybody that can afford it and the means to charge at home were forced to use an EV for a month, with few exceptions, they'd never go back.

Right on with the cumulative time at gas stations. People always have these crazy low numbers for their gas station fill up times too. Can't count how often I see "It takes 5 minutes to fill up!", I need to figure out what stations they stop at because I have timed it before and from the moment I turn in to the moment I leave it's almost always closer to ten minutes. Especially when dealing with an F-150 tank of 30 gallons+.

Heck it usually takes two minutes just to park, get out, and assuming you are ready to go swipe your card. Then wait for it to process. Then wait for the sometimes ancient pumps to let you hit the octane button, etc.

I was pretty efficient at places like Costco. Used my Costco card and tap and pay so I didn't even have to swipe my membership card. But it still was at least ten minutes.

And I was doing that every two weeks. Just countless hours per year once you include trips and everything else.

I think all the road trips we have taken since 2022 when we got our first Mach-e, combined, will have a lower time spent with charging than just the time I spent on just my F-150 PowerBoost in 2024 at gas stations.

Plus I am almost never standing at the charger just waiting like I have to do with gas pumps. I plug in and I go inside and use the restroom, get snacks if needed, whatever. With gas pump, it's just stand at the pump and wait.

 

[RLXXI]

Guy at work asked me what I would do if we had to evacuate for a storm, told him "300 mile range" he shut up real quick lol.

 

[TaxmanHog]

My running cost of operation of my 2022 Lightning Lariat ER has been ~$0.26 per mile

My former 2012 F250 PSD cost me ~$0.42.

I am still saving driving the Lightning, but not as much as folks in low energy cost conditions/markets/renewable sources. The mitigating consideration for me is that it's a much more enjoyable ride than my old Power Stroke.

 

[RickKeen]

Right on with the cumulative time at gas stations. ...

Plus I am almost never standing at the charger just waiting like I have to do with gas pumps. I plug in and I go inside and use the restroom, get snacks if needed, whatever. With gas pump, it's just stand at the pump and wait.

They have those great ads on the screens at some pumps. Love wasting my life ticking away to the droning sound of the pump and those ads.

When charging an EV on a road trip, you can get some stuff done:
Eat a sit-down meal.
Take a walk
Walk your dog
Take a nap
Watch a TV show, or part of a movie (watch the 2nd half on 2nd stop).
Check the sports highlights.
Read something.
Work on your taxes.
Buy that stuff you need for your car for your next road trip on Amazon.
Do your grocery shopping for your destination.
Do your grocery shopping on your last stop on the way home.
Do some gambling (if charging at a Casino).
Get a haircut.
Shop for some new clothes (some chargers are at better shopping locations than Walmart)
Research stuff to do at your destination.
Get bait or some ammo.

 

[Quantum]

Thank you for sharing that!

When people ask 'how long does it take to charge an EV' - I say 10-seconds. Takes that long to plug it in - 98% at home charging - 3.2 cents/kWh - like driving for free.

Then I ask them - 'how does it feel to inhale all that garage exhaust - you and your family - from an ICE vehicle'?

Whenever I use an ICE loaner - I'm like - wow - that exhaust scent is everywhere - it follows us into the house!

 

[chl]

The other cost related to EVs is the annual highway use fee which in some states can be pricey.
It started out being about $64 but has risen steadily over the years and is now $116.49/year.

Virginia started a program where is it based on actual miles driven which saves me $$ on the fee for the Leaf since I now drive the Lightning instead most of the time. They assume about 11,600 miles/year of driving.

Using the miles driven for my Leaf it is 1.0040 cents per mile up to the max $116.49/year.
For my Lightning it is 1.1040 cents per mile but the standard fee would be $128.14/year.

I haven't followed the developments but in May 2025, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee proposed a provision for a new annual federal motor vehicle registration fee of $250 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrids.

I did a similar analysis when I got my 2012 Nissan Leaf in Dec 2011 which gets on average 4.8mile/kWh, pretty much zero maintenance (rotate tires) and no repairs - did have to do a yearly HV battery check which was complimentary.

I haven't yet done a complete analysis for the Lightning comparing it to my previous truck a 2001 Ranger, but I know it should be way less expensive to own and operate based on my experience with the Leaf.

My 'fuel' costs for the Lightning are about 5 cents per mile and I get between 1.6 and 3.0 mile/kWh depending on the weather - the 1.6 was in February, the 3.0 in May.

By contrast our 2015 Prius hybrid costs about 15 cents per mile in fuel costs.

Other expenses for the Leaf:

I did have to buy a battery tender ($30) to keep the 12v battery charged - same kind of issue as with the lightning 12v battery. It got too low to start the car one time when I was on vacation. The electronics in the Leaf that eat up the most juice are the Charge Timers, turning them off when not using the car for extended periods of time was recommended by Nissan after several owners reported the same issue.

But I still am on my first 12v battery - being on a trickle charger really extends their life. Not sure how long the Lightning 12v will lasts - based on forum posts probably NOT 14 years, lol.

Replaced the key FOB batteries once or twice.
Replaced the wiper blades once ($30) - the Leaf has a rear wiper blade and 2 in the front.
Yearly fee for a XM subscription.
Windshield washer fluid now and then.
I wash it myself.

The up-front cost of a 30A L2 EVSE in 2011 was $1000 and the install costs were the price of 100ft of wire, some pvc conduit, an outlet and a breaker. I could have used it with the Lightning, but opted to buy a unused new in the box FCSP on eBay for $600 with shipping - install was $700 or so - I bought more wire and conduit then I ended up needing.

I also wired up my house with a GENERAC 6853 to use the PPOB for emergency backup - cost was about $600 for the transfer switch, wiring, conduit, inlet box, breakers, generator cable and miscellaneous.

Using the PPOB will be a lot cheaper than running my gasoline standby generator, and a lot quieter too!

 

[RickKeen]

EV charging is unattended - you don't have to stay at the vehicle.

ICE refueling is mandatory to attend the pump while pumping (in almost all states). Those 5-10 minutes of your life are completely wasted just waiting on that pump. Maybe the other passengers can go in and buy some snacks or use the restroom while you pump, but at least one person cannot overlap their bathroom break with the pumping of the gas.

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