Share Your Pipeline to F-150 Lightning. G'on. It's Thanksgiving...

[Aminorjourney]

Been thinking a lot about how people end up with a Lightning, and I would love to hear everyone's stories.

I started driving EVs back in 2006 - my first (non electric bicycle) EV was so small It could have fit in the bed of the Lightning. Mine was the yellow one...

Since then, I've gone through quite the list, including a super-rare 1984 Volkswagen Golf City Stromer (a VW factory conversion - it now lives in a museum in the UK). I've had embarrassingly bad EVs (G-Wiz that to my credit, was free), historically significant EVs (a RAV4 EV) and a bunch in between.

In order:

1998 City El
2005 Prius (I converted it to a Plug-in hybrid)
2004 Reva (the pre-cursor to the G-Wiz, was not ever meant to be privately sold...)
1984 Volkswagen CityStromer (Sold back to Volkswagen in 2011)
2011 Nissan LEAF
2013 Chevrolet Volt (the super-rare UK spec of which only a few hundred were made - we preferred it to the Vauxhall Ampera)
2014 Renault Twizy
2014 Renault Twizy (I may have crashed the first, and Renault purchased it back to 'study it' because I twisted the frame LMAO)
--- Move to the U.S. in 2015

2013 Nissan LEAF (used)
2003 RAV4 EV
2017 Chevrolet Bolt LT
2017 Chevrolet Bolt Premiere (had these at the same time)
2022 F150 Lightning Lariat (replaced the Bolt LT)
2023 F150 Lightning Lariat (replacing the 22 which I wrote off)
2006 Vectrix VX-1 (restoration in progress)

---

Somewhere in there, I also had:

1965 Morris Minor 2-Door Sedan
1961 Morris Minor Traveller With K-Series Engine Upgrade (it did 70 in second and nobody else would drive it because it was a legitimate hot rood)
1992 MZ ETZ (because two strokes are fun)
2007 Prius (my wife's which we changed out for the smart car when she lost her job)
2008 Smart Fortwo TDI (don't judge, it was £99/lease a month back in the height of the 2008 financial crisis)
2009 Prius (the Smart Car went back before we were ready to buy the Volt)

But yeah, Haven't had a gas car in... 12 years?

What's your pipeline? Are you new or old to this?

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[SpaceEVDriver]

• Tinkered with electric bicycles in the 1980s.
• Car buff since the 1980s.
• Tried to get ahold of the EV1, but wasn’t in the right state and didn’t have enough money.
• Tried to get a Rav4 EV, but again wasn't in the right state.
• Finally bought a Gen-1 Prius in 2002.
• Owned several Prii over the decades
• Bought/Sold/gave a handful of Prii to family as they decided they wanted to convert to hybrids and we found a good deal for a new/refreshed Prius.
• The vagaries of vehicular needs led us away from hybrids for a short period.
• Put in a reservation for a Lightning on reveal day
• Got impatient while waiting and sold our Golf Alltrek for more than we bought it for and bought a Mustang Mach-E
• The Lightning was ready to order, but MSRP was $25k more than we had anticipated, so we dropped the reservation.
• Took at 2200 mile road trip in our Tacoma and hated every yard.
• Started looking for BEV trucks to replace the Tacoma. Almost went with an R1T, but it was so, so expensive.
• Traded the Tacoma in for a 2023 Lightning in early 2024. We got the Lightning for a song (and the Tacoma).
• Never going back to gassy vehicles.

 

[Newton]

We live on the side of a mountain so our first EVs are glorified golf carts with dump beds on the back (Yamaha U-Max). They are so much nicer and quieter than the gas versions and a lot quieter than our tractor - which is next on the list.

We started with an e-Golf once they had decent range (120 miles compared to the 80 miles they had when we started looking). We tend to keep cars forever but were in the market because our old (2000’s) Mercedes got pushed over a cliff while it was parked by the side of the road as we assisted somebody. We got the e-Golf literally as the pandemic hit the USA, the big story was about Covid at a retirement center near the dealership. The price was incredibly low, I think we paid less than $20K after the rebate for the top trim.

Obviously we didn’t go very far but we discovered that EVs have a wonderful attribute for riding on Ferries - you can keep the climate control running in the ferry line and on the ferry. We were not allowed to leave our cars for the 50+ minute ride during that time. The e-Golf is great but is a little small for that application when you have pets. That led to us replacing our ICE car with an EV6 which I figured would be our “long distance” car because of the range and super fast charging.

Somewhere in that timeframe we had to/decided to replace our Frontier while used prices were high but there were still some deals on F-150s (ICE). The Lightning looked like it wasn’t going to happen for us, I was not going to pay $10K+ over MSRP. Eventually things got a little calmer with the Lightning, and we got a decent deal on the Lariat standard range which was being discontinued. No sunroof! Yea! We did kind of take a bath on the ICE F-150 so my idea of getting it to have something to trade in was not ideal.

Surprisingly we find that the Lightning is our long range car, we have no problems from the Canadian border to California. It is just more comfortable than the Kia and carries stuff. I wish it charged as fast as the Kia but it is not really a problem.

 

[RLXXI]

2nd ev technically, 1st is my Ryobi riding lawn mower . Got the truck with the sole intent of having a portable power supply for my mom (89) after a storm blows the lights out (hurricane alley).

I have solar and a ng whole home gen, she can't get natural gas to her house and running a gas portable is just a pita, if you can get fuel for it that is, gas pumps don't work without electricity.

I already have a low mileage (31k miles) F 150 smoker bought new in 2013 so I leave it over at her place for when the time comes I can park and plug in the Lightning there to power her place and drive my old truck until the power comes back on, recharge as needed at my place. We've seen weeks of power outages after a big storm. Yes weeks, not days (katrina) ripped us hard for example.

 

[Rayden]

We tend to keep cars forever but were in the market because our old (2000’s) Mercedes got pushed over a cliff while it was parked by the side of the road as we assisted somebody. .

Wait...WHAT?!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Okay, I love this!

In the spirit of sharing... Is now the time to say that I have a MY26 Flash on order?

My (Brian's) personal journey:
Always been interested in technology, software, design, etc. and would consider myself an early tech adopter (like many of you). I was a littler slower to the electric race, but below is my pipeline.

• 20 Escape Hybrid
• 21 Mustang Mach-E GT
• 24 Mustang Mach-E GT Performance
• 25 Mustang Mach-E Rally
• 26 F-150 Lightning Flash (on order)

 

[mashiniblick]

2015 Chevrolet Volt (PHEV)
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2022 Ford Lightning Lariat ER

 

[Rayden]

This is my first ever EV. About 15 years ago, ended up with a Prius as a rental b/c it was their last car available. Took 20 minutes to get out of the garage b/c I didn't think it was started (no engine noise). Was entertained by the regen braking (you had to use the shifter somehow, if I remember correctly). Then a few years ago, a friend bought a Model S and his son bought a Model 3. 2 years ago, got a Model 3 as a rental car for a few days while on a trip. At some point I had been aware of the Cybertruck, but it's just too weird looking and it costs too much. The Lightning has made me a believer in EVs and I'll never go back now.

 

[Lake Placid Lightning]

Had been researching a Lightning purchase for a while. In early April 2025, when I pulled into my workplace, there was a new Lightning in the parking lot, to be used as a fleet vehicle. Spoke to company owner (my boss), who said the dealer has been trying to get him to purchase one of the three 2023 Lariat SR Lightnings on the lot for a few months. Our company has about 100 vehicles, all Fords, purchased from the same dealer. We had a Mach E already, so the EV thing was not new.

My boss asked the dealer's GM, "The sticker on each is $78,000. If I buy one of the Lightnings today and then trade it in 2 weeks from now, what will you give me for it?" GM says, "$40,000." My boss responds, "I'll pay $40,000 for one right now." The white 2023 Lariat SR Lightning was delivered to our office the next day.

I come to work and see the Lightning, ask boss about it, he tells me the story above. Boss suggests I take it home for the night and test it out. Did just that. Next morning, I tell my boss I want one, he gives me GM's mobile number and email address. Contacted GM, told him I wanted the red one and could pay cash. Picked up my 2023 Rapid Red Lariat SR the next day. Paid $40,000 cash, odometer had 53 miles on it. Been smiling ever since.

 

[jefrank]

First EV experience. Jumped in as soon as the Lightning was announced. Took delivery early since someone else opted out of their order. Been absolutely perfect, until 2 weeks ago when a cell went bad. Waiting for the truck to get back to me... hopefully today.

 

[bryce]

2020 Chevrolet Bolt which we got on the last day the dealer was open before closing for the pandemic
2020 CRC e-bike
2015 Porsche Cayenne S e-Hybrid (bought in 2021) which has now gone to a wrecking yard after being hit by a Ram 2500
2022 Specialized Turbo Levo e-bike
2023 Ford Lightning Lariat ER
And soon a new EV to replace the dearly departed Cayenne

 

[The Weatherman]

Dedicated Newbie here:

April 2023 - bought my first EV 2022 F150 Lightning Lariat ER maxed out.

March 2024 - bought the wife a 2024 Kia EV6 Wind w/tech pkge.

April 2025 - placed a reservation for a 2027 Slate Pickup w/extended range, red wrap and utility racks and tire carrier.
Slate Pic:
https://www.slate.auto/share/K34HSH

 

[Vulnox]

2014 (I think? Suddenly blanking on it) C-Max Energi
2017 Focus Electric
2021 F-150 PowerBoost
2023 F-150 PowerBoost
2022 Mach-e Premium
2025 Mach-e Premium + 2024 F-150 Lightning Platinum

The C-Max Energi and PowerBoost trucks introduced us enough to electric to realize we were stressing so much about keeping it in electric that we just wanted to go full electric. The Focus Electric we got used and sold for more than we paid for it. The ~112 mile range on it further showed that for 99% of at least what my wife does even that range was fine.

Some of the vehicles above were mainly driven by my wife, like the 2022/2025 Mach-e and the Focus Electric. We both drove the C-Max quite a bit since it was before we had older kids so it was easier to take.

 

[No Oil HaHa]

This is my first EV. I knew I wanted a Lightning as soon as it was announced. I bought it as a buffer for the rapid swings in fuel prices that we see here in California.

I have no regrets and the only way I see myself going back to an ICE F-150 is if this truck is discontinued.

 

[Heliian]

Owned many Ford trucks over the years.

Lightning was my first EV, early reservation as I wanted to get away from the criminal gasoline cartels.

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