EV Trucks Can't Replace Gas Trucks Yet. Hybrids Can

[PCfordguy]

Didn't read the article yet, but will risk my response based on nothing more than your post AND the title of the article itself: "EV Trucks Can't Replace Gas Trucks Yet. Hybrids Can"

The Lightning can't REPLACE my F150 Powerboost if/when I am using it for obvious things that the Lightning can't do. Which is ONLY towing the RV's long distance.

But I could make a similar claim that my F150 Powerboost can't REPLACE my F350 if/when I'm using it for things the Powerboost can't do. ???

I completely understand that if someone has to address every single possible use-case-scenario and are limited to ONE vehicle, an EV pickup truck is very unlikely to be the right choice. But in my opinion, if I were limited to only one vehicle at my disposal, a Ford Lightning ER is more than capable for everything I ever need to do other than long runs towing one of the RV's.

Still, having said all that, I have a Powerboost instead of a Lightning. And if I had to choose again tomorrow, I'd grab another Powerboost. But ONLY because of towing.

Full disclosure......
I drive an EV the majority of time. Almost every single day. They have won this old goat over, in spite of the ridiculous and disgusting politics and outright false claims. I like them for all the things they do so well. None being more than how they make me grin during my daily commute. It's a surgical weapon of maneuverability, if you know what I mean. ?

Agree 100%- my Powerboost is reserved for truck stuff and road trips. Our EV gets the vast majority of local miles for its efficiency, driving dynamics, and convenience.

The EV/ ICE choice comes down to individual lifestyles and use cases- which an EV can typically handle- except for some important ones like road tripping and towing. I’d honestly rather have a Lightning instead of my Powerboost, but I know the Lightning can’t (yet) deliver on the two aforementioned important use cases.

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[Buyer2021]

Let's be honest, the Lightning is probably more than enough for a majority of all 1/2 ton truck owners. Not everyone is taking 2000 mile weekly road trips while towing 10,000 pounds.

Trying to be "honest", a lot of folks with half-ton pickups take weekend and summer vacation trips that exceed the Lightning's (and most other EV pickup) range capabilities, either not towing anything or towing more reasonably-sized RVs.

And for many if not most of those folks, chasing-down charging stations is both an inconvenience and a loss of precious recreational time.

Methinks the author hit the nail on the head.

 

[moonlanderadventures]

Let's be real here. The massive push to EV is only marginally motivated by environmental reasoning. The bulk of it is more geopolitical. Greenhouse emissions does improve, but ultimately we are still fueling the electricity with fossil fuel sources, so marginal gain. Our power grid is also not designed right now to handle widespread EV adoption, let alone our infrastructure set up to make it convenient. The extra strain on the grid results in more brownouts/blackouts unless your city is modernized to handle it. It's OK if a few people get EVs, but if everyone on the block gets one, I send my condolences to the poor utility worker and pole itself. R.I.P The technology itself is also juvenile so its riddled with more bugs and problems.

Lastly one of the main catalysts for why we need EVs to improve our air quality actually comes from a flaw in urban city design. Suburban cities are designed to stuff 99% of the population like a sardine can into residential zones and isolate everything else. It's not green by design. You need a car to drive to work. You need transportation to get to school. You need a car to go do anything fun. You turn maybe 35-40% of the population's dependency on needing a car to 100%. More cars= More pollution. The collateral damage of this is mental health. We don't go out. We don't socialize. It's detrimental to our health. It was a contributing factor to why the overlanding lifestyle appealed to me and why I am planning in the near future to travel the road full time. To restore my mental well being.

 

[Brandon8]

Agree with article. I mainly was interested in the PB because it’s a hybrid. I do mostly city driving but still appreciate power(coming from an explorer st).

Honestly my driving pattern is probably perfect for an EV but I just don’t want to deal with that. Especially now that I can fill up only once or twice a month max, it’s a non issue to me.

I just wish ford offered a slightly smaller pickup. I love the maverick but just too small in the back for two kids and German shepherd. Ranger is actually smaller oddly. The next thing is the f150. So here I am.

Averaging around 24mpg in my commuting with awesome power at my disposal. Not bad.

 

[ReverendQ]

I completely agree. Like you I have a EV Tesla Model Y and a PowerBoost. Tesla for local city driving, PowerBoost for all other use cases. While the Lightning has PPoB let's not forget part of the focus on the PowerBoost is the easily renewable abundance of electrons available for so many use cases with an HEV based PPoB system. Icing on the cake.

This may help with the answer, Slate Target Market Flowchart | Slate Truck (EV Pickup & SUV) News, Forum, Owners, Community, Discussions LOL

 

[fordtruckman2003]

I've been saying that about full EV for years. Toyota knew couple decades ago that hybrid makes the most sense.

Only reason I didn't get a PB is the 2.7 suits me better and I wanted to get away from the 3.5 after having the first generation for so long.

 

[JCsTruck]

If it ain’t broke then don't fix it. Long live the V8 engine.

My next car just might be a Tesla EV. ??

 

[turbopilot]

If it ain’t broke then don't fix it. Long live the V8 engine.

My next car just might be a Tesla EV. ??

Get a Tesla and support a good cause. Such a neat car. It just takes care of itself. Every few weeks the software is updated and keeps getting better. The updates are free and painless. The car just takes care of itself. I wish Elon would make an extended range HEV pickup.

Excuse me I have to say OK for the next software update. No 8 hour, $50 FDRS marathon. Just free and one button click.

 

[Tigmd99]

Get a Tesla and support a good cause. Such a neat car. It just takes care of itself. Every few weeks the software is updated and keeps getting better. The updates are free and painless. The car just takes care of itself. I wish Elon would make an extended range HEV pickup.

Excuse me I have to say OK for the next software update. No 8 hour, $50 FDRS marathon. Just free and one button click.

Yup and here I am still waiting for the first Blue Cruise update for the past 1.5 years….

 

[JCsTruck]

Get a Tesla and support a good cause. Such a neat car. It just takes care of itself. Every few weeks the software is updated and keeps getting better. The updates are free and painless. The car just takes care of itself. I wish Elon would make an extended range HEV pickup.

Excuse me I have to say OK for the next software update. No 8 hour, $50 FDRS marathon. Just free and one button click.

There are plenty of used Teslas around here for cheap now because of the whole political thing with Elon. Anyone who drives a Tesla around here gets harassed and even threatened or the car gets vandalized. My brother owns a Tesla model Y and he cant drive it anywhere because people around him flip him off and yell obscenities at him which makes him very upset and it makes his kids upset too. He looked into selling it but the numbers didn’t work out I guess. I told him I could purchase it from him in a couple years. Great cars though I must say.

 

[v8440]

Ah, the old tolerant "We're peaceful until you disagree with us or we even THINK you disagree with us" crowd.

 

[Snakebitten]

I was driving a homely and innocuous little Leaf for a few months, as my personal research, (or dipping my toes in the water as I describe it) into what the REALITY of EV ownership is like.

About 6 months in, I had confirmed for myself that I am absolutely compatible with the all electric form of commuting. I seriously considered a Tesla and even test drove a few. Everytime I came close to a decision to acquire one I just couldn't pull the trigger. I was (and still am) smitten with the technology and much of the engineering, but just couldn't get past the emotional (subjective) objection to styling and starkness of the interior. Ironically, it was the humble little Leaf and its contrasting traditional "warm and comfortable" interior that impeded the Model 3/Y appeal. Go figure. ?

Man did I dodge the unpredicted insanity of our polarized culture!

The Mach-E is so unknown and rare in my area that most folks haven't a clue it's an EV. And I think it's safe to assume that a ~70 year old man wearing a cowboy hat in the driver's seat probably gets my Mach-E profiled as something other than what it actually is? ?

By the way, and little to do with the drivetrain being electric, it is the most well put together vehicle that I have ever owned. At 14 months and being hooligan/beater driven almost every day, it's as tight as the day my granddaughter imposed her will on me to purchase it.

 

[v8440]

Man, I thought that last sentence was going somewhere else for a second!

 

[PCfordguy]

There are plenty of used Teslas around here for cheap now because of the whole political thing with Elon. Anyone who drives a Tesla around here gets harassed and even threatened or the car gets vandalized. My brother owns a Tesla model Y and he cant drive it anywhere because people around him flip him off and yell obscenities at him which makes him very upset and it makes his kids upset too. He looked into selling it but the numbers didn’t work out I guess. I told him I could purchase it from him in a couple years. Great cars though I must say.

They are great cars- had a Model Y for three years. But Elon throwing two Nazi salutes behind the US presidential seal earlier this year was the last straw for me. Having a grandfather who fought in WW2 I have great respect for the generation who fought against such evil. Anyone who treats those veterans, who sacrificed everything, with such disregard and disrespect deserves to be sunk in every way possible.

That said - I won’t pass judgement on anyone who continues to own a Tesla. Unless it’s a cyber truck…

 

[Tigmd99]

That said - I won’t pass judgement on anyone who continues to own a Tesla. Unless it’s a cyber truck…

For me, the ONLY Tesla that i would own is a … Cybertruck. It is on my radar. Sorry.

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