Window sticker mpg Lightning vs Powerboost

[magvallo]

Question. My window sticker states annual fuel cost $1,700 vs Lightning $950. $750 annual difference? Are they tested the same ? Thought there would be more savings with the EV. If this is apples to apples, I rather stay with the Hybrid. Looks like the spend vs save is much larger difference. I might be missing something or just not understanding so let me know if I’m off base.

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[Ajzride]

Their fuel costs are estimated at $2.70 per gallon and electric at $0.13 per KW. The fuel is way low based on current prices, and depending on where you live $0.13 might be high (I pay $0.097). Rerun the calculations at those costs and the gap gets much bigger.

 

[magvallo]

Thanks. Yes, that makes sense I wish we still has gas prices at two something but electric costs are not static. Many utilities use natural gas to make electricity. I live in NY .20 per kwh when you include taxes and surcharges. Guess stickers will never tell the full story.

 

[blentre]

You need watts per mile to really compare. To get that divide 48 kWh / 100 miles on the sticker and you get .48 kWh per mile. Multiple times the rated 24 MPG and you get equivalent 11.52 kWh per 24 miles. Multiply that by your price per kWh and you get the real cost equivalent per gallon:

48 kWh / 100 miles = .48 kWh per mile
.48 kWh per mile * 24 MPG = 11.52 kWh to travel 24 miles
11.52 kWh to travel 24 miles * $0.12 (estimate per kWh in Austin) = $1.38 per equivalent gallon of gasoline if you believe the EPA, AKA it ain't exactly free. It's lower and the bill moves from gas station to utility, but is it really worth the cost/range/towing anxiety?

Now I bet you won't see 48 kWh per 100 miles just like I don't see 24 MPG in my hybrid. Don't forget when calculating your cost per kWh to take you entire bill and just divide by total kWh used. Of course in some backwards city electrics, the more you use the more you pay per kWh (progressive - ha). We've owned an electric vehicle since 2011/2012 and still do. We had solar before an EV so really can't claim it's sun powered if I'm honest.

 

[Bluesman]

How many years to recoup the initial price difference, if ever?

 

[sempifi99]

Question. My window sticker states annual fuel cost $1,700 vs Lightning $950. $750 annual difference? Are they tested the same ? Thought there would be more savings with the EV. If this is apples to apples, I rather stay with the Hybrid. Looks like the spend vs save is much larger difference. I might be missing something or just not understanding so let me know if I’m off base.

Don't forget the government rebates.

 

[Bluesman]

Don't forget the government rebates.

My understanding is those phase out at certain income levels. In other words, if you can afford a $100K Lightning, you ain't gettin' no government rebate..

 

[Ajzride]

My understanding is those phase out at certain income levels. In other words, if you can afford a $100K Lightning, you ain't gettin' no government rebate..

At the moment, they don't phase out, but it looks like the next round of rebates will. For 2022 models it's $7,500.

 

[Tripdaddy95]

At the time of my purchasing a '23 F-150, I was able to purchase a loaded Lariat SCrew PB for a dealer price of $70k +the taxes and fees. An F-150 Lightning is going for about $100k +taxes and fees. That is $25k to $30K more . That would make the payback like 30 years.

 

[amschind]

The answer here is a big "it depends". The range is EXTREMELY BROAD due to the extreme variation in $/kWh for BEV charging. For example, if you have a >10kW solar array on your house, live in a reasonably sunny area, drive your truck near your house and rarely tow any distance, your fuel cost will be functionally ZERO. The other extreme is my case: my Powerboost costs less per mile than a Lightning. I work out of town, and most of my miles are away from home. Level III charging is $0.43-$0.5 in Texas, which means that 87 octane is cheaper per mile up to about $3.80/gallon with my real world mileage.

I am in the process of designing and building a solar electric Airstream, and I'm actively looking at BEV tractors, and my best estimate is that I'll have 35 kW of solar on my roof, but buying power off of the grid to charge your EV (particularly for level III charging) is a HIGHLY location specific benefit. A house level II charger for me would break even with a 40 MPG gas truck in Texas. Michigan and the Pacific NW, for example, have VERY cheap electricity, though if fuel demand turns into electricity demand, those numbers could change during the useful life of a vehicle.

Bottom line, with the information that we have today, a highly fuel efficient gas vehicle OR a BEV that you charge yourself are the two plays most likely to pay off in the next 10 years.

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