We Bet F-150 Lightning's Range Is under 100 Miles when Towing at the Max

Car and Driver ^ | 05/19/2021 | Dave VanderWerp

[thegagline]

Range typically occupies an outsized chunk of the conversation on any new EV. But, in the case of the F-150 Lightning, which has the bestselling pickup's usual healthy scoop of towing and hauling capabilities, things get more complicated.

Ford is claiming that the range figures for its electric pickup will come in at 230 miles and 300 miles, depending on whether the standard-range (which we estimate can hold 115.0 kWh) or extended-range battery pack (150.0 kWh, same caveat) is beneath the bed. Those are EPA predictions, specifically EPA combined figures, in lightly loaded conditions. *** Although the Lightning is aided by the aerodynamic effects of its flat underbody, when running at real highway speeds there's no tricking the air molecules, and a bluff truck is going to suffer. In our highway range testing, which we conduct at a steady 75 mph, we typically see a range number that's about 20 percent below the EPA figure. Using that same bogey, which is probably generous in the case of a full-size pickup, would put the Lightning in the 180-to-240-mile zone for what you might achieve on a road trip.

In a recent towing test with another EV, lugging a 3859-pound boat at 70 mph chopped its range in half compared to our lightly loaded highway range test that we conduct at 75 mph. Applying these results to the F-150 means that towing a modest trailer would put the highway range at roughly 115 to 150 miles, depending on the pack. Towing anywhere near the 10,000-pound maximum rating on XLT and Lariat models (with the maximum trailer tow package and extended-range battery) at highway speeds, we believe you'd be hard pressed to exceed double-digit miles. We'd take that bet, in fact. ***

[UNGN]

I’ve been saying this since Elon bragged about the towing capacity of the Cybertruck, those his will go at least 69 miles, to “keep the meme alive”.

The hilarious thing will be an F150 pulling a 30ft trailer at a Tesla charging station, blocking 5 other charging stalls for 4 hours to go another 100 miles to repeat the process. Almost worth buying one for that.

[Reno89519]

Okay, so enough to go to storage, store, and home.

[Spktyr]

The percentage of F-150s that tow at the max on even a regular basis is tiny.

[HP8753]

150 Kwh battery. Can’t wait to see that sucker short out. Talk about a garage fire.

[HP8753]

150 Kwh battery. Can’t wait to see that sucker short out. Talk about a garage fire.

[Spktyr]

Per Ford, 70% of F-150 buyers regular hauling consists of... kids and groceries. The F-150 replaced the old family sedan.

[dragnet2]

Applying these results to the F-150 means that towing a modest trailer would put the highway range at roughly 115 to 150 miles, depending on the pack.

Why bother paying all that money to have a tow vehicle?

[ferret_airlift]

That’s my thought. The tests are done on basically racetrack type settings. The real world has hills. And sometimes, I need heat. Or air conditioning.

Alternately, I can get more than 300 miles on a tank of gas, and I can refill in minutes and keep going!

[Scrambler Bob]

Ford is claiming that the range figures for its electric pickup will come in at 230 miles and 300 miles
= = =

So that is 115 to 150 radius (unlosded) if you want to make it home.

[dadfly]

i don’t tow at max regularly. but when i need to tow at max, i need to. less than 100 miles round trip is nonsense for a working man.

[Yo-Yo]

All of your comments are valid. Message received: Don't expect to use an F-150 Lightning to pull your Fifth Wheel cross country.

But let me ask you this: What percentage of pickup trucks that are purchased each year really do max capacity towing over long distances on a daily or even weekly basis, and what percentage perform only occasional light duty towing/hauling, and are used the rest of the time as a one passenger daily driver?

The F-150 Lighting has a niche purpose (one that doesn't suit me, btw,) but identifying the worst case scenario then declaring the entire exercise moot is being disingenuous.

[proust]

Rednecks always find a way! 😂

[Spktyr]

Yeah, except that’s not proven yet. This is just Car & Driver *speculating* that they will only have a 100 mile range at max tow. C&D has been wrong about a *lot* in recent years.

[chrisser]

The percentage of F-150s that tow at the max on even a regular basis is tiny.

I'm not sure that's the point. If you drive your F-150 to pick up kids and groceries 350 days out of the year but then use it to tow the boat/camper/horse trailer the other 14, that's about 4%. But that 4% of days is the difference between getting by with an Escape and needing an F150. That alone, in most cases, is what justifies the higher price tag and operating costs of the truck for the rest of the year.

If the electric F150 can't do the 14 days, then the reason for purchasing it over the Escape approaches nil from any perspective beyond that of status symbol.

[dadfly]

you’re right. “if true” is always there with journalism.

[Mr. Lucky]

That’s great. If you only need to have a 27 hp truck, it can operate for 8 hour. But, a 27 hp truck is a lot like a Yugo with an expensive truck body bolted on for looks.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Spktyr]

The Escape doesn’t have a pickup bed. Point to the F-150, if you need a bed to haul things.

[taildragger]

"(which we estimate can hold 115.0 kWh) or extended-range battery pack (150.0 kWh, same caveat) is beneath the bed."

Given the weight of the pack and assuming 250 to 260 watts/Kg energy density I came up 204 KWH, so let's just round it too 200.

Car and Driver creating theater.

BTW, do any of you know tech's or engineers in vehicle test? They beat the **** out of these vehicles, especially the F-150 guys. I bet this thing was all up and down Eisenhower pass towing some heavy loads and they probably had fake exhaust pipes or it so Camo'd you didn't even know what it was.

Do you get how important that brand is and how almost cultish the guys and gals are on that program? What that badge is and how they will not settle for 2nd place? I don't mean to piss on the GM'er's or Dodge guys cornflakes here but the F-150 is king. Do you think they are going to risk that?...