How Far Can a Gas Truck & an Electric Ford Lightning Go Towing the Same Camper

[AzScorpion]

TFL does a great comparison with the new Lightning and an ICE GMC for towing range. Spoiler....The ICE gets double the range.

I think we (well most) all knew what the outcome would be but I never expected it to be this bad. Getting only 86 miles out of a charge with an averaged size trailer is unacceptable. Also 45 minutes to charge to 75% is a long time to have to wait for a charge. What are you supposed to do if you're in an area like AZ when it's 110 outside while it's charging or say MI when it's single digits outside? No wonder they haven't posted the towing range on these Lightnings yet.

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[Nomadjohn]

This is the #1 reason I don't have a deposit down on a Lightning. I think they are great trucks for most uses and perhaps even most people but the only reason I own a truck is to tow a travel trailer. Our trips are between 100 and 400 miles in one direction and I hate that the range on the Ranger is about 150 miles with our travel trailer but this is at least doable given that gas stations are pretty prevalent and it only take takes a few minutes to gas up. It would be terrible to have to spend 45 minutes every two hours just waiting for to recharge.

FWIW I'm pretty sure that in an electric vehicle you sit in your car with either the AC or the heat on while you are charging. Maybe it takes a little longer but probably not much. This is something I wouldn't mind doing, but I wouldn't want to do it with my 5 year old.

 

[AzScorpion]

This is the #1 reason I don't have a deposit down on a Lightning. I think they are great trucks for most uses and perhaps even most people but the only reason I own a truck is to tow a travel trailer. Our trips are between 100 and 400 miles in one direction and I hate that the range on the Ranger is about 150 miles with our travel trailer but this is at least doable given that gas stations are pretty prevalent and it only take takes a few minutes to gas up. It would be terrible to have to spend 45 minutes every two hours just waiting for to recharge.

FWIW I'm pretty sure that in an electric vehicle you sit in your car with either the AC or the heat on while you are charging. Maybe it takes a little longer but probably not much. This is something I wouldn't mind doing, but I wouldn't want to do it with my 5 year old.

If you can sit in the vehicle with the HVAC going while charging that's good But lets face it how boring is that going to be just sitting there for over an hour, 45 minutes only gets you to 75%.

I've said it many times that EV's will be great for SOME who daily drive short commutes but for MOST of us they're just not practical yet. Upgrading the whole counties grid is going to cost billions and someone (us) will be paying for this through much higher rates and taxes. While it needs to be done at some point, lets do it gradual as most can't even afford to put food on the table right now with this inflation let alone heat their homes come winter.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

It will not be a quick and easy retrofit of existing ”truck stops” until charging times are similar to existing pumping times and the travel ranges are the same or greater.

At the moment, people will want something to do while they wait to re-charge and trips will require more planning. Will companies invest in the needed infrastructure when that need continues to diminish as EV, battery, and charging technologies improve? Time will tell, I guess.

If they do, RP’s (@RANGER PRIDE ) not wrong and they will look like a bad marriage between a Wet ‘N’ Wild and an On Route centre.

 

[tgRanger]

I dont know how much truth there is to this. But my wife was looking at Highlander Hybrid a few years ago, not EV. I knew nothing about hybrids etc.. I asked the dealer, what’s the life span of these batteries mounted in the car? Do they last forever? He told me they have about a 10 year life span before they may need to be replaced Now just exactly how much would that set us back I asked, he didnt have an answer for me. That was the end of that, we got a gas Highlander Limited. So, Will the batteries in the Lightning have to be replaced at some point?

 

[SigOris]

If you can sit in the vehicle with the HVAC going while charging that's good But lets face it how boring is that going to be just sitting there for over an hour, 45 minutes only gets you to 75%.

I've said it many times that EV's will be great for SOME who daily drive short commutes but for MOST of us they're just not practical yet. Upgrading the whole counties grid is going to cost billions and someone (us) will be paying for this through much higher rates and taxes. While it needs to be done at some point, lets do it gradual as most can't even afford to put food on the table right now with this inflation let alone heat their homes come winter.

you are wrong, the govt will build with free money ( sarcastic voice missing )

 

[AzScorpion]

you are wrong, the govt will build with free money ( sarcastic voice missing )

Sad but so very true!

 

[AzScorpion]

I dont know how much truth there is to this. But my wife was looking at Highlander Hybrid a few years ago, not EV. I knew nothing about hybrids etc.. I asked the dealer, what’s the life span of these batteries mounted in the car? Do they last forever? He told me they have about a 10 year life span before they may need to be replaced Now just exactly how much would that set us back I asked, he didnt have an answer for me. That was the end of that, we got a gas Highlander Limited.

So, Will the batteries in the Lightning have to be replaced at some point?

They sure will have to be replaced, just like stuff on an ICE vehicle does. I'm sure over time the cost will come down but IIRC they're saying around $10K?

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

From 100% he got 86 miles to finish at 9%, then 45 minutes to get back to 75%. From 75%, you only have ~70 miles before you get back down 9%, so 45 minutes charge time for every 70 miles. Also consider that you may have to go farther from the interstate to find a EV charger, which will cut into average travel distance. At that rate you are 45 minutes charging for ~1 hour driving.

Cost is about $0.31/mile for the EV, and $0.60 for the ICE. Half the 'fuel' cost but it will take twice as long to get to the destination so about the same cost per hour of overall travel time.

 

[AzScorpion]

From 100% he got 86 miles to finish at 9%, then 45 minutes to get back to 75%. From 75%, you only have ~70 miles before you get back down 9%, so 45 minutes charge time for every 70 miles. Also consider that you may have to go farther from the interstate to find a EV charger, which will cut into average travel distance. At that rate you are 45 minutes charging for ~1 hour driving.

Cost is about $0.31/mile for the EV, and $0.60 for the ICE. Half the 'fuel' cost but it will take twice as long to get to the destination so about the same cost per hour of overall travel time.

Factor in most don't have the luxury of added that extra time into their vacations. So the average family who plans a weeks vacation (and can't take anymore time off then that) can't make their trip. Unless you're retired or having the freedom to take unlimited time these will not work for many years. Plus that's half the fuel cost today which we all know will be double that or more once power plants are shut down and there's more EV's on the road.

 

[deleriumtremor]

They are going to need a bigger battery...

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Factor in most don't have the luxury of added that extra time into their vacations. So the average family who plans a weeks vacation (and can't take anymore time off then that) can't make their trip. Unless you're retired or having the freedom to take unlimited time these will not work for many years. Plus that's half the fuel cost today which we all know will be double that or more once power plants are shut down and there's more EV's on the road.

And for every ~400 miles or so, the EV requires an extra night of accommodations. If you are pulling a trailer you can sleep in, that cost may not be too much more, maybe even free in some Walmart parking lots, but again, more travel distance and time. If you are pulling a toy trailer, without sleeping quarters, more motel/hotels, and once again may be more travel distance to find the comfort level you want.

There are allot of things I like about EV, but the tech is not ready to take over the industry yet. Infrastructure for more than daily (sub)urban daily use is years away.

 

[tgRanger]

Maybe they can make solar panel Tonneau covers, moon roofs etc.. ?‍

 

[AzScorpion]

And for every ~400 miles or so, the EV requires an extra night of accommodations. If you are pulling a trailer you can sleep in, that cost may not be too much more, maybe even free in some Walmart parking lots, but again, more travel distance and time. If you are pulling a toy trailer, without sleeping quarters, more motel/hotels, and once again may be more travel distance to find the comfort level you want.

There are allot of things I like about EV, but the tech is not ready to take over the industry yet. Infrastructure for more than daily (sub)urban daily use is years away.

Same here and I would opt for a PHEV first before going full EV.

We were on some very long remote areas through WY where there were no services for 70+ miles. Nothing but fields and farm for as long as you could see so towing through an area like that is going to be tricky. It was also the most direct route you have to take to get from Cheyanne into South Dakota so it's heavily traveled with RV's. You would need at least 2 large charging areas there but being there are many farms I'm not sure how you'd do it as it's all private land.

 

[AzScorpion]

Maybe they can make solar panel Tonneau covers, moon roofs etc.. ?‍

Tony I saw that there was a company who was designing a solar panel tonneau cover. I'm not sure if it's out yet but it would work for some. Only issue is it would be heavy and kind of unrealistic for use for many. How do you travel with all your stuff in the bed then gain access to the full bed? I think the one I saw was hinged so it pushed up against the bulkhead which gives you 75% access. But with all the stuff we just had loaded up I'd need to have full access.

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