I’ve got 18,500 miles on mine in 11 months. Greatest vehicle I’ve ever owned absolutely love it. Here in Ontario we have ultra low rate at 2.4 ¢/kWh cost about $1.80 to “fill up”.
I was just shocked at him saying $0.14-15!!! I don’t have as low a rate as you- I pay $0.07. For me to go 20 miles it costs $0.70, and for my husband to take his Honda Pilot 20 miles it costs a gallon of gas- currently $3.39 here.
@@andrewjackson5127 that’s nice. It can’t hold 3 car seats and tow my UTV and mower, go down my unplowed dirt road in MN winters, and haul all my sheets of plywood and lumber from the hardware store. But I’m glad your Jetta allows you to buy less gas.
@@andrewjackson5127The Jetta is an exceptionally efficient car, for ICE. But still, a typical EV the size of a Jetta would get over 110 MPGe. That's more than twice as efficient. If we compare your exceptionally efficient ICE car to an exceptionally efficient EV, we find that the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range gets 142 MPGe. That's "nearly" three times as efficient.
Really. Wow. One of my clients had one and ended up giving it back to Ford. He loved it at first too, until the inconveniences became to great to ignore.
@@cassysamel3914 He had a hard time finding recharging stations between Calgary and Revelstoke. When he did find one, it was often out of service or occupied. Some of the enroute charge station operators were also charging far more than what he was paying for charging at home, making the savings over an ICE equivalent vehicle questionable.
@@cassysamel3914 um the inconvenience of not being able to tow anything or use it as a truck duh wtf how does this bullshit even exist PLEASE DONT VOTE FOR BIDEN .... real life not some shit you cant see lmao... ITS JUST MORONIC AT THIS POINT
This is the only EV transport channel that I remain subscribed to. Fair and informative reviews without resorting to name-calling of fossil fuel-powered vehicles are important to me. Keep up the good work.
@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney bu you pas under the fast charging infrastructure to charge your Lightning and only talking about for complaints the speed at what Ford aloud the kilowatt hours. Whit your 10 thousands miles what was your honest opinion regarding using the public fast charging outside TESLA?
As I mentioned in the video, I don't need to use public infrastructure often. With 300 miles of range I rarely need to use fast chargers. The times that I did take road trips, I never had a problem, However, I know there are serious issues and infrastructure needs to (and will) improve dramatically in the next 5-7 years.
Finally a real and smart average truck owner. Not the idiots who assume everyone tows every week of the year and need 600 miles to get to work everyday.
I agree. The vast majority of truck owners use the truck as a car, with only occasional light duty short trip hauling. And thats the use case that ev's excel at.
i’ve driven 21,000 miles in my lightning since March 2023. I absolutely love my Lightning Lariat extended range. This is the first EV I have ever owned and I can’t wait to see what Ford does with the T3. Great job on your video Tom. I love your channel. Keep up the good work.
Great video Tom, as always. I have 21k miles on my 2022 and would not trade it for anything. It is that good. I tow a GeoPro 19FD camping to PA state park and average 1.3 m/kw which lets met get to parks 150 miles away without having to DC fast charge. Many parks have Clipper Creek chargers or I get a 50 amp site and charge overnight. Your efficiency numbers match up with mine. Range anxiety is a thing of the past now that I do the mental math. My son borrowed it while I’m away to see if he could make it work for his home remodeling business. He’s had it for a week and I’m afraid he won’t give it back.
36,000+ miles on my E Transit since I picked it up last June. Was considering the Lightning but decided to stick with a cargo van for my detailing business, been solid so far, only issues have been with the 360° camera giving a blue screen
Do you home charger and/or have to use a commercial road side charger frequently? Those roadside charging stations can greatly increase the cost of a recharge so much that there is no cost advantage over an ICE equivalent.
@@Kismetix Primarily home charge, I have a very favorable electric rate .08 per KWH. Have taken road trips totaling about 3000 miles, you are right it can be pricey, but it is still cheaper than my previous Silverado.
I love the long term review! You have a unique perspective because you have owned it from nearly the beginning of launch. This gives a lot more insight than the one week reviews. This is my dream truck I hope to own one day. For now I will live vicariously through these lightning videos! Thank you!
Spot on Tom!!! My Lariat has just rolled over 16k and took delivery around the same time as you! Your experience is almost identical to mine and I agree with others comments about your fair representation and honest feedback. Keep up the good work!
I love all of your videos. I am a 1st time EV owner and thanks to watching tons of your videos I was well prepared when I picked up my Lightning 2 weeks ago. Keep the video's coming, they are awesome!!
There will be nacs to ccs adaptors but I’m with you. Id rather nacs from the factory.. the only issue will be where the charge port is.. on V2/V3 superchargers it’s a tight fit or block chargers
I still love my 2022 Lightning, just crossed over 16K miles. Charging at home is around .11 per KWH while charging around town is .48 per KWH. So charging at home does have its advantages.
Sounds good when you’re driving only 16,000 miles with a 2022. At one point I was driving 3000 miles every two weeks.did that for a year I. A 2016 accord. They are not for the middle class. Only you wealthy folks.
Really enjoyed this episode, as well as the others. Have a MYLR and thinking about the Lightning. Here in Texas dealers are dropping the prices on the ‘23 models. Thanks again.
Your insight regarding various EV topics is some of the best I've seen. I feel like I can trust your analysis as knowledgeable and genuine as apposed to all the fan channels out there.
Thank you for the 15,000 mile review. I just bought my 2023 Ford F150 Lighting Lariat 1 month ago and love it. I have been watching your channel for a while now and have taken lots of advice. My wife has a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug in Hybrid for about 2 years. Over about a 1 year period, I finished my basement. As part of that work, using your advice, I upgraded my service from 100 amp to 200 amp, replaced the meter box, replaced the FULL breaker box, ran wire for the car charger and emergency backup power as part of the basement renovation, installed a car charger, installed an emergency transfer switch, and installed an outlet and wire for emergency power. I did what I could do by myself and hired an electrician to do final connections. I'm in Vermont. I see you got to Vermont a lot. If you ever want to do a video while up here on a subscriber's project (DIY) based lots on watching your videos, come on over when up here.
re ev brake coach - Ford had this on my 2013 plug in hybrid CMax Energi. In addition to being a little fun and a challenge, it also helped my teenagers learning to drive get better at not slamming on the brakes!
Great review! I have 8500 miles on my 2022 Lariat ER and I concur with all points you've raised. Your efficiency numbers and charging times match up perfectly with my experience 👍🏾 I have the same Android Auto issues as you noted, with my Pixel 7 Pro. It's definitely a Ford issue. I'm now using a cable (I too find the wireless charging inconvenient). Keep up the good work! 👏🏾
Great video and good continuing evaluations. I've had my Lightening Lariat for 3K miles...best truck ever. I appriciate all the posters who give updates on their experiences. I charge with nothing but my solar panels so very little charge cost, running about 2.8 m/kwh, and no issues with cold weather so far as long as you condition the battery and set departure times. All my travel is mountains, high altitude, and colder temps. Love it and i keep spreading the word about how much better EVs are. I've managed to convince some skeptical friends about the vehicle, just by giving them a ride! I do wish Ford would improve the app and some of the software navigation. Thanks for the great info.
I am an EV information junkie and your videos are always very informational. I’ll appreciate it a lot more after I finally get an EV but in the meantime, you are my drug of choice! 😊😂
And just think that battery tech is getting better and better. We're really in the infancy of ev vehicles. Can't wait to see the improvements. Even so I think the ford lightning is one of the best ev trucks at the moment. I'm considering one.
Great video! I just clicked over 1200 miles and the truck is a beast! With a few minor mods I’ve got a great vehicle! There are a few quirks in the setup and connection to FordPass, the FCSP Setup app, CarPlay, etc. Many of my issues occurred due to phone settings needing updated.
I have an out 12k miles on my Lightning. I would love to see the “lock” portion of PAAK implemented. Overall, this is the best vehicle I have ever owned.
God I LOVE that panoramic moon roof! That is the one thing I wanted, but we couldn't pass on the price of our Lariat, and it didn't have one. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
That is the one thing I wish I still had from the vehicle I traded in for my XLT, but I couldn't swing the extra $9k for the Lariat. The windows are still enormous, but I kind of miss being able to look up.
Ive put 15k on my Lariat since April. It’s the best 150 I’ve owned. I use Pro Power as a backup to my EcoFlow batteries during power outages. The only drawback is the app. It needs work!
Very informative and helpful. I'm getting 2.9 mi/KWh on my Pro model with a standard range battery through the first 2,827 miles. I set the Trip 1 and Trip 2 when I took delivery. Highway/local driving is about 50:50. I usually carry several hundred pounds of cargo since we are moving from one home to another. I have watched every Lightning video I found on UA-cam since I reserved mine on day one. I noticed that most videos using a Pro were getting exceptional range. Extrapolating from a sample of one (which is not an advisable method) it appears that the more you pay for a Lighting with an SR battery, the less range you get.
Right. They add weight which drains the battery, when options are turned on they drain the battery more, and some even create aerodynamic drag which drains the battery even more.@@ruthwik081
Greatly appreciate your honest review here. So glad to see that FORD didn't lay an egg with this truck. The winter highway range is impressive as hell!
I’ve got 4000 miles on my Lightning XLT. It’s my first pickup, I love it, power is amazing, super quiet, frunk is great. Little storage area under the rear seats is handy. Our dog mostly rides back there. On a side note, I have a Google Pixel 8 and have never had a problem with it recognizing the phone for Android Auto. I’m down in SE Texas so heating is not a big issue. I do wish. Had the heat pump that the 25 model will have. I have the fabric interiors. I scotch guarded it and it’s great. I have the outlasts that come with the XLT so no pro power onboard. It’s nice having a 110 in the front cabin in addition to the two USBs and the cigarette adapter. One feature I don’t think it has that I wish it did would be to show instantaneous estimate of mile per KWh so if you are n longer trips and wanted to maximize range, you could set your cruise to a sweet spot. In town I get 3+ m/kWh on our Texas highways, it’s more like ..2.1 if I’m going 75 or more. I saw a Cybertruck in the wild on Saturday out by Brenham (part way to the Austin Tesla factory),it was being driven by an employee, he liked it a lot he said, I’m guessing it’s a preproduction unit that he’s testing out. Distinctive truck, but it does not cut it for me. I love my Lightning. Also, the Cybertruck apparently sucks at hill climbing when traction is loose and incline is steep.
Wanted the Lighting but bought the Hybrid Powerboost due to pulling a camper. The Powerboost has the same size generator and have powered my house and camper with it…very incredible to do this. I did buy a Ford Mach E GT and love it…yes the blue cruse works great. I also have solar electric and it’s 14 years old and ours is also paid for two fold. We try to mostly charging middle of day and when charging my meter still goes backwards.
This will be my next truck. I'm currently leasing a 2024 F150 with the 2.7 engine. My daily commute to work is 12 miles roundtrip. I tow a SeaDoo 1-3 times a week in the summer to the local boat ramp. I spend about $250 a month in fuel right now.
Excellent, honest review. Despite a few weaknesses, I feel Ford did an outstanding job on design of this first generation EV truck. They need to vertically integrate software based components for their 2nd generation F150. If I needed a truck now, this is one I would buy.
@collller True, but on the flip side, much lower maintenance cost and lower fuel cost when charging at home. Money can’t buy health so consider the value of cleaner air and reduced global warming.
One thing for EV buyers to consider; home charging doens't have road tax. States like Washington are starting to add fees to the regitistration to make up for this in Washington State it is $750; so consider that when estimating your cost of charging. Your state may not have such a charge yet but as EVs become more significant in number they will as they need to keep the roads up.
Tom - you covered everything that I also love and don't always love about my 2023 Lightning Lariat ER. And I thought it was just me and my Android phone - but I don't have the same problem connecting in any other model (rental) car. The center console also drops down hard if you're now paying attention! Interestingly, the financial 'use case' at my home in British Columbia is far more compelling - we pay the equivalent of about US$0.075/KWH to charge at home, while gas is about US$5.35/gallon (CAD$1.90/litre) for 89 octane. There's also one gas station chain that has had free EV fast charging all year, so my long distance trips have been super cheap. I've done over 15,000 miles since February 1st and I've probably spent less than $1,000 in total on charging. First scheduled warranty service was 30 min- rotated tires, checked brakes/fluids and topped up wiper fluid. Done! Keep up the AWESOME reviews! You're definitely the go-to expert on all things EV charging!
As many have said here, I've had a very similar experience (Lariat extended range battery) and am at about 15K myself. My work commute is less than 4 miles one way, so it become obvious I drive it for many other trips including towing various trailers, and construction projects for rental properties and recreation. Many of the same positive and negative thoughts. As far as connecting to my google phone, it seems that the computer is doing many things at start up and phone connection is later in the list; in that I have trouble at the beginning making a call, but if I wait a few minutes, there are no issues. I think the center console issues is more because of where it sits height wise as it interferes with your arm. I read where the average time fueling an ICE is about 12.5 hours per year. So I don't mind giving back some of that time for the longer trips, especially when towing. However, if that was the main purpose, the time loss would eventually not be worth it. But for me, it has been working great! I would also like to know more about the OTA when they happen. The information given is scarce.
If I fill up my car once a week for 5 mins and there's 52 weeks/year I spend slightly over 3 hours a year refueling. No idea where 12 hours is coming from
Open door, push door lock button exit vehicle walk away. Super easy. Much easier than using the door handle lock on the outside. Good honest review. Lots of other channels have extreme bias. Not you Tom. Keep up the honest reviews.
I have only had my Lightning for 6 weeks and love it. My biggest surprise that you didn’t mention is the 1 peddle drive. I love it along with the brake coach. I’m guessing that since you’ve been driving EV’s for so long you forget how big of a change it is to how you drive. I notice more now how many people accelerate all the way to a red light while I’m gradually slowing for the light.
Thank you, Tom. 7,500 on my Lariat. Love my Lightning. Thanks for your recommendations getting noticed by Ford. Not exclusive to the Lightning, but there should be a way to have all lights turn off and stay off. Camping mode. Thanks again.
Good work Tom, I have all of the same issues including the condensation in the rear tail light. Most of them came with a bad 12V battery and it takes forever to get the OTA updates due to that issue. The wireless charger is useless.
Great review. I have the same w 21k miles on it. My truck just gave warning light about a 12 v battery drain issue so taking it in Monday. I also have the R1S. I wanted to add that the PAAK doesn’t technically work by proximity. More so when you touch the door handle. Same thing when you want to lock only you need to hit the button to lock. Knowing you are looking for more of what the r1s does w actually locking and unlocking based on being near or walking away I know what you mean. Having the r1s as well it shows the frunk motor is way smoother and faster than the lightning which I can’t stand on lightning.
Great video! Which did you like better and performed better, and also had the best appointments? You make these videos look easy. I know how much time goes into them. I hope your lovely bride helps you out. People don’t realize how much work goes into this. You’re very personable. Great job!
Great to hear your 15k mi update! One other thing you might want to mention is that you can potentially use the 220V outlet from ProPower Onboard with a generator inlet wired into a home's electrical system. It's my understanding that installing a generator inlet is a fraction of the cost of doing a full Intelligent Backup Power install.
Does the lightning have the ability to put the full 80-100 amps down the 220v outlet? I would want intelligent backup power because it uses the charging circuit instead.
@@rootbear75 Negative, the 220V outlet would be limited to 30A. You can pull another 2.4kW from the onboard 120V outlets as well but nothing near 80-100A. It’s a trade off certainly but at a significantly lower cost to install I suspect.
@@boilerdown1 the biggest benefit of the intelligent backup power is that I could legitimately run my entire house (all of my circuits) off of it. Obviously I wouldnt use my oven or other high watt items, but having that ability is super nice It's also necessary if I want to practice energy abatement and try to shift my electric usage to use all the available power from my solar panels, instead of sending it back to the grid.
Excellent review Tom. My phone is a galaxy S20 FE and android auto has been flawless for me. I have had my Pro for less than a year (7K). I love the quiet and comfortable ride and the look on the sport car driver’s face when I pass them. The sound quality in my bare bone trim is amazing. Everything I want and nothing I don’t at a better price than most EVs and a lot of ICE with similar capabilities on the road. The only gripe is the software development and management at Ford. OTA update quality is WAY bellow par with success rates and communication on what Ford is changing. I HAVE TO share my driving info with Ford to be able to see charging details and have charging controls available on Ford Pass while I am charging. That is just creepy behavior by Ford that does not help me trust them. All that said, overall, I love the truck and highly recommend it.
Tom I finally got my Lightning Platinum in July after a 2 year and change reservation wait. Gotta say I agree with 95% of your views on the truck. I was wondering however when you got the update that shows your charge rate number on the dash? Mine doesn’t show it and my truck says my software is current. Love your channel and your updates on EV’s. Your channel helped make my transition from ICE to EV a lot easier.
Tom, Great follow-up video on your year use of the Lightning. I've had my lightning since September of 2022, 16000 mi plus at the moment. I use it for work as a general home repair and it's phenomenal. I can't believe how much money I've saved in gas. Well worth the investment I believe.
@@TristenHernandez I've saved $4,000 in fuel. Based off of having a 2017 F150 and comparing that currently to my 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat standard range. In California the full prices are higher than the nation average. So my savings are substantial because of that. If you want more of a breakdown let me know.
@@joeaquino6595 that’s excellent. Yes, every time we go to California, we rent an electric boulder Tesla with with unlimited free super charging, and we save quite a bit of money even enough to make it worthwhile to rent. I’m gonna come back and comment on my other channel but I drive a GMC Sierra, 2500 of which the F150 can do everything it can do except maybe plow snow. And then I have two Chevy avalanches which are phenomenal trucks but obviously I’m not doing much better than 16 to 17 MPG , which I assume is a little bit worse than your F150 with the aluminum chassis
@@joeaquino6595True about gas prices being higher, but electricity prices are even more above the average than gasoline. I'm in PG&E territory. It's $0.42 / kWh for the tier 1, but if you're charging an EV, you'll almost certainly be in tier 2, which is $0.52 / kWh. That's going to be about $5 per 20 miles.
Agree with many of your comments. However, my frunk opens and closes each and every time, without fail. It's the most reliable system on my beast. On the other hand, my tailgate is finicky when closing; sometimes it comes back down even if there's nothing in the way. Regarding the wireless connection, yes! Sometimes Apple CarPlay connects seamlessly, sometimes it refuses to. I keep swearing I'm gonna use a wired connection from now on, on the assumption that it will always connect.
Thank you for the details on cost! Shopping around for an ev to replace my truck (looking at cars, suvs, and trucks) but I do love my truck, and a standard range may do just right. What a beautiful fall day!
Great video as usual. I own a 2022 Mach-e GT and Ford has not updated to them to BC 1.2 via OTA yet. New cars are shipping with BC 1.3 and Ford has said they are going to skip 1.2 on existing cars and go straight to 1.3. But alas, it hasn't happened yet. You also mentioned Android auto ... My wife has the latest Samsung phone and I have an iPhone 14. The car usually connects just fine to the phone except in a couple of cases. For example, it will connect to the phone last used if both of us get into the car at the same time. If my wife used it last and I later get into the car by myself with my iPhone, it tires to connect to the Android phone. It gives a message that it couldn't connect and will not automatically connect to my iPhone in this case. But if I park it and leave the car, it will automatically connect the next time I start it.
I have 12k on mine. I got mine at the beginning of august 2022. I love the truck. I added 5.4kw of solar to my house that is dedicated to charging my truck. I typically charge at 1-2kw (120v vs 240v), but if I stay on top of the time of day, I could reach 3kw for periods. I did enter my truck into a bracketed dirt truck drag race and won enough to cover how much I spent on home charging and most of my DC fast charging. Otherwise, I have spent less than $250 charging my truck since I got it. I work from home and only really go to the gym most days and occasionally the grocery store. So it works for me. Occasionally, I go across Iowa to my daughter's college. My biggest gripe with the truck/Ford itself. I am having some sort of GPS unit/signal issue since February. So I can't use blue cruise, set charge limits (it's gps based), navigation and at times I have to disable advanced cruise control. I was driving on a interstate and the truck thought it was going through a small town with a speed limit of 25mph. The truck changed my cruise control speed down to 25mph. I caught it quick thankfully. It took 6 months to get the APEM replaced but that didn't fix it. Now, I am sitting here with the dealership saying they are waiting on Ford and that I can call them. I call them and get the run around, restart this etc. I still have my 2016 F150 that I love as well. But it is just not the same. I notice every shift of the transmission. It's no where near as quick or quiet. I live in Western Iowa and charging around here is TERRIBLE. I80 has OK coverage, but get off I80 and it is not good. I tested road tripping it to Western South Dakota earlier this fall. My 8 hour drive took me 11 hours (2 hours 9 minutes at 1 charger). In 1 span of 300 miles was a single charger that maxed out at 35kw. Another as since opened up, but I will still have to be at that slow charger for a while to get to it. And on the way back, the Lightning does not calculate wind conditions. I90/I29 is notorious for nasty wind. I sat at that same slow charger for 2 hours, and had to detour down onto highways doing 55. The truck wanted to take interstate, but no way would I have made it. I got to the next charger with 10 miles to spare. I have had the issues with my phone connecting to the truck. It seems to be getting hung up on authenticated to the truck itself. The app says "Connecting". If I kill the app and reopen it, it works. It's not all the time and seems to happen more when I have been close enough to the truck regularly where it connects and disconnects. IE my desk is less than 10 feet from it, but if I go into the kitchen etc, it's to far. I LOVE the frunk, I use it ALL the time. I have always backed into stalls with my trucks. Now I get groceries and walk right up and put them in. I also bought a cheap 120v air compressor that I keep up there to fill tires. It is so handy. I got a nail in a tired on a rock road 1 time. I carry the stuff to fix it. I pulled over and was back on the road in under 10 minutes.
Oh and their app really needs a lot of work! It's so dang slow and pretty well inaccurate. I can see it says my truck is not charging while I am staring at the blue charging lights.
Awesome! I’ve had all the weird trucks, Chevy avalanche, Honda, Ridgeline, and even the Subaru Baja Ridgeline was pretty cool because of the trunk and it was surprisingly capable and comfortable to drive the floor with the in bed trunk was that do you have anything on top of it to unpack it, so the idea of having a frunk That you can use and keep the full functionality of the bed is something I much desire both as a contractor, and as a camper
I’m with you on the luxuries, Blue Cruise, center console table. Don’t use my center console table often, but sure like it when I do! Agree about loving this truck. Has been my all time favorite truck to drive
I had my Lightning 12k miles before I encountered the Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced power error, the dealer had it for almost 2 months waiting on a part. I did a buyback from Ford more than anything because I was frustrated at Ford for their lack of transparency (but I also lost trust in that specific truck); this has happened to several Lightnings some estimate 5% of total Lightnings but don’t know because Ford has stayed hush about it. Some with repeated battery module malfunctions. I did buy another Lightning because I love the truck that much, I do wish we had more information regarding the high voltage battery module malfunction issue in some trucks.
Great review Tom, yes that is truly a remarkable truck! Disappointed in GM holding back the Sierra EV passenger trucks for another year or two, but then Ford will have the T3 out and with all it's improvements, guess we do not need a GMC EV, by then as Ford will deliver as they always do the best pickup truck in North America cannot wait!
Nice overview, and I agree with pretty much everything. We've had ours since October '23. For some reason, maybe the truck was in transit when the OTA software upgrade came out (that puts SOC in the dash cluster) and we missed out on that update. Do you have any suggestions? I'll start by asking the dealer, but I have low expectations. I also agree that walk-away locking would be nice, and how about the app telling us if the truck is locked or not, too.
8000 miles on my 23 Lightning Lariat. Love it. Love, love the frunk. Smooth, quiet, powerful. One plus Tom didn't mention is how spacious and comfortable the backseat is for your passengers. CCS / DCFC is the only annoyance. There is a lack of DCFC chargers/locations. And agree with Tom, the charging speed could be faster. I say buy one if you want an Electric vehicle, that happens to be a pickup truck, can do all the pickup things you may need, plus you can tow your boat when needed.
@@harrytobiassen5214 Use case is important, i.e. if you tow more than dipping your boat in and out of the water 10 miles from home, stick to a diesel if you tow. Cost? $70,000-$75,000. Go nuts and you can go over $80,000.
I have 30000 km 2022 platinum and am very happy with the vehicle. It runs very smoothly and hard to drive other vehicles once you get used to of lightning . EVEN IF IT COSTS ME SAME AS FUEL, I WILL DRIVE FORD LIGHTNING.
37k on my Lighting Lariat Extended range. Love it! I have the same complaint about phone connection. Not relegated to Android. Apple Car Play is intermittent also.
You haven’t experienced the standard in EV ride quality and cabin comfort (get the cloth interior), until you’ve driven an F150 Lightning. It floats along the highway like a StarWars Landspeeder, and it’s quicker. There’s no substitute for cubic feet of cabin, for spacious comfort and cathedral audio system acoustics. True luxury, imho. A rolling salon.
Awesome video, have a Mach-E and we love it. Something to note, none of the Mach-E's have gotten any OTA for BC. 23 Model Year got 1.2 from factory but 21 to 22 all still have 1.0 but the first generation cars got it at least enabled OTA, so I guess that counts. Now 23.5 MY Mach-Es actually come shipped with 1.3 now from the factory but sadly none of us have gotten any BC OTA yet, we're told its coming.
I've owned a BMW i4 for one year now. Like you I charge at home and have solar panels as well offsetting most of my electrical usage. In the past year, I've driven the BMW about 5000 miles, averaging 3.7 miles per KWH. Dominion Power here in Virginia is costing me 13 cents per KWH. Do the math and the BMW has theoretically cost me $175 to drive those 5000 miles (actual is much closer to zero because of the solar panels). I also drive a Toyota 4Runner which averages about 19 MPG. We've had our ups and down on fuel costs this year, but if I plug in average of $3.50/gallon, the 4Runner costs me $921 to drive the same 5000 mile distance. Said another way, the 4Runner is costing more than 5 times that of the BMW to drive an equivalent distance. And that's ignoring the contribution of the solar panels. I'm happy. By the way, I installed a Chargepoint home charger based on your recommendation. Very happy with that as well. Thank you!
Had my Lightning 11mths and love it. In the PNW, my electricity provider offers Time-of-Day rates as an alternative, where 9:00pm-7:00am and all day weekends and holidays the rate is $0.07/kW. So a complete 0-100% charge is just over $9.
Great video! I have a lightning as well with the standard range battery. I own an oyster farm in Massachusetts and have used it for the last year towing and hauling. The truck is fantastic! I definitely wish I had the extended range battery for road trips but looking forward to Tesla opening up the chargers! Hopefully ford will send out the adapters soon!
I have just over 28k on my '23 SR Pro. I really enjoy this vehicel as well! I do wish Phone as a Key was available for Pro. But I can't complain, I got the (after 14 month wait) truck at the 40k price.
Thanks for the feedback. I have been considering one for a while but haven't made the move yet. What is your experience with insurance rates and registration fees when compared to an ICE truck?
Agree with everything your said in your video. We brought a pro as a daily driver/ family hauler. Even the standard range battery is huge and its rare we get below 50% when charging to only 80%. Ford hit it out the park with the lightning and set the bar very high.
Hi Tom, Great video as usual. I have 2023 Lariat LR with 13k and agree with your review 100% and thanks for the 20 cent upgrade. I am at Load 6.3.0 and I do not have the battery percentage on my screen as you showed. Is it selectable somehow I have missed? I find the ping pong just too much today and have turned off BlueCruise. I can't wait to try BC 1.2 when released.
Great review sir! Good info and helpful to make a truck decision for those of us who have free solar. It looks like a great vehicle for an early adopter just getting into a total EV.
I don't have the numeric state of charge indications on my 2023 (fully updated, I think). I haven't found a menu selection for it. Love the long term review!
I have a 2023 as well. No SOC in cluster and shows no updates are available. I've had mine 3 months and never got an OTA update. Seems fishy to me. I love the truck, but everything related to software is very antiquated. I had hope we would get updates that would improve the experience, but so far, there are none for truck or app.
WTH? Mine doesn’t show SOC in the instrument cluster either. When I saw Tom show it I thought “what the heck is mine showing that now?” Nope. And I’m not showing any updates available. Last update was less than two weeks ago too! WTH Ford?
I've been waiting 4 years for Cybertruck. I considered the Lightning briefly, but decided against it. Cybertruck will better meet my needs as an all around vehicle and with better performance. 1) Cybertruck's bed is 6'-1" vs 5'-6" on the Lightning 2) The weatherproof tonneau cover on CT is like having a 100 cu ft trunk. 3) The turning circle on CT is 4' less than Lightning for better manueverability 4) Supercharger network vs Electrify America, et al. 5) CT will be more efficient/longer range. It has a lower Cd and frontal cross sectional area 6) CT has a heat pump; 48V electrical system; 800V traction battery 7) CT has adjustable air suspension and 14" ground clearance when fully raised vs. 8.4" 8) Tesla has better software 9) Full self driving option 10) Ford is losing $35,000 on every Lightning they sell. That scares me.
Two changes I would do are: 1) move the screen up 1 or 2 inches for more hand room for the wireless charger 2) move the charge port door's hinge on top or driver door side so the port door is not in the way of the v3 supercharger cable (also just saw your magic dock charging video).
Good video, Tom! I'm honestly surprised the PaaK on the Lightning doesn't have the same features as that on my Mach-e. I noticed the infrared light blinking on the A pillar to make sure you're paying attention.
I'm looking forward to getting a Lightning in about 6-7 years. Hopefully by then the first model year units will be available used for more reasonable prices. Maybe not, might take longer if their resale prices track the way Teslas have. Either way, I'd like one eventually, warts and all.
Thanks for the video! Many of your dislikes are the same I had with my 2013 C-Max Energi: Apo problems, poor iPhone support, armrest latch and spring. Tesla once said “We are a software company”. I wish Ford would accept that. On the other hand, the build quality was great and the car was solid and ultra-reliable. But just like the C-Max, Ford is marketing the Lightning for what it is not suited for, then can’t understand why sales suffer.
The Frunk not closing with the button on the frunk and inside is a problem I have, but the fob works every time, and the frunk is one of the most amazing features, I use it all the time, but not when the parking lot is crowed, Everyone wants to see it and I cant get out of home depot! Fun Problem. If you want to tow anything a long distance, get a F350, It takes a lot of power to tow 4500kg a long distance(more than 250kms in a day 156mi).
FYI never walk away from your car and let it auto unlock someone can pick up the frequency and boom your car is gone I always push the lock button bevore I get out
The remote walk away lock function is very annoying to me. I turn it off whenever a car has it. Multiple times ill come to the vehicle locked when i don't want it locked yet, sometimes without a key to unlock it. I prefer to touch the handle to lock the vehicle when i walk away. Then if i have to lock it remotely through either the key or the app after myself and someone else are done interacting with it, that works better for me.
As always a great detailed video, thank you. My Mach-E does the same thing when I push the button to open the hatch. Sometimes it opens all the way and sometimes partially. I try to stay out of the way of the sensors but I get the same issue either way. I still haven't figured out how to use the auto-open the hatch with my foot. Has never worked.
Great video! So, I have a non sequitur, how do you answer people who say that evs are misleading in that it takes more energy to make one than it saves. Tnx Tom, keep up the good work!
I’ve got 18,500 miles on mine in 11 months. Greatest vehicle I’ve ever owned absolutely love it. Here in Ontario we have ultra low rate at 2.4 ¢/kWh cost about $1.80 to “fill up”.
I was just shocked at him saying $0.14-15!!! I don’t have as low a rate as you- I pay $0.07. For me to go 20 miles it costs $0.70, and for my husband to take his Honda Pilot 20 miles it costs a gallon of gas- currently $3.39 here.
@@amandaadler1860 My VW Jetta gets 50 mpg. It's nearly as efficient as an EV.
Congratulations😒@@andrewjackson5127
@@andrewjackson5127 that’s nice. It can’t hold 3 car seats and tow my UTV and mower, go down my unplowed dirt road in MN winters, and haul all my sheets of plywood and lumber from the hardware store. But I’m glad your Jetta allows you to buy less gas.
@@andrewjackson5127The Jetta is an exceptionally efficient car, for ICE. But still, a typical EV the size of a Jetta would get over 110 MPGe. That's more than twice as efficient.
If we compare your exceptionally efficient ICE car to an exceptionally efficient EV, we find that the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range gets 142 MPGe. That's "nearly" three times as efficient.
10,000 on my Lightning Pro. Absolutely love it. Works perfect for my needs.
Really. Wow. One of my clients had one and ended up giving it back to Ford. He loved it at first too, until the inconveniences became to great to ignore.
@@Kismetixthe inconvenience being the range?
@@cassysamel3914 He had a hard time finding recharging stations between Calgary and Revelstoke. When he did find one, it was often out of service or occupied. Some of the enroute charge station operators were also charging far more than what he was paying for charging at home, making the savings over an ICE equivalent vehicle questionable.
@@cassysamel3914 um the inconvenience of not being able to tow anything or use it as a truck duh wtf how does this bullshit even exist PLEASE DONT VOTE FOR BIDEN .... real life not some shit you cant see lmao... ITS JUST MORONIC AT THIS POINT
This is the only EV transport channel that I remain subscribed to. Fair and informative reviews without resorting to name-calling of fossil fuel-powered vehicles are important to me. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. I will always offer honest content. I may be wrong at times, but you can be sure it's my honest opinion.
@@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughneyDon’t go changin, Tom!
@@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney state of shill battey exploding vehicles bev are trash
@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney bu you pas under the fast charging infrastructure to charge your Lightning and only talking about for complaints the speed at what Ford aloud the kilowatt hours.
Whit your 10 thousands miles what was your honest opinion regarding using the public fast charging outside TESLA?
As I mentioned in the video, I don't need to use public infrastructure often. With 300 miles of range I rarely need to use fast chargers. The times that I did take road trips, I never had a problem, However, I know there are serious issues and infrastructure needs to (and will) improve dramatically in the next 5-7 years.
Finally a real and smart average truck owner. Not the idiots who assume everyone tows every week of the year and need 600 miles to get to work everyday.
I agree. The vast majority of truck owners use the truck as a car, with only occasional light duty short trip hauling. And thats the use case that ev's excel at.
Ah-greed!
The sound quality in this video is amazing considering you were traveling along highways and country roads.
Awesome video Tom.
That's because the cabin is so quiet!
I’ve owned over 30 vehicles. My lightning is my 7th f150 in my lifetime.
It’s my favorite vehicle I’ve ever owned. It literally feels perfect.
i’ve driven 21,000 miles in my lightning since March 2023. I absolutely love my Lightning Lariat extended range. This is the first EV I have ever owned and I can’t wait to see what Ford does with the T3. Great job on your video Tom. I love your channel. Keep up the good work.
Whats the T3?
Same here my first EV, (but 7th F150) 24,000 miles since January 2023. Absolutely amazing vehicle.
Ford's code name for it's next truck, Trust the Truck @@xxZerosumxx
Whats the t3 precious eh?
How is the experience with the fast charging public network itself?
Great video Tom, as always. I have 21k miles on my 2022 and would not trade it for anything. It is that good. I tow a GeoPro 19FD camping to PA state park and average 1.3 m/kw which lets met get to parks 150 miles away without having to DC fast charge. Many parks have Clipper Creek chargers or I get a 50 amp site and charge overnight.
Your efficiency numbers match up with mine. Range anxiety is a thing of the past now that I do the mental math.
My son borrowed it while I’m away to see if he could make it work for his home remodeling business. He’s had it for a week and I’m afraid he won’t give it back.
Almost 25k on mine and I love. Hauling, towing, commuting it does it all and I don’t think I could be without an electric truck ever again.
36,000+ miles on my E Transit since I picked it up last June. Was considering the Lightning but decided to stick with a cargo van for my detailing business, been solid so far, only issues have been with the 360° camera giving a blue screen
I just passed 15k and my experience is about the same as yours. I love my Lightning
Do you home charger and/or have to use a commercial road side charger frequently? Those roadside charging stations can greatly increase the cost of a recharge so much that there is no cost advantage over an ICE equivalent.
@@Kismetix Primarily home charge, I have a very favorable electric rate .08 per KWH. Have taken road trips totaling about 3000 miles, you are right it can be pricey, but it is still cheaper than my previous Silverado.
I love the long term review! You have a unique perspective because you have owned it from nearly the beginning of launch. This gives a lot more insight than the one week reviews. This is my dream truck I hope to own one day. For now I will live vicariously through these lightning videos! Thank you!
Well said! I’m doing the same 😂
Same, although if they eventually make a Ranger or even Maverick size EV I would prefer that.
Spot on Tom!!! My Lariat has just rolled over 16k and took delivery around the same time as you! Your experience is almost identical to mine and I agree with others comments about your fair representation and honest feedback. Keep up the good work!
I love all of your videos. I am a 1st time EV owner and thanks to watching tons of your videos I was well prepared when I picked up my Lightning 2 weeks ago. Keep the video's coming, they are awesome!!
Thank you!
Man time flies, It's been a year already?! Great video as always Tom.
There will be nacs to ccs adaptors but I’m with you. Id rather nacs from the factory.. the only issue will be where the charge port is.. on V2/V3 superchargers it’s a tight fit or block chargers
I still love my 2022 Lightning, just crossed over 16K miles. Charging at home is around .11 per KWH while charging around town is .48 per KWH. So charging at home does have its advantages.
Sounds good when you’re driving only 16,000 miles with a 2022. At one point I was driving 3000 miles every two weeks.did that for a year I. A 2016 accord. They are not for the middle class. Only you wealthy folks.
Really enjoyed this episode, as well as the others. Have a MYLR and thinking about the Lightning. Here in Texas dealers are dropping the prices on the ‘23 models. Thanks again.
Your insight regarding various EV topics is some of the best I've seen. I feel like I can trust your analysis as knowledgeable and genuine as apposed to all the fan channels out there.
Thank you for the 15,000 mile review. I just bought my 2023 Ford F150 Lighting Lariat 1 month ago and love it. I have been watching your channel for a while now and have taken lots of advice. My wife has a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Plug in Hybrid for about 2 years. Over about a 1 year period, I finished my basement. As part of that work, using your advice, I upgraded my service from 100 amp to 200 amp, replaced the meter box, replaced the FULL breaker box, ran wire for the car charger and emergency backup power as part of the basement renovation, installed a car charger, installed an emergency transfer switch, and installed an outlet and wire for emergency power. I did what I could do by myself and hired an electrician to do final connections. I'm in Vermont. I see you got to Vermont a lot. If you ever want to do a video while up here on a subscriber's project (DIY) based lots on watching your videos, come on over when up here.
re ev brake coach - Ford had this on my 2013 plug in hybrid CMax Energi. In addition to being a little fun and a challenge, it also helped my teenagers learning to drive get better at not slamming on the brakes!
We have had ours for 13 months best vehicle we have ever owned
Great review! I have 8500 miles on my 2022 Lariat ER and I concur with all points you've raised. Your efficiency numbers and charging times match up perfectly with my experience 👍🏾
I have the same Android Auto issues as you noted, with my Pixel 7 Pro. It's definitely a Ford issue. I'm now using a cable (I too find the wireless charging inconvenient).
Keep up the good work! 👏🏾
Very well reviewed. So glad I found this channel. Fellow NJ resident.
Thank you!
Great video and good continuing evaluations. I've had my Lightening Lariat for 3K miles...best truck ever. I appriciate all the posters who give updates on their experiences. I charge with nothing but my solar panels so very little charge cost, running about 2.8 m/kwh, and no issues with cold weather so far as long as you condition the battery and set departure times. All my travel is mountains, high altitude, and colder temps. Love it and i keep spreading the word about how much better EVs are. I've managed to convince some skeptical friends about the vehicle, just by giving them a ride! I do wish Ford would improve the app and some of the software navigation. Thanks for the great info.
I am an EV information junkie and your videos are always very informational. I’ll appreciate it a lot more after I finally get an EV but in the meantime, you are my drug of choice! 😊😂
Looks like Ford thought of pretty much everything with this car. Amazing vehicle and job well done.
And just think that battery tech is getting better and better. We're really in the infancy of ev vehicles. Can't wait to see the improvements. Even so I think the ford lightning is one of the best ev trucks at the moment. I'm considering one.
Great video! I just clicked over 1200 miles and the truck is a beast! With a few minor mods I’ve got a great vehicle! There are a few quirks in the setup and connection to FordPass, the FCSP Setup app, CarPlay, etc. Many of my issues occurred due to phone settings needing updated.
I have an out 12k miles on my Lightning. I would love to see the “lock” portion of PAAK implemented. Overall, this is the best vehicle I have ever owned.
I’m on the verge of picking one of these up. Thank you for the info! Really appreciate you sharing your lived perspective.
God I LOVE that panoramic moon roof! That is the one thing I wanted, but we couldn't pass on the price of our Lariat, and it didn't have one. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.
That is the one thing I wish I still had from the vehicle I traded in for my XLT, but I couldn't swing the extra $9k for the Lariat. The windows are still enormous, but I kind of miss being able to look up.
Ive put 15k on my Lariat since April. It’s the best 150 I’ve owned. I use Pro Power as a backup to my EcoFlow batteries during power outages. The only drawback is the app. It needs work!
Thorough review at a good point (15k miles) to do one, where you’ve had a good amount of experience with the truck. 👍🏼
Cannot wait for the Heatpump version and better charging on the F150 Lightening!
What's that?
@@RichieColemanSr Google knows
Very informative and helpful. I'm getting 2.9 mi/KWh on my Pro model with a standard range battery through the first 2,827 miles. I set the Trip 1 and Trip 2 when I took delivery. Highway/local driving is about 50:50. I usually carry several hundred pounds of cargo since we are moving from one home to another. I have watched every Lightning video I found on UA-cam since I reserved mine on day one. I noticed that most videos using a Pro were getting exceptional range. Extrapolating from a sample of one (which is not an advisable method) it appears that the more you pay for a Lighting with an SR battery, the less range you get.
That wouldn't surprise me with Ford. Seems the same in some ways with their ICE vehicles.
Options add weight
Right. They add weight which drains the battery, when options are turned on they drain the battery more, and some even create aerodynamic drag which drains the battery even more.@@ruthwik081
Greatly appreciate your honest review here. So glad to see that FORD didn't lay an egg with this truck. The winter highway range is impressive as hell!
I’ve got 4000 miles on my Lightning XLT. It’s my first pickup, I love it, power is amazing, super quiet, frunk is great. Little storage area under the rear seats is handy. Our dog mostly rides back there. On a side note, I have a Google Pixel 8 and have never had a problem with it recognizing the phone for Android Auto.
I’m down in SE Texas so heating is not a big issue. I do wish. Had the heat pump that the 25 model will have.
I have the fabric interiors. I scotch guarded it and it’s great.
I have the outlasts that come with the XLT so no pro power onboard. It’s nice having a 110 in the front cabin in addition to the two USBs and the cigarette adapter.
One feature I don’t think it has that I wish it did would be to show instantaneous estimate of mile per KWh so if you are n longer trips and wanted to maximize range, you could set your cruise to a sweet spot. In town I get 3+ m/kWh on our Texas highways, it’s more like ..2.1 if I’m going 75 or more.
I saw a Cybertruck in the wild on Saturday out by Brenham (part way to the Austin Tesla factory),it was being driven by an employee, he liked it a lot he said, I’m guessing it’s a preproduction unit that he’s testing out. Distinctive truck, but it does not cut it for me. I love my Lightning. Also, the Cybertruck apparently sucks at hill climbing when traction is loose and incline is steep.
Wanted the Lighting but bought the Hybrid Powerboost due to pulling a camper. The Powerboost has the same size generator and have powered my house and camper with it…very incredible to do this. I did buy a Ford Mach E GT and love it…yes the blue cruse works great. I also have solar electric and it’s 14 years old and ours is also paid for two fold. We try to mostly charging middle of day and when charging my meter still goes backwards.
Great break down on the operation of the Ford lightning .
This will be my next truck. I'm currently leasing a 2024 F150 with the 2.7 engine. My daily commute to work is 12 miles roundtrip. I tow a SeaDoo 1-3 times a week in the summer to the local boat ramp. I spend about $250 a month in fuel right now.
Excellent, honest review. Despite a few weaknesses, I feel Ford did an outstanding job on design of this first generation EV truck. They need to vertically integrate software based components for their 2nd generation F150. If I needed a truck now, this is one I would buy.
@collller True, but on the flip side, much lower maintenance cost and lower fuel cost when charging at home. Money can’t buy health so consider the value of cleaner air and reduced global warming.
One thing for EV buyers to consider; home charging doens't have road tax. States like Washington are starting to add fees to the regitistration to make up for this in Washington State it is $750; so consider that when estimating your cost of charging. Your state may not have such a charge yet but as EVs become more significant in number they will as they need to keep the roads up.
Tom - you covered everything that I also love and don't always love about my 2023 Lightning Lariat ER. And I thought it was just me and my Android phone - but I don't have the same problem connecting in any other model (rental) car. The center console also drops down hard if you're now paying attention!
Interestingly, the financial 'use case' at my home in British Columbia is far more compelling - we pay the equivalent of about US$0.075/KWH to charge at home, while gas is about US$5.35/gallon (CAD$1.90/litre) for 89 octane. There's also one gas station chain that has had free EV fast charging all year, so my long distance trips have been super cheap. I've done over 15,000 miles since February 1st and I've probably spent less than $1,000 in total on charging. First scheduled warranty service was 30 min- rotated tires, checked brakes/fluids and topped up wiper fluid. Done!
Keep up the AWESOME reviews! You're definitely the go-to expert on all things EV charging!
I’ve built this for a living! DTP REV on loan from final assembly DTP ICE for overtime. Nice to see the good and bad opinions of what we build.
As many have said here, I've had a very similar experience (Lariat extended range battery) and am at about 15K myself. My work commute is less than 4 miles one way, so it become obvious I drive it for many other trips including towing various trailers, and construction projects for rental properties and recreation. Many of the same positive and negative thoughts. As far as connecting to my google phone, it seems that the computer is doing many things at start up and phone connection is later in the list; in that I have trouble at the beginning making a call, but if I wait a few minutes, there are no issues. I think the center console issues is more because of where it sits height wise as it interferes with your arm. I read where the average time fueling an ICE is about 12.5 hours per year. So I don't mind giving back some of that time for the longer trips, especially when towing. However, if that was the main purpose, the time loss would eventually not be worth it. But for me, it has been working great! I would also like to know more about the OTA when they happen. The information given is scarce.
If I fill up my car once a week for 5 mins and there's 52 weeks/year I spend slightly over 3 hours a year refueling. No idea where 12 hours is coming from
Open door, push door lock button exit vehicle walk away. Super easy. Much easier than using the door handle lock on the outside. Good honest review. Lots of other channels have extreme bias. Not you Tom. Keep up the honest reviews.
I have only had my Lightning for 6 weeks and love it. My biggest surprise that you didn’t mention is the 1 peddle drive. I love it along with the brake coach. I’m guessing that since you’ve been driving EV’s for so long you forget how big of a change it is to how you drive. I notice more now how many people accelerate all the way to a red light while I’m gradually slowing for the light.
That's really why - I'm so used to regenerative braking that I don't notice it anymore.
Thank you, Tom. 7,500 on my Lariat. Love my Lightning. Thanks for your recommendations getting noticed by Ford. Not exclusive to the Lightning, but there should be a way to have all lights turn off and stay off. Camping mode. Thanks again.
Good work Tom, I have all of the same issues including the condensation in the rear tail light. Most of them came with a bad 12V battery and it takes forever to get the OTA updates due to that issue. The wireless charger is useless.
Great review. I have the same w 21k miles on it. My truck just gave warning light about a 12 v battery drain issue so taking it in Monday. I also have the R1S. I wanted to add that the PAAK doesn’t technically work by proximity. More so when you touch the door handle. Same thing when you want to lock only you need to hit the button to lock. Knowing you are looking for more of what the r1s does w actually locking and unlocking based on being near or walking away I know what you mean. Having the r1s as well it shows the frunk motor is way smoother and faster than the lightning which I can’t stand on lightning.
Great video! Which did you like better and performed better, and also had the best appointments? You make these videos look easy. I know how much time goes into them. I hope your lovely bride helps you out. People don’t realize how much work goes into this. You’re very personable. Great job!
Great to hear your 15k mi update! One other thing you might want to mention is that you can potentially use the 220V outlet from ProPower Onboard with a generator inlet wired into a home's electrical system. It's my understanding that installing a generator inlet is a fraction of the cost of doing a full Intelligent Backup Power install.
Does the lightning have the ability to put the full 80-100 amps down the 220v outlet? I would want intelligent backup power because it uses the charging circuit instead.
@@rootbear75 Negative, the 220V outlet would be limited to 30A. You can pull another 2.4kW from the onboard 120V outlets as well but nothing near 80-100A. It’s a trade off certainly but at a significantly lower cost to install I suspect.
@@boilerdown1 the biggest benefit of the intelligent backup power is that I could legitimately run my entire house (all of my circuits) off of it. Obviously I wouldnt use my oven or other high watt items, but having that ability is super nice
It's also necessary if I want to practice energy abatement and try to shift my electric usage to use all the available power from my solar panels, instead of sending it back to the grid.
Excellent review Tom. My phone is a galaxy S20 FE and android auto has been flawless for me. I have had my Pro for less than a year (7K). I love the quiet and comfortable ride and the look on the sport car driver’s face when I pass them. The sound quality in my bare bone trim is amazing. Everything I want and nothing I don’t at a better price than most EVs and a lot of ICE with similar capabilities on the road. The only gripe is the software development and management at Ford. OTA update quality is WAY bellow par with success rates and communication on what Ford is changing. I HAVE TO share my driving info with Ford to be able to see charging details and have charging controls available on Ford Pass while I am charging. That is just creepy behavior by Ford that does not help me trust them. All that said, overall, I love the truck and highly recommend it.
Tom I finally got my Lightning Platinum in July after a 2 year and change reservation wait. Gotta say I agree with 95% of your views on the truck. I was wondering however when you got the update that shows your charge rate number on the dash? Mine doesn’t show it and my truck says my software is current. Love your channel and your updates on EV’s. Your channel helped make my transition from ICE to EV a lot easier.
Good so far, will check in again at 100 000miles
I have less then 1000 mile on mine, and i charge it for free on my solar. system. Love the truck. Ty Tom, very nice video.
Tom,
Great follow-up video on your year use of the Lightning. I've had my lightning since September of 2022, 16000 mi plus at the moment. I use it for work as a general home repair and it's phenomenal. I can't believe how much money I've saved in gas. Well worth the investment I believe.
Fellow contractor here I’m curious to know how much you’ve saved
@@TristenHernandez
I've saved $4,000 in fuel. Based off of having a 2017 F150 and comparing that currently to my 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat standard range. In California the full prices are higher than the nation average. So my savings are substantial because of that. If you want more of a breakdown let me know.
@@joeaquino6595 that’s excellent. Yes, every time we go to California, we rent an electric boulder Tesla with with unlimited free super charging, and we save quite a bit of money even enough to make it worthwhile to rent.
I’m gonna come back and comment on my other channel but I drive a GMC Sierra, 2500 of which the F150 can do everything it can do except maybe plow snow. And then I have two Chevy avalanches which are phenomenal trucks but obviously I’m not doing much better than 16 to 17 MPG , which I assume is a little bit worse than your F150 with the aluminum chassis
@@joeaquino6595True about gas prices being higher, but electricity prices are even more above the average than gasoline. I'm in PG&E territory. It's $0.42 / kWh for the tier 1, but if you're charging an EV, you'll almost certainly be in tier 2, which is $0.52 / kWh. That's going to be about $5 per 20 miles.
Got mine in October and it locks when I walk away. Not sure if they fixed yours yet. I can roll down windows remotely but not roll up remotely.
Agree with many of your comments. However, my frunk opens and closes each and every time, without fail. It's the most reliable system on my beast. On the other hand, my tailgate is finicky when closing; sometimes it comes back down even if there's nothing in the way. Regarding the wireless connection, yes! Sometimes Apple CarPlay connects seamlessly, sometimes it refuses to. I keep swearing I'm gonna use a wired connection from now on, on the assumption that it will always connect.
Great video as usual, Tom. Thank you!
Thank you for the details on cost! Shopping around for an ev to replace my truck (looking at cars, suvs, and trucks) but I do love my truck, and a standard range may do just right. What a beautiful fall day!
Great video as usual. I own a 2022 Mach-e GT and Ford has not updated to them to BC 1.2 via OTA yet. New cars are shipping with BC 1.3 and Ford has said they are going to skip 1.2 on existing cars and go straight to 1.3. But alas, it hasn't happened yet.
You also mentioned Android auto ... My wife has the latest Samsung phone and I have an iPhone 14. The car usually connects just fine to the phone except in a couple of cases. For example, it will connect to the phone last used if both of us get into the car at the same time. If my wife used it last and I later get into the car by myself with my iPhone, it tires to connect to the Android phone. It gives a message that it couldn't connect and will not automatically connect to my iPhone in this case. But if I park it and leave the car, it will automatically connect the next time I start it.
I have 12k on mine. I got mine at the beginning of august 2022. I love the truck. I added 5.4kw of solar to my house that is dedicated to charging my truck. I typically charge at 1-2kw (120v vs 240v), but if I stay on top of the time of day, I could reach 3kw for periods. I did enter my truck into a bracketed dirt truck drag race and won enough to cover how much I spent on home charging and most of my DC fast charging. Otherwise, I have spent less than $250 charging my truck since I got it. I work from home and only really go to the gym most days and occasionally the grocery store. So it works for me. Occasionally, I go across Iowa to my daughter's college.
My biggest gripe with the truck/Ford itself. I am having some sort of GPS unit/signal issue since February. So I can't use blue cruise, set charge limits (it's gps based), navigation and at times I have to disable advanced cruise control. I was driving on a interstate and the truck thought it was going through a small town with a speed limit of 25mph. The truck changed my cruise control speed down to 25mph. I caught it quick thankfully. It took 6 months to get the APEM replaced but that didn't fix it. Now, I am sitting here with the dealership saying they are waiting on Ford and that I can call them. I call them and get the run around, restart this etc.
I still have my 2016 F150 that I love as well. But it is just not the same. I notice every shift of the transmission. It's no where near as quick or quiet.
I live in Western Iowa and charging around here is TERRIBLE. I80 has OK coverage, but get off I80 and it is not good. I tested road tripping it to Western South Dakota earlier this fall. My 8 hour drive took me 11 hours (2 hours 9 minutes at 1 charger). In 1 span of 300 miles was a single charger that maxed out at 35kw. Another as since opened up, but I will still have to be at that slow charger for a while to get to it. And on the way back, the Lightning does not calculate wind conditions. I90/I29 is notorious for nasty wind. I sat at that same slow charger for 2 hours, and had to detour down onto highways doing 55. The truck wanted to take interstate, but no way would I have made it. I got to the next charger with 10 miles to spare.
I have had the issues with my phone connecting to the truck. It seems to be getting hung up on authenticated to the truck itself. The app says "Connecting". If I kill the app and reopen it, it works. It's not all the time and seems to happen more when I have been close enough to the truck regularly where it connects and disconnects. IE my desk is less than 10 feet from it, but if I go into the kitchen etc, it's to far.
I LOVE the frunk, I use it ALL the time. I have always backed into stalls with my trucks. Now I get groceries and walk right up and put them in. I also bought a cheap 120v air compressor that I keep up there to fill tires. It is so handy. I got a nail in a tired on a rock road 1 time. I carry the stuff to fix it. I pulled over and was back on the road in under 10 minutes.
Oh and their app really needs a lot of work! It's so dang slow and pretty well inaccurate. I can see it says my truck is not charging while I am staring at the blue charging lights.
Awesome! I’ve had all the weird trucks, Chevy avalanche, Honda, Ridgeline, and even the Subaru Baja Ridgeline was pretty cool because of the trunk and it was surprisingly capable and comfortable to drive the floor with the in bed trunk was that do you have anything on top of it to unpack it, so the idea of having a frunk That you can use and keep the full functionality of the bed is something I much desire both as a contractor, and as a camper
Thanks Tom. I just bought my flash. Love it!
I’m with you on the luxuries, Blue Cruise, center console table. Don’t use my center console table often, but sure like it when I do!
Agree about loving this truck. Has been my all time favorite truck to drive
I had my Lightning 12k miles before I encountered the Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced power error, the dealer had it for almost 2 months waiting on a part. I did a buyback from Ford more than anything because I was frustrated at Ford for their lack of transparency (but I also lost trust in that specific truck); this has happened to several Lightnings some estimate 5% of total Lightnings but don’t know because Ford has stayed hush about it. Some with repeated battery module malfunctions. I did buy another Lightning because I love the truck that much, I do wish we had more information regarding the high voltage battery module malfunction issue in some trucks.
Great review Tom, yes that is truly a remarkable truck! Disappointed in GM holding back the Sierra EV passenger trucks for another year or two, but then Ford will have the T3 out and with all it's improvements, guess we do not need a GMC EV, by then as Ford will deliver as they always do the best pickup truck in North America cannot wait!
Nice overview, and I agree with pretty much everything. We've had ours since October '23. For some reason, maybe the truck was in transit when the OTA software upgrade came out (that puts SOC in the dash cluster) and we missed out on that update. Do you have any suggestions? I'll start by asking the dealer, but I have low expectations. I also agree that walk-away locking would be nice, and how about the app telling us if the truck is locked or not, too.
8000 miles on my 23 Lightning Lariat. Love it. Love, love the frunk. Smooth, quiet, powerful. One plus Tom didn't mention is how spacious and comfortable the backseat is for your passengers. CCS / DCFC is the only annoyance. There is a lack of DCFC chargers/locations. And agree with Tom, the charging speed could be faster. I say buy one if you want an Electric vehicle, that happens to be a pickup truck, can do all the pickup things you may need, plus you can tow your boat when needed.
What would a lightning like that fully loaded cost? As it is now I have 2016 1 ton Lariat 6.7 L diesel four-wheel drive.
@@harrytobiassen5214 Use case is important, i.e. if you tow more than dipping your boat in and out of the water 10 miles from home, stick to a diesel if you tow. Cost? $70,000-$75,000. Go nuts and you can go over $80,000.
The frunk button works by pressing 2x… not holding it like you said in video. Owner error?
Some other points are similar to my experience.
I have 30000 km 2022 platinum and am very happy with the vehicle. It runs very smoothly and hard to drive other vehicles once you get used to of lightning .
EVEN IF IT COSTS ME SAME AS FUEL, I WILL DRIVE FORD LIGHTNING.
37k on my Lighting Lariat Extended range. Love it! I have the same complaint about phone connection. Not relegated to Android. Apple Car Play is intermittent also.
You haven’t experienced the standard in EV ride quality and cabin comfort (get the cloth interior), until you’ve driven an F150 Lightning. It floats along the highway like a StarWars Landspeeder, and it’s quicker. There’s no substitute for cubic feet of cabin, for spacious comfort and cathedral audio system acoustics. True luxury, imho. A rolling salon.
Awesome video, have a Mach-E and we love it.
Something to note, none of the Mach-E's have gotten any OTA for BC. 23 Model Year got 1.2 from factory but 21 to 22 all still have 1.0 but the first generation cars got it at least enabled OTA, so I guess that counts. Now 23.5 MY Mach-Es actually come shipped with 1.3 now from the factory but sadly none of us have gotten any BC OTA yet, we're told its coming.
I've owned a BMW i4 for one year now. Like you I charge at home and have solar panels as well offsetting most of my electrical usage. In the past year, I've driven the BMW about 5000 miles, averaging 3.7 miles per KWH. Dominion Power here in Virginia is costing me 13 cents per KWH. Do the math and the BMW has theoretically cost me $175 to drive those 5000 miles (actual is much closer to zero because of the solar panels). I also drive a Toyota 4Runner which averages about 19 MPG. We've had our ups and down on fuel costs this year, but if I plug in average of $3.50/gallon, the 4Runner costs me $921 to drive the same 5000 mile distance. Said another way, the 4Runner is costing more than 5 times that of the BMW to drive an equivalent distance. And that's ignoring the contribution of the solar panels. I'm happy. By the way, I installed a Chargepoint home charger based on your recommendation. Very happy with that as well. Thank you!
Had my Lightning 11mths and love it. In the PNW, my electricity provider offers Time-of-Day rates as an alternative, where 9:00pm-7:00am and all day weekends and holidays the rate is $0.07/kW. So a complete 0-100% charge is just over $9.
Great video! I have a lightning as well with the standard range battery. I own an oyster farm in Massachusetts and have used it for the last year towing and hauling. The truck is fantastic! I definitely wish I had the extended range battery for road trips but looking forward to Tesla opening up the chargers! Hopefully ford will send out the adapters soon!
I have just over 28k on my '23 SR Pro. I really enjoy this vehicel as well! I do wish Phone as a Key was available for Pro. But I can't complain, I got the (after 14 month wait) truck at the 40k price.
Thanks for the feedback. I have been considering one for a while but haven't made the move yet. What is your experience with insurance rates and registration fees when compared to an ICE truck?
Ditto on all you said. Really enjoy my truck. I do not however have the SOC displayed on the dash other than calm screen. What update provided this?
This is a great review and very helpful. I appreciate your style. A lot of relevant information in this video. Keep up the excellent work.
Agree with everything your said in your video.
We brought a pro as a daily driver/ family hauler. Even the standard range battery is huge and its rare we get below 50% when charging to only 80%.
Ford hit it out the park with the lightning and set the bar very high.
Hi Tom, Great video as usual. I have 2023 Lariat LR with 13k and agree with your review 100% and thanks for the 20 cent upgrade. I am at Load 6.3.0 and I do not have the battery percentage on my screen as you showed. Is it selectable somehow I have missed? I find the ping pong just too much today and have turned off BlueCruise. I can't wait to try BC 1.2 when released.
Great review sir! Good info and helpful to make a truck decision for those of us who have free solar. It looks like a great vehicle for an early adopter just getting into a total EV.
I don't have the numeric state of charge indications on my 2023 (fully updated, I think). I haven't found a menu selection for it. Love the long term review!
I have a 2023 as well. No SOC in cluster and shows no updates are available. I've had mine 3 months and never got an OTA update. Seems fishy to me. I love the truck, but everything related to software is very antiquated. I had hope we would get updates that would improve the experience, but so far, there are none for truck or app.
WTH? Mine doesn’t show SOC in the instrument cluster either. When I saw Tom show it I thought “what the heck is mine showing that now?” Nope. And I’m not showing any updates available. Last update was less than two weeks ago too! WTH Ford?
You'll need to wait until Ford sends out 6.3.0 to your truck to get the state of charge display. Staged rollout will take several months.
Thanks. I'll sit around and wait for my turn.
Great information...thanks. Please do the same when the Cybertruck comes out as your unbiased opinion is valuable to me and others.
I’ll save you the trouble - it’s gonna be worse than anyone could have ever imagined
I've been waiting 4 years for Cybertruck. I considered the Lightning briefly, but decided against it. Cybertruck will better meet my needs as an all around vehicle and with better performance.
1) Cybertruck's bed is 6'-1" vs 5'-6" on the Lightning
2) The weatherproof tonneau cover on CT is like having a 100 cu ft trunk.
3) The turning circle on CT is 4' less than Lightning for better manueverability
4) Supercharger network vs Electrify America, et al.
5) CT will be more efficient/longer range. It has a lower Cd and frontal cross sectional area
6) CT has a heat pump; 48V electrical system; 800V traction battery
7) CT has adjustable air suspension and 14" ground clearance when fully raised vs. 8.4"
8) Tesla has better software
9) Full self driving option
10) Ford is losing $35,000 on every Lightning they sell. That scares me.
Thank You Everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.. Peace Shalom Salam Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤ 🕊
I would like to see the same when it comes to charging. It really should be added to the Mach-e and now the F-150 lighting. I have a Mach-e
Totally agree with the lack of information in Ford Pass. They could have so much more. Not showing whether it's locked or not is ridiculous.
Two changes I would do are: 1) move the screen up 1 or 2 inches for more hand room for the wireless charger 2) move the charge port door's hinge on top or driver door side so the port door is not in the way of the v3 supercharger cable (also just saw your magic dock charging video).
Good video, Tom! I'm honestly surprised the PaaK on the Lightning doesn't have the same features as that on my Mach-e. I noticed the infrared light blinking on the A pillar to make sure you're paying attention.
They are just behind with the features like PAAK, they'll get added eventually.
I'm looking forward to getting a Lightning in about 6-7 years. Hopefully by then the first model year units will be available used for more reasonable prices. Maybe not, might take longer if their resale prices track the way Teslas have. Either way, I'd like one eventually, warts and all.
Thanks for the video! Many of your dislikes are the same I had with my 2013 C-Max Energi: Apo problems, poor iPhone support, armrest latch and spring. Tesla once said “We are a software company”. I wish Ford would accept that. On the other hand, the build quality was great and the car was solid and ultra-reliable. But just like the C-Max, Ford is marketing the Lightning for what it is not suited for, then can’t understand why sales suffer.
The Frunk not closing with the button on the frunk and inside is a problem I have, but the fob works every time, and the frunk is one of the most amazing features, I use it all the time, but not when the parking lot is crowed, Everyone wants to see it and I cant get out of home depot! Fun Problem. If you want to tow anything a long distance, get a F350, It takes a lot of power to tow 4500kg a long distance(more than 250kms in a day 156mi).
FYI never walk away from your car and let it auto unlock someone can pick up the frequency and boom your car is gone I always push the lock button bevore I get out
The remote walk away lock function is very annoying to me. I turn it off whenever a car has it. Multiple times ill come to the vehicle locked when i don't want it locked yet, sometimes without a key to unlock it. I prefer to touch the handle to lock the vehicle when i walk away. Then if i have to lock it remotely through either the key or the app after myself and someone else are done interacting with it, that works better for me.
As always a great detailed video, thank you. My Mach-E does the same thing when I push the button to open the hatch. Sometimes it opens all the way and sometimes partially. I try to stay out of the way of the sensors but I get the same issue either way. I still haven't figured out how to use the auto-open the hatch with my foot. Has never worked.
Only 2021 Mach-E's have kick to open.
Great video! So, I have a non sequitur, how do you answer people who say that evs are misleading in that it takes more energy to make one than it saves. Tnx Tom, keep up the good work!
I don't! I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince people of the truth when they WANT to believe an untruth.
Tell them the oil companies paid good money to get studies to say that. But the studies that big oil didn't pay for, all say the opposite.
After watching this video and other videos on the Lightning, it will definitely be my next vehicle 😎
Thanks! My planned setup!