What is F150 Lightning
The new electric F-150 Lightning truck is a significant development, not only for Ford but also for the entire auto industry. F-150 has been the most popular vehicle in America for more than 40 years. An EV F-150 would be a significant step toward electrifying cars.
If you factor in range, efficiency, towing capacity, and how quickly it charges, the F-150 Lightning is a fantastic truck.
It’s basically an F-150 but electric. It’s plug-and-play pickup making it user-friendly. It looks like the F-150, too, with the same cabin, and all its accessories fit the gas-powered F-100.
The Ford F-150 lightning has a variety of features that make it an excellent choice for drivers
The F-150 Lightning is designed to appeal to traditional truck owners and those interested in electric vehicles.
The F-150 Lightning is easy to drive—very smooth, fast, and quiet. Thanks to Lightning’s low center of gravity, front-to-rear weight balance, and improved suspension, you could push this F-150 into tighter turns and be more aggressive than the standard F-150.
In fact, the Ford F-150 Lightning was picked as MotorTrend’s 2023 Truck of the Year on December 13, 2022, making it the second electric pickup in a row to win that award. It was named the “best-riding, best-handling, and best-driving F-150 yet.”
F-150 shortfalls
But the Lightning is not without its own challenges. Ford can’t produce enough to meet the demand, has had to increase its prices, and is battling with dealers over their overpricing on available units.
The 2023 F-150 Lightning is unavailable because of high demand, priced between $52,000 and $97,000. Ford announced the inevitable price increase due to rising costs and supply chain issues. Taxes, shipping, and delivery costs are excluded.
One of the downhills is the software. A review says it is a fast truck with a frustratingly slow computer. Though the interface looks fancy, there seems to be a delay between swipes.
What is unique about the F-150 Lightning
One of the features that sets apart F-150 Lightning from other EVs is its capacity to power a home during a blackout. This capacity is called vehicle to house or V2H.
Lightning’s battery can power an entire house if you install the right equipment. Ford says a fully-charged Lightning can power an average home for three to ten days if you only power the essentials.
If the F-150 Lightning delivers, this might be an alternative for those seeking their own generator or home battery storage. Imagine having a whole house battery that you can aso drive to the grocery store.
How much does it cost to charge a Ford F-150 Lightning?
Home charging is the least expensive way to charge your EV, not to mention the most convenient. The exception to this is if you have high electricity rates in your area or your employer pays for your EV’s charging cost.
The national average for electricity is $0.15 per kilowatt-hour (kwh). If it reaches 100,000 miles per year, it will cost $6,281.
If we compare this to a 2022 Ford Raptor truck fueled by gas which costs $3 per gallon, 10,000 miles per year will cost $1,250. While 100,000 miles per year will cost $20,000. But all this will change depending on the gas price changes.
How Ford F-150 Lightning works best with solar
Installing solar panels on your F-150 Lightning ensures that your car is charged using 100% renewable energy, the cheapest and greenest option.Or you can install your own home charging station in your garage.
Based on the comparison between electric and gas-powered trucks, electric charging is way less expensive, making it best partnered with solar.
If you still need to install a solar system, DroneQuote’s electric vehicle calculator can estimate how many solar panels you need to power your F-150 Lightning. With the EV calculator, you can compare the driving costs and tell how many solars you’d get to charge your F-150 Lightning.
For solar panel quotes for your EV home charging use or any solar matter, contact DroneQuote. Our team will be more than willing to answer your questions and help you make sound decisions for your solar journey!