Whereas the electrical car (EV) motion has considerably fizzled out in the meanwhile, many producers have taken the present political local weather with a grain of salt and mustered on in pushing their EVs. Ford, for one, remains to be ‘trucking’ as we get to take a look at the F-150 Lightning as soon as once more with the brand new spotlight revolving round Ford supplying their EV house owners with a free North American Charging Customary (NACS) adaptor so house owners of the Lightning and Mach-E can cost at Tesla Supercharger stations.
Opening up Tesla Supercharger stations to Ford EV house owners is considerably of a game-changer, as I skilled with the F-150 Lightning this week, proving that its versatility of doing principally all truck issues will get higher. That doesn’t essentially imply I’ll strap an enormous trailer to the again of the F-150 Lightning to take my Shelby to the monitor – however it does imply rather less fear about discovering a charging station or having a rash of vary anxiousness.
See Additionally: 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Full Overview & Take a look at Drive
Persevering with the identical formulation, the Ford F-150 Lightning within the Platinum trim will get all the goodies beginning with its twin motor setup that’s good for 580 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque getting the heavy-ish 7,000 pound truck as much as 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. As talked about in earlier opinions of the F-150 Lightning, the electrified truck is deceptively fast and the 300 mile vary is nearly what you’ll count on to get in the actual world.
The seamless acceleration, first rate experience high quality, and classy appears, thanks partly to its Speedy Crimson Metallic exterior paint and 22-inch wheels, all make the Lightning Platinum trim a charming full-size truck. In reiterating my ideas and general sentiment after spending plenty of high quality time with the F-150 Lightning, I’m extra satisfied than ever that it’s the perfect electrical truck you should purchase for many who aren’t followers of the Tesla Cybertruck for a myriad of causes.
In fact, as you in all probability already know, there’s that one compromise and unlucky truth that you just can’t tow very lengthy distances with the F-150 Lightning outdoors of hooking up a quite mild load, comparable to a single jet ski or perhaps a Kayak or two. Though you might have a towing capability of about 8,500 kilos and even 10,000 kilos in different ‘lighter’ trims, the vary goes to take an enormous hit upwards of fifty% or extra, relying on the load and aerodynamics of a trailer. Payload capability at 1,656 kilos or as a lot as 2,235 in lesser trims is extra of the way in which to go for retaining most of your anticipated vary. Nonetheless, the F-150 Lightning continues to do all anticipated truck issues and a few when you think about its powering capabilities, comparable to having the ability to act as a off-grid energy generator for your own home or energy quite a few utilities off of the numerous energy shops within the mattress.
Having the brand new NACS adaptor and entry to Tesla Supercharger stations was a brand new expertise for me with the brand new Ford F-150 Lightning. Pulling as much as a Tesla Supercharger stall was a studying expertise, as you need to get as shut as attainable, leaving solely a few inches from the stall and the entrance bumper, whereas taking on two spots with a purpose to get most Tesla Supercharger station cords to achieve the charging port of the Lightning. From there, so long as the twine can attain, it’s a easy activity of plugging within the adaptor after which plugging into the car. With the 250 kW charging capability of the Tesla station, the F-150 Lightning Platinum ramps as much as round 187 kW for its charging velocity if you’re properly underneath 70% state of cost. After 70% or so, you’ll discover a slight decline of charging velocity after which at 80%, which can take about 40 minutes to achieve from a ten% state of cost, the speed falls off quick – however that’s about the place you wish to depart issues in the event you’re touring supplying you with simply over 250 miles of vary.
Ford manages to impress with the quintessential electrical pickup truck for America and its forward-thinking tech that includes a big 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a plethora of energetic security options together with Ford’s BlueCruise handsfree driving system, and loads of luxurious facilities comparable to heated/ventilated/messaging entrance seats and a massively massive power-opening frunk (entrance trunk.
The one space the place some might balk is pricing, the place the F-150 Lightning Platinum costs out at $89,355. Nonetheless, wanting on the full image of all that you simply get in such a car, the pricing could also be engaging for some.
