That is awesome. This is the kind of Electric that can eventually have a real presence in places like Brazil. Fancy things like Tesla's will most likely remain science fiction for most of us for...
That is awesome. This is the kind of Electric that can eventually have a real presence in places like Brazil. Fancy things like Tesla's will most likely remain science fiction for most of us for quite a while.
I know some of the arguments for EVs have always been "Oh well once you start towing things the mileage will drop so much!" While this is true, how far/often does the average person actually tow...
I know some of the arguments for EVs have always been "Oh well once you start towing things the mileage will drop so much!"
While this is true, how far/often does the average person actually tow things? Growing up we had a small truck that was used mostly for winter driving, dump runs, and towing the boat.
With the boat, it would get towed about 4 miles twice a year two and from the boat ramp. Plus maybe the 10 miles to town every so often to get some work done in the shop if it wasn't in the water.
When you have a range of 230-300 miles, even cutting that in half when you tow, 100 miles is generally plenty between charges.
Ford/Detroit exec's have a term for segments of the SUV/truck buyers. The main one used is "never-never" buyers which are customers that "never tow/haul and never offroad", and it is likely the...
While this is true, how far/often does the average person actually tow things? Growing up we had a small truck that was used mostly for winter driving, dump runs, and towing the boat.
With the boat, it would get towed about 4 miles twice a year two and from the boat ramp. Plus maybe the 10 miles to town every so often to get some work done in the shop if it wasn't in the water.
Ford/Detroit exec's have a term for segments of the SUV/truck buyers. The main one used is "never-never" buyers which are customers that "never tow/haul and never offroad", and it is likely the vast majority of their customers for these vehicles by far. Sure a truck bed full of mulch might get carried once or twice during original ownership, but I'm willing to bet that most of these trucks never see anything close to regular use off a paved road, hauling cargo, or towing something.
These buyers want, and are willing to pay the premium for, the ability to say they can do something if they really wanted to. I get it, as a car guy I really do, but I also don't make it a point to drive a high consumption vehicle as my regular form of transportation because it doesn't make sense to pay the costs and sacrifice other amenities to drive a specialist vehicle regularly.
Which gets me to my main viewpoint on all pickups/SUVs. They're too damned cheap. I do not see a $40k electric F150 as a win. It's a wash at best, because while electrification is needed, access to massive and underutilized vehicles should not be promoted. It's a waste of resources. They talk big about how they've got a new frame with a thicker gauge of steel to handle the new batteries, but I see it as they had to add 1,000lbs (Ford's current estimate is the truck will weigh 6,500lbs) in order to just get 230 miles of range in a truck that'll practically never be used to carry anything close to the loads it is rated for.
That's a good point. With my current car I went from (what I suppose could be considered a midsize SUV) an Outback to a sedan and there have been so many times I wish I had a bigger car/trunk or a...
These buyers want, and are willing to pay the premium for, the ability to say they can do something if they really wanted to.
That's a good point.
With my current car I went from (what I suppose could be considered a midsize SUV) an Outback to a sedan and there have been so many times I wish I had a bigger car/trunk or a car slightly higher off the ground for dirt roads.
I think when I get my next car it'll have to be at least a hatchback for the extra space, but I'd like to avoid going back to something as big as the Outbacks are now (even if I still love my old Outback)
It's exactly what it is. Here in Michigan, there are loads of people who haul there boats from their house in the southern area of the state, to any one of the three sides of the state with a...
It's exactly what it is. Here in Michigan, there are loads of people who haul there floating money pits boats from their house in the southern area of the state, to any one of the three sides of the state with a lake. Many of the nicest places are in the northern area of the state which is a 4-5 hour trip of about 250 miles. And they're going to take their recommendations from friends with trucks about what truck will let them haul their boat, their kids, and their dog multiple times per summer.
What do you make of the gas-powered charger addon? It's not mentioned in this article, but it looks like Ford recently patented it as essentially a bolt on addition to provide more range even now.
What do you make of the gas-powered charger addon? It's not mentioned in this article, but it looks like Ford recently patented it as essentially a bolt on addition to provide more range even now.
I typically tow my travel trailer 8-10 times a year, anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours away from where I live. My trailer is small (13’), and I tow it with a 2008 4Runner. My partner complains...
While this is true, how far/often does the average person actually tow things?
I typically tow my travel trailer 8-10 times a year, anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours away from where I live. My trailer is small (13’), and I tow it with a 2008 4Runner. My partner complains that it doesn’t have 4WD, but there has never been a time when I’ve needed it, haha.
Maybe you have to provide the cable.
I'm pretty sure, that they meant HD. Either misspoken by the Ford manager or mistyped by the author.
That is awesome. This is the kind of Electric that can eventually have a real presence in places like Brazil. Fancy things like Tesla's will most likely remain science fiction for most of us for quite a while.
I know some of the arguments for EVs have always been "Oh well once you start towing things the mileage will drop so much!"
While this is true, how far/often does the average person actually tow things? Growing up we had a small truck that was used mostly for winter driving, dump runs, and towing the boat.
With the boat, it would get towed about 4 miles twice a year two and from the boat ramp. Plus maybe the 10 miles to town every so often to get some work done in the shop if it wasn't in the water.
When you have a range of 230-300 miles, even cutting that in half when you tow, 100 miles is generally plenty between charges.
Ford/Detroit exec's have a term for segments of the SUV/truck buyers. The main one used is "never-never" buyers which are customers that "never tow/haul and never offroad", and it is likely the vast majority of their customers for these vehicles by far. Sure a truck bed full of mulch might get carried once or twice during original ownership, but I'm willing to bet that most of these trucks never see anything close to regular use off a paved road, hauling cargo, or towing something.
These buyers want, and are willing to pay the premium for, the ability to say they can do something if they really wanted to. I get it, as a car guy I really do, but I also don't make it a point to drive a high consumption vehicle as my regular form of transportation because it doesn't make sense to pay the costs and sacrifice other amenities to drive a specialist vehicle regularly.
Which gets me to my main viewpoint on all pickups/SUVs. They're too damned cheap. I do not see a $40k electric F150 as a win. It's a wash at best, because while electrification is needed, access to massive and underutilized vehicles should not be promoted. It's a waste of resources. They talk big about how they've got a new frame with a thicker gauge of steel to handle the new batteries, but I see it as they had to add 1,000lbs (Ford's current estimate is the truck will weigh 6,500lbs) in order to just get 230 miles of range in a truck that'll practically never be used to carry anything close to the loads it is rated for.
That's a good point.
With my current car I went from (what I suppose could be considered a midsize SUV) an Outback to a sedan and there have been so many times I wish I had a bigger car/trunk or a car slightly higher off the ground for dirt roads.
I think when I get my next car it'll have to be at least a hatchback for the extra space, but I'd like to avoid going back to something as big as the Outbacks are now (even if I still love my old Outback)
It's exactly what it is. Here in Michigan, there are loads of people who haul there
floating money pitsboats from their house in the southern area of the state, to any one of the three sides of the state with a lake. Many of the nicest places are in the northern area of the state which is a 4-5 hour trip of about 250 miles. And they're going to take their recommendations from friends with trucks about what truck will let them haul their boat, their kids, and their dog multiple times per summer.What do you make of the gas-powered charger addon? It's not mentioned in this article, but it looks like Ford recently patented it as essentially a bolt on addition to provide more range even now.
I typically tow my travel trailer 8-10 times a year, anywhere from 30 minutes to 5 hours away from where I live. My trailer is small (13’), and I tow it with a 2008 4Runner. My partner complains that it doesn’t have 4WD, but there has never been a time when I’ve needed it, haha.