Now you can purchase an F150 Lightning in Australia, the all-electric model of the hyper-popular Ford F150. The query is, must you?
The autos are imported by AusEV and transformed to right-hand drive, principally for the mining sector, however you should purchase them privately too. What you get with the F150 Lightning in Australia is a big twin cab ute – no different physique types – able to towing as much as 4500kg, with some offroad functionality.
To present you an thought of measurement, the Lightning is 5910mm lengthy in comparison with the Ranger at 5220mm. Width measures in at 2033mm vs the Ranger’s 1848mm. The breakover (ramp) angle is 17.6 levels for the Lightning and 24 levels for the Ranger, so you possibly can count on extra scraping over mounds.
There are two battery sizes for the F150 Lightning in Australia, the Customary and Prolonged vary, with 98kWh and 131kWh batteries respectively. This interprets into a spread of 270km and 515km on the EPA check normal, which is often extra practical than the WLTP normal extra generally utilized in Australia. So for comparability functions with WLTP autos, you would possibly think about the Lightning a bit longer-ranged.
Nonetheless, in actuality, you’d be unlikely to get WLTP anyway. And any EV vary determine is for the inventory automotive, not modified with tyres, roofrack and particularly not when towing. We’ll discuss extra about vary in a second.
The F150 Lightning will not be a automobile for pure offroading
Being a ute, there are going to be three use instances for it: towing, carrying and offroad. The F150 Lightning will not be meant as a devoted offroader, but it surely does supply fixed 4WD with two motors entrance and rear and a rear cross-axle locking differential. There isn’t any low vary, however there’s much less want for it with electrical motors. The wheelbase is a hefty 3595mm, in comparison with the Ranger’s 3270mm.
I’ve not pushed one, however I’ve spoken to colleagues within the USA with appreciable expertise with these autos and the consensus is that the F150 will not be a automobile you’d purchase for pure offroading. It could be behind a Ranger for functionality, but it surely’s definitely not going to be stopped by steep hills, sand, or different terrains and would have enough functionality for almost all of tourers.
Dimension, carrying and towing
You’d must be aware of the scale of the F150 Lightning in Australia and count on extra scratches than standard in forests, but it surely’d nonetheless get there. And I say that having simply completed a check journey down slender tracks with a Fuso Canter, which is as huge and lengthy, and even taller.
Subsequent is carrying, and right here the Ford Lightning F150 does surprisingly nicely with a payload of as much as 1000kg. It’s a fairly good determine in comparison with different twin cab utes in Australia, particularly when in comparison with different American utes, which are inclined to have large towing figures however small payloads. And right here is a vital distinction – the GVM is about 3742kg, however as batteries are so heavy the Customary model with a 98kWh battery has a kerb weight of 2730kg vs the Extender vary with 2885kg.
Which means the payload for the Customary vary is round 1000kg, and the Extender is round 850kg. Nonetheless fairly good. I’m utilizing figures from the US F150 Lightning as I can’t get info on the Australian model. Nonetheless, from prior expertise I count on it’ll be very related.
Now for towing…
Now for towing. I don’t have all of the F150 Lightning specs particular to Australia wanted to do a correct towing evaluation. So all we all know is the payload and max-tow. Based mostly on educated guesses, I’d say that towing 4500kg can be fanciful, and also you’re higher off proscribing hundreds to 4000kg and under. I’ll say, that primarily based on private expertise, that EVs tow actually, very well – a great deal of torque, one-pedal operation, quiet, clean, and so they’re heavy with the burden down low.
Folks I’ve spoken to say the F150 Lightning tows nicely, and personally, I’d relatively tow 4000kg with a F150 EV than an F150 petrol, that’s for positive. Until I needed to go any important distance, during which case vary and charging turns into an issue.
The massive drawback with EVs for towing
And now we come to the massive drawback with EVs for towing, working and 4×4 and that’s their brief vary, plus lengthy recharge instances. This isn’t any drawback for suburban around-town roadcars which might simply cost at dwelling, aren’t modified, have small batteries and would possibly do the odd inter-city run on predominant highways. It’s a distinct story for towers, 4x4s, staff and tourers who must concentrate on their journey, not managing the power of their automobile and don’t need to spend time ready for a cost.
Each EV maker has a headline charging fee, and for the Ford F150 Lightning which we are able to now get in Australia, say a Degree 3 charger can take the battery from 15 to 80% in 44 minutes. Sounds good, however that’s underneath perfect charging circumstances. As well as, it’s essential discover a Degree 3 quick charger – and that’s for the smaller battery, the bigger battery can do it in 41 minutes.
It’s also possible to count on ranges to be minimize in about half while you’re towing something sizeable, noting massive, draggy trailers have extra of an impact on the vary than heavy ones. Primarily, as one among my USA buddies put it, proudly owning an EV ute is “a way of life alternative the place you set the truck first” and regardless of what he sees as the benefits, it’s a change he’s not ready to go for as he has issues to do, locations to be and a 4×4 coaching firm to run. I feel the identical applies to most Australian sensible ute house owners.
Who would, or should purchase the F150 Lightning in Australia?
So who would, or should purchase the F150 Lightning in Australia? Properly, it’s $224k plus on-roads for the Customary, and $254k plus on-roads for the Prolonged. Which in fact, will purchase you a modified diesel 4×4 and a caravan, plus change. As a comparability, the petrol F150 is $108k plus on-roads for the lengthy wheelbase model.
My view is that if the value hasn’t scared you, and also you’re conscious of the real-world power administration effort, then go for it. This is perhaps since you run a vineyard with solely native journeys and the truck can park up in the identical place on 3-phase energy, otherwise you simply must tow your heavy boat to the native ramp, or no matter. The F150 Lightning undoubtedly has a spot for these functions in Australia and I’m going to presume should you’ve received $250k to drop on a ute you’re able to doing the maths to see what number of years the decrease run prices will take to amortise the additional purchase value.
You must also consider resale, and the issue there’s EV know-how is enhancing. So the 2030 F150 Lightning can be significantly better than the 2024 model, in contrast to, say the 2030 petrol F150, if there even is one. The guarantee is three years for the automotive and 5 for the battery for the F150 in Australia. A bit low by the same old requirements of 5 for a automotive and eight for the battery.
We’re not fairly there but with EVs in Australia
The F150 Lightning is a really fascinating automobile and represents the long run in Australia whether or not you prefer it or not. So it’s price listening to. It’ll meet the necessity for just a few, however it’s additional proof that EV 4x4s should not but capable of substitute diesel 4x4s, one thing the Authorities ought to be aware because it advances with its NVES scheme.