You’ll now purchase an F150 Lightning in Australia, the all-electric model of the hyper-popular Ford F150. The query is, will have to you?
The automobiles are imported by way of AusEV and transformed to right-hand pressure, most commonly for the mining sector, however you’ll purchase them privately too. What you get with the F150 Lightning in Australia is a big twin cab ute – no different frame kinds – able to towing as much as 4500kg, with some offroad capacity.
To come up with an concept of measurement, the Lightning is 5910mm lengthy in comparison to the Ranger at 5220mm. Width measures in at 2033mm vs the Ranger’s 1848mm. The breakover (ramp) attitude is 17.6 levels for the Lightning and 24 levels for the Ranger, so you’ll be expecting extra scraping over mounds.
There are two battery sizes for the F150 Lightning in Australia, the Usual and Prolonged vary, with 98kWh and 131kWh batteries respectively. This interprets into a spread of 270km and 515km at the EPA take a look at usual, which is normally extra practical than the WLTP usual extra often utilized in Australia. So for comparability functions with WLTP automobiles, chances are you’ll believe the Lightning a little bit longer-ranged.
Then again, actually, you’d be not likely to get WLTP anyway. And any EV vary determine is for the inventory automotive, now not changed with tyres, roofrack and particularly now not when towing. We’ll communicate extra about vary in a second.
The F150 Lightning isn’t a automobile for natural offroading
Being a ute, there are going to be 3 use instances for it: towing, sporting and offroad. The F150 Lightning isn’t supposed as a devoted offroader, nevertheless it does be offering consistent 4wd with two motors entrance and rear and a rear cross-axle locking differential. There is not any low vary, however there’s much less want for it with electrical motors. The wheelbase is a hefty 3595mm, in comparison to the Ranger’s 3270mm.
I’ve now not pushed one, however I’ve spoken to colleagues in the US with really extensive revel in with those automobiles and the consensus is that the F150 isn’t a automobile you’d purchase for natural offroading. It will be in the back of a Ranger for capacity, nevertheless it’s in no way going to be stopped by way of steep hills, sand, or different terrains and would have enough capacity for almost all of tourers.
Measurement, sporting and towing
You’d wish to bear in mind of the scale of the F150 Lightning in Australia and be expecting extra scratches than standard in forests, nevertheless it’d nonetheless get there. And I say that having simply completed a take a look at shuttle down slender tracks with a Fuso Canter, which is as extensive and lengthy, or even taller.
Subsequent is sporting, and right here the Ford Lightning F150 does strangely neatly with a payload of as much as 1000kg. It’s a gorgeous just right determine in comparison to different twin cab utes in Australia, particularly when in comparison to different American utes, which have a tendency to have large towing figures however small payloads. And here’s crucial distinction – the GVM is set 3742kg, however as batteries are so heavy the Usual model with a 98kWh battery has a kerb weight of 2730kg vs the Extender vary with 2885kg.
That implies the payload for the Usual vary is round 1000kg, and the Extender is round 850kg. Nonetheless beautiful just right. I’m the usage of figures from the USA F150 Lightning as I will not get knowledge at the Australian model. Then again, from prior revel in I be expecting it’ll be very equivalent.
Now for towing…
Now for towing. I don’t have the entire F150 Lightning specifications particular to Australia had to do a correct towing research. So all we all know is the payload and max-tow. In keeping with skilled guesses, I’d say that towing 4500kg could be fanciful, and also you’re at an advantage limiting quite a bit to 4000kg and under. I will be able to say, that in keeping with non-public revel in, that EVs tow in point of fact, in point of fact neatly – quite a lot of torque, one-pedal operation, quiet, easy, and so they’re heavy with the burden down low.
Other folks I’ve spoken to mention the F150 Lightning tows neatly, and individually, I’d quite tow 4000kg with a F150 EV than an F150 petrol, that’s evidently. Except I needed to move 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 large drawback with EVs for towing, operating and four×4 and that’s their quick vary, plus lengthy recharge instances. This isn’t any drawback for suburban around-town roadcars which is able to simply price at house, aren’t changed, have small batteries and would possibly do the strange inter-city run on primary highways. It’s a distinct tale for towers, 4x4s, staff and tourers who wish to center of attention on their adventure, now not managing the power in their automobile and don’t wish to spend time looking forward to a price.
Each and every EV maker has a headline charging fee, and for the Ford F150 Lightning which we will be able to now get in Australia, say a Degree 3 charger can take the battery from 15 to 80% in 44 mins. Sounds just right, however that’s beneath perfect charging prerequisites. As well as, you want to discover a Degree 3 rapid charger – and that’s for the smaller battery, the bigger battery can do it in 41 mins.
You’ll additionally be expecting levels to be minimize in about part whilst you’re towing the rest sizeable, noting massive, draggy trailers have extra of an impact at the vary than heavy ones. Necessarily, as considered one of my USA buddies put it, proudly owning an EV ute is “an approach to life selection the place you place the truck first” and regardless of what he sees as the benefits, it’s a transformation he’s now not ready to go for as he has issues to do, puts to be and a 4×4 coaching corporate to run. I feel the similar applies to maximum Australian sensible ute homeowners.
Who would, or will have to purchase the F150 Lightning in Australia?
So who would, or will have to purchase the F150 Lightning in Australia? Neatly, it’s $224k plus on-roads for the Usual, and $254k plus on-roads for the Prolonged. Which after all, will purchase you a changed diesel 4×4 and a caravan, plus exchange. As a comparability, the petrol F150 is $108k plus on-roads for the lengthy wheelbase model.
My view is if the associated fee hasn’t scared you, and also you’re conscious about the real-world power control effort, then opt for it. This could be since you run a vineyard with simplest native journeys and the truck can park up in the similar position on 3-phase energy, otherwise you simply wish to tow your heavy boat to the native ramp, or no matter. The F150 Lightning indubitably has a spot for the ones programs in Australia and I’m going to presume when you’ve were given $250k to drop on a ute you’re able to doing the math to look what number of years the decrease run prices will take to amortise the additional purchase value.
You will have to additionally think about resale, and the issue there’s EV era is bettering. So the 2030 F150 Lightning will likely be a lot better than the 2024 model, not like, say the 2030 petrol F150, if there even is one. The guaranty is 3 years for the automobile and 5 for the battery for the F150 in Australia. Slightly low by way of the standard requirements of 5 for a automotive and 8 for the battery.
We’re now not somewhat there but with EVs in Australia
The F150 Lightning is an overly fascinating automobile and represents the long run in Australia whether or not you love it or now not. So it’s price being attentive to. It’ll meet the will for a couple of, however it’s additional evidence that EV 4x4s don’t seem to be but ready to interchange diesel 4x4s, one thing the Govt will have to observe because it advances with its NVES scheme.