[Fishstyx]

I've now owned the Lightning for just under a week and I most likely have to sell it.

I currently regret trading in my 2011 F150 FX4 Ecoboost. Bottom line, I'm coming to the realization that I can't drive this thing beyond trips to and from my house unless I'm driving to either Philadelphia or Wash/Baltimore areas which have multiple L3 charger options in the vicinity. The simple truth is that anything less than properly working Level III charging stations, along ones route of travel, make a trip somewhere between impossible and impractical. I didn't fully appreciate that the vast majority of all those charging stations on the map are L1 and L2. 20% to 80% with the ER battery at one of those ranges between 6 and 18 hours. Outside of the Philly metro area, I can count every single other L3 charger in PA on my fingers and toes, and that assumes they are available and working (far from guaranteed).

My next mission: Trip to Philadelphia tomorrow evening, 120 miles away, to help a friend move some equipment.
To complete this mission, I need to either start with a full battery or fast charge along the route. Even with a full battery, between the load I'm picking up and a 70mph speed limit on the PA Turnpike + any deviations from route and I'll probably need a boost. At this time I'm unable to start with a full battery since I just made a trip in vain to the single L3 charger within 50 miles of me.

I live in Cumberland Valley PA, near Harrisburg. The closest L3 charger is an EA at a Sheetz with 4 stations 2x 350kW, 2x 150kW, the next closest L3 is over 50 miles away. I need to use fast charge because all I have at home now is regular 110 outlet which tells me will be done charging a total of about 60% sometime next Monday (over 4 days at 1 mile per hour). I drove to the lone Electrify America nearby. All four stations were open so I connect to one of the max 350kW units and after 10 minutes and 40% SOC I'm getting 31kW. I decide to disconnect and try another station, so I move to find that 2 of the four stations are inoperable. Meanwhile, other EVs have taken the two working stations and I'm SOL. In order to make this trip I have drive the car back to the dealer and leave it there to charge over night.

I realize this current inconvenience is primarily due to not having better charging at home, but even when that's resolved, I'm very limited where I can go out of home range. I have a relatively light weight travel trailer / camper (4,500lbs) and that restricts my range to about 70 miles one way. I have a camping trip in a few months to Watkins Glen NY just 200 miles away and if I want to go I need to find another tow vehicle because that trip in the Lightning is a no-go.

I'm really bummed. I knew there would be challenges while infrastructure improves, but a) I didn't really expect to get a truck this year and b) I didn't fully understand the L3 charging dependency.

 

[GDN]

You are living the falsehoods that Farley and Ford have led everyone to believe they have THOUSANDS of good chargers right around every corner. The network is barely workable for some percentage of owners. You must learn this the hard way.

This can easily set all of the industry back as these stories surface and no offense to the OP. It has taken Tesla years to get people to realize there isn't an issue with range anxiety. So many jumping into another brand hoping for the same experience without knowing the details, you won't get it.

Hoping for the best for you.

 

[FM_Jack]

It is an adjustment period. I lived with a 110 for almost a year before I got the 240v installed (made a big difference). The salesman at my dealerships said that his owner's wife (who has the Mach E) still recommends having a gas powered car as a back up

EA, evgo and the like have prioritized areas that they think there is a denser population of EVs. May be some other factors, it does surprise me that Harrisburg doesn't have more.

If I'm going to Pittsburgh, I have Hagerstown, Hancock, Bedford and whatever is in and around Pittsburgh. I'll be heading to Stroudsburg at some point this year and I wasn't planning on charging until I got there, but there is allentown if I need it.

 

[VTbuckeye]

Good luck. Before selling, try getting at least 30amp x 240v charging at home. On another forum that I frequent there is a poster who is driving an EV in Seattle with only L3 charging or public L2. He still loves the car. Your situation is different because Seattle has much more public L3 than you do. I personally would not own an EV without home L2 charging. Charging at home is one of the best perks of EV ownership.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I've now owned the Lightning for just under a week and I most likely have to sell it.

I currently regret trading in my 2011 F150 FX4 Ecoboost. Bottom line, I'm coming to the realization that I can't drive this thing beyond trips to and from my house unless I'm driving to either Philadelphia or Wash/Baltimore areas which have multiple L3 charger options in the vicinity. The simple truth is that anything less than properly working Level III charging stations, along ones route of travel, make a trip somewhere between impossible and impractical. I didn't fully appreciate that the vast majority of all those charging stations on the map are L1 and L2. 20% to 80% with the ER battery at one of those ranges between 6 and 18 hours. Outside of the Philly metro area, I can count every single other L3 charger in PA on my fingers and toes, and that assumes they are available and working (far from guaranteed).

My next mission: Trip to Philadelphia tomorrow evening, 120 miles away, to help a friend move some equipment.
To complete this mission, I need to either start with a full battery or fast charge along the route. Even with a full battery, between the load I'm picking up and a 70mph speed limit on the PA Turnpike + any deviations from route and I'll probably need a boost. At this time I'm unable to start with a full battery since I just made a trip in vain to the single L3 charger within 50 miles of me.

I live in Cumberland Valley PA, near Harrisburg. The closest L3 charger is an EA at a Sheetz with 4 stations 2x 350kW, 2x 150kW, the next closest L3 is over 50 miles away. I need to use fast charge because all I have at home now is regular 110 outlet which tells me will be done charging a total of about 60% sometime next Monday (over 4 days at 1 mile per hour). I drove to the lone Electrify America nearby. All four stations were open so I connect to one of the max 350kW units and after 10 minutes and 40% SOC I'm getting 31kW. I decide to disconnect and try another station, so I move to find that 2 of the four stations are inoperable. Meanwhile, other EVs have taken the two working stations and I'm SOL. In order to make this trip I have drive the car back to the dealer and leave it there to charge over night.

I realize this current inconvenience is primarily due to not having better charging at home, but even when that's resolved, I'm very limited where I can go out of home range. I have a relatively light weight travel trailer / camper (4,500lbs) and that restricts my range to about 70 miles one way. I have a camping trip in a few months to Watkins Glen NY just 200 miles away and if I want to go I need to find another tow vehicle because that trip in the Lightning is a no-go.

I'm really bummed. I knew there would be challenges while infrastructure improves, but a) I didn't really expect to get a truck this year and b) I didn't fully understand the L3 charging dependency.

Before you give up, plan some routes using A Better Route Planner to see how well they will work. You can take a guess at towing "range" by cutting the fuel economy in half. With that you can see what your options are. There are a couple of DC Fast Chargers between you and Watkins Glen but both are a bit off the direct path. That might work for you until new chargers go in.

I also encourage you to look at the Electrify America website to see where they are already planning to install new chargers.

The next couple of years might be tight but once you get a 220v outlet at home it may not be as bad as you think it is right now.

 

[Vandy1981]

Your numbers seem overly pessimistic. Are you saying you can't make a 120 mile trip on a full ER battery? I think you can expect to get more than 70 miles of range with that size of trailer so you'd also be able to make it to Watkins Glen with a stop at the Sheetz in Bloomsburg.

Try to input some trips in ABRP--you can probably assume 450 Wh/mile without a trailer and 1000 Wh/mile with a trailer.

Do you have any plans to install a level 2 charger at home? If not, life would be very hard with any big-battery EV.

 

[Fishstyx]

It’s certainly my fault for not being more thorough. I originally planned to keep the ICE F150 for a bit to make sure all was good, but the dealer made such a strong offer, combined with the sales tax benefit so I took it. What I really need is the hybrid F150. Maybe I can find one, I’ll talk to my dealer.

You are living the falsehoods that Farley and Ford have led everyone to believe they have THOUSANDS of good chargers right around every corner. The network is barely workable for some percentage of owners. You must learn this the hard way.

This can easily set all of the industry back as these stories surface and no offense to the OP. It has taken Tesla years to get people to realize there isn't an issue with range anxiety. So many jumping into another brand hoping for the same experience without knowing the details, you won't get it.

Hoping for the best for you.

 

[Fishstyx]

I already have 240v in the garage but it’s 6-50. I ordered a 14-50 adaptor so that should fix the home charging problem but it doesn’t address the trip problem.

Good luck. Before selling, try getting at least 30amp x 240v charging at home. On another forum that I frequent there is a poster who is driving an EV in Seattle with only L3 charging or public L2. He still loves the car. Your situation is different because Seattle has much more public L3 than you do. I personally would not own an EV without home L2 charging. Charging at home is one of the best perks of EV ownership.

 

[Fishstyx]

In addition to the Ford app I also installed Plugshare. As far as I can tell the only L3 charger between Harrisburg and The Glen is on I-80 In Bloomsburg. That’s a 60 mile detour off Rt 15 not exactly a small deviation and if that charging option doesn’t pan out I’m completely screwed.

Before you give up, plan some routes using A Better Route Planner to see how well they will work. You can take a guess at towing "range" by cutting the fuel economy in half. With that you can see what your options are. There are a couple of DC Fast Chargers between you and Watkins Glen but both are a bit off the direct path. That might work for you until new chargers go in.

I also encourage you to look at the Electrify America website to see where they are already planning to install new chargers.

The next couple of years might be tight but once you get a 220v outlet at home it may not be as bad as you think it is right now.

 

[Fishstyx]

That’s 70 miles one way for a 140 mile RT which may be too optimistic on a single charge. Of course, if I go to a campground with 50 amp electrical then I can recharge with the travel charger but I do mostly dry camping.

I’m going to do some tow testing this weekend. I have to climb over a few Appalachian mountains and I’m wondering how that will balance out between hill climb and regen on the downslope.

I’m prepared to install the FCSP but of course we don’t have them. I’m not concerned about charging at home in the future. However, this current lack of a home charging option pulled into focus what it would be like trying to charge on the road.

Your numbers seem overly pessimistic. Are you saying you can't make a 120 mile trip on a full ER battery? I think you can expect to get more than 70 miles of range with that size of trailer so you'd also be able to make it to Watkins Glen with a stop at the Sheetz in Bloomsburg.

Try to input some trips in ABRP--you can probably assume 450 Wh/mile without a trailer and 1000 Wh/mile with a trailer.

Do you have any plans to install a level 2 charger at home? If not, life would be very hard with any big-battery EV.

 

[[email protected]]

So, I’m bummed for you seriously. But I’m going to ask the devil question: how will your experience in the Rivian be any different?

I’m not trying to throw shade, I’m honestly curious As I thought they were range in charging capabilities was comparable.

 

[[email protected]]

So, I’m bummed for you seriously. But I’m going to ask the devil question: how will your experience in the Rivian be any different?

I’m not trying to throw shade, I’m honestly curious As I thought they were range in charging capabilities was comparable.

also, is it possible for you to use a dryer plug? Or is your oven electric? Can you use that plug? We are doing the latter until the FCSP is installed. It’s level 2 charging. I think our dryer was 30A but hubby went off the oven as we have double oven and that circut was 40A. Respectable charging either way.

 

[Fishstyx]

Must be a mixup. I’m not considering a Rivian. Im
Considering trading for an F150 hybrid. I have zero problem with the truck, I love it. My dilemma is lack of charging infrastructure my state.

So, I’m bummed for you seriously. But I’m going to ask the devil question: how will your experience in the Rivian be any different?

I’m not trying to throw shade, I’m honestly curious As I thought they were range in charging capabilities was comparable.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I already have 240v in the garage but it’s 6-50. I ordered a 14-50 adaptor so that should fix the home charging problem but it doesn’t address the trip problem.

That's an easy conversion. You could have even bought that adapter at a Walmart, Harbor Freight, or local RV dealer.

 

[[email protected]]

Must be a mixup. I’m not considering a Rivian. Im
Considering trading for an F150 hybrid. I have zero problem with the truck, I love it. My dilemma is lack of charging infrastructure my state.

Yes I think I got you mixed up as there’s another person who had an order for the Rivian and the lightning. Their Rivian just arrived recently.

Somehow, I got you two mixed up.

Apologies

 

[Fishstyx]

next challenge. The adaptor came in but it trips the breaker. I think the contacts in the outlet must be corroded since there’s usually not a plug in it. I’m going to swap out the receptacle with a Hubel

That's an easy conversion. You could have even bought that adapter at a Walmart, Harbor Freight, or local RV dealer.

 

[CDGreenery]

All Level 3 DC fast chargers in the Electrify America network which also is in the Blue Oval Charge Network. Just took a trip from Chicago to Nashville last weekend. No problem at all.

I've now owned the Lightning for just under a week and I most likely have to sell it.

I currently regret trading in my 2011 F150 FX4 Ecoboost. Bottom line, I'm coming to the realization that I can't drive this thing beyond trips to and from my house unless I'm driving to either Philadelphia or Wash/Baltimore areas which have multiple L3 charger options in the vicinity. The simple truth is that anything less than properly working Level III charging stations, along ones route of travel, make a trip somewhere between impossible and impractical. I didn't fully appreciate that the vast majority of all those charging stations on the map are L1 and L2. 20% to 80% with the ER battery at one of those ranges between 6 and 18 hours. Outside of the Philly metro area, I can count every single other L3 charger in PA on my fingers and toes, and that assumes they are available and working (far from guaranteed).

My next mission: Trip to Philadelphia tomorrow evening, 120 miles away, to help a friend move some equipment.
To complete this mission, I need to either start with a full battery or fast charge along the route. Even with a full battery, between the load I'm picking up and a 70mph speed limit on the PA Turnpike + any deviations from route and I'll probably need a boost. At this time I'm unable to start with a full battery since I just made a trip in vain to the single L3 charger within 50 miles of me.

I live in Cumberland Valley PA, near Harrisburg. The closest L3 charger is an EA at a Sheetz with 4 stations 2x 350kW, 2x 150kW, the next closest L3 is over 50 miles away. I need to use fast charge because all I have at home now is regular 110 outlet which tells me will be done charging a total of about 60% sometime next Monday (over 4 days at 1 mile per hour). I drove to the lone Electrify America nearby. All four stations were open so I connect to one of the max 350kW units and after 10 minutes and 40% SOC I'm getting 31kW. I decide to disconnect and try another station, so I move to find that 2 of the four stations are inoperable. Meanwhile, other EVs have taken the two working stations and I'm SOL. In order to make this trip I have drive the car back to the dealer and leave it there to charge over night.

I realize this current inconvenience is primarily due to not having better charging at home, but even when that's resolved, I'm very limited where I can go out of home range. I have a relatively light weight travel trailer / camper (4,500lbs) and that restricts my range to about 70 miles one way. I have a camping trip in a few months to Watkins Glen NY just 200 miles away and if I want to go I need to find another tow vehicle because that trip in the Lightning is a no-go.

I'm really bummed. I knew there would be challenges while infrastructure improves, but a) I didn't really expect to get a truck this year and b) I didn't fully understand the L3 charging dependency.

 

[Voltz]

The adaptor came in but it trips the breaker.

What size is the breaker?

 

[GDN]

You definitely want a good quality outlet and you want the wires connected to the outlet well.

 

[Fishstyx]

What size is the breaker?

40