[StanT]

First off I LOVE this truck, I have made several long distance drives these past two months and have loved driving it.
But, I am sad to say I am letting it go after this last drive. A nine hour drive took over 14 hours due to problems at EA chargers along the route
from Balto to Indy.
The 22 degree weather killed our range and here I am driving a $80K truck with the heat off to make it to our next stop. Why?
I think the real kicker was when we stopped at a Sheetz station and there was a line of 8 cars waiting to charge at the 4 chargers. I looked at the gas pumps, no lines. Why am I doing this.

I plan on coming back to this in a couple of years once I can pull into a staion with 100% confidence that I'll get a charge and be on my way in 20 min.

Best wishes to all of you early adopters.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Sorry to hear that. Which chargers gave you trouble?

 

[StanT]

So we were going from Balto to Indy all along Rt 70 No chargers to be found in WVA, period so only Ohio, and Pittsburgh. We tried stops at Wallmart and EA chargers. At each stop along the way 1 out of 4 would work and if we did get one to work max was 45KW, never 150KW. The only good charge we were able to get was EVGO at a Target but had to drive 25 miles to and from so lost 50 miles net anyway. The line at the Sheetz Bedford PA was crazy as everyone that gets on the Turnpike stops there on other chargers on the Turnpike. I will miss the truck

 

[ChasingCoral]

So we were going from Balto to Indy all along Rt 70 No chargers to be found in WVA, period so only Ohio, and Pittsburgh. We tried stops at Wallmart and EA chargers. At each stop along the way 1 out of 4 would work and if we did get one to work max was 45KW, never 150KW. The only good charge we were able to get was EVGO at a Target but had to drive 25 miles to and from so lost 50 miles net anyway. The line at the Sheetz Bedford PA was crazy as everyone that gets on the Turnpike stops there on other chargers on the Turnpike. I will miss the truck

Sorry to hear that.

I’ve made that trip in my Mach E so that’s why I was wondering about the actual stops. Sorry to hear that EA did so poorly. Did you contact EA to see if they could get those chargers back online?

Bedford definitely needs more chargers.

 

[StanT]

Funny you ask, as several of us were on hold for 20 min plus before I gave up. Holiday travels so they must have been overloaded. It is sad, as the truck is a great ride but not worth all the effort for long trips. Tesla got it right with their charger network. I was at a gas station off 81 and right there were 10 Tesla chargers in a row all empty. Yet no charger for me! Very limited real charging options on the road.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Funny you ask, as several of us were on hold for 20 min plus before I gave up. Holiday travels so they must have been overloaded. It is sad, as the truck is a great ride but not worth all the effort for long trips. Tesla got it right with their charger network. I was at a gas station off 81 and right there were 10 Tesla chargers in a row all empty. Yet no charger for me! Very limited real charging options on the road.

Yes, EA is having real issues. Fortunately they are installing new Gen 3 chargers. However it clearly isn’t quick enough for your needs.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

I think some of us will muddle thru the 'infrastructure' issues, as I had my own today, but when we have a 'normal' 15 minute fill-up at almost any interstate off ramp, and know that chargers WORK when you arrive... we'll have a more 'normal' driving experience.

I've actually had GOOD experiences will all of the EA chargers this week, from Alabama to Tennessee to Georgia... 135-150kw speeds, as well. Chargepoints may be more easily found, but they tend to only be 50-64kw, at best.

One Chargepoint today, in Canton GA at the Kroger, would not show in the Ford App as a 'choice' of local chargers, and when I arrived, and found it on my Ford Pass app, it showed as 'not available'... although I simply used my Chargepoint 'wallet' on my iPhone by tapping the front of the unit - it worked with no issue.

On one of the EA fast chargers, one 'side' would not activate, but the other 'side' would. Strange, but it's the course in today's environment - we 'want' all the chargers to work, since there's few options otherwise.

 

[StanT]

New Update! So I went out and test drove 3 SUVs and to be candid they all suck. Not going to be easy to go back to an ICE vehicle. What to do??

 

[ChasingCoral]

New Update! So I went out and test drove 3 SUVs and to be candid they all suck. Not going to be easy to go back to an ICE vehicle. What to do??

Can you be a touch more specific? What were they and how did they suck?

 

[Obi66]

New Update! So I went out and test drove 3 SUVs and to be candid they all suck. Not going to be easy to go back to an ICE vehicle. What to do??

Keep the Lightning. Just know you're on the leading edge of a new technology and there will be some issues. Take it as a challenge. The charging infrastructure will improve. But don't go backwards, I think you'll regret it.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

not everyone is going to buy the 'first' of anything, and they also don't want to get caught buying the LAST of anything... esp goes a long way in predicting the future and not making ANY mistakes... well, for those of us who are perfect, anyway. Oh well. Life's tough. I guess I'll just have to keep driving an 'average' New Ford LIGHTNING that seemingly everyone wants. Oh well.

 

[StanT]

OK I tried a Ford Explorer limited, same dealer where I bought my truck they were willing to give me a great deal, drove the Explorer and it just seemed so unrefined. Next a Volvo 90 plug in Hybrid. Better ride but so underpowered. End of that one. Last was the Hyundai Palisade, not a bad ride just not for me. Tomorrow is Yukon and Toyota. In the end I may just go back to a 150. Is there any truth that Tesla chargers will be avaiable next year?

 

[grumpy]

If you keep driving the Lightning you will be able to say to yourself "I am adding to the climate solution".

 

[StanT]

So I love the truck not even a question. In fact I am having such a hard time with what is the best way to work around my issues with charging. I work all over the country and many places are in the middle of ?? So to go and look for a working charger is a real problem that I have yet to solve.

 

[Evan]

I just picked up my extended range last week in New Orleans. I added 1000lbs cargo, I drove down to south Florida for thanksgiving, then drove all 1000 lbs back up to the north east. I only had to wait once for a charger, and that was on the Saturday after thanksgiving. With that being said, I know capacity will be strained the next two years especially with Evs being sold in greater numbers than charging stations.
With cargo, I noticed a large difference between going 72 on freeway and going 68. So I just set my blue cruise for 68 and got just about 2miles/kWh the whole trip. I only charged to 80% each stop, and never once worries about range.
One thing I did do was bring a heated blanket and plug it into the 110v ac outlet (but I only used it at night when I was sleeping!)

I love the truck, and I love taking road trips with it! It’s really fun and comfortable to sleep in it even when it’s cold outside the Ev nature makes it feasible to sleep in comfort vs an ice

 

[john_of_TOOL.]

First off I LOVE this truck, I have made several long distance drives these past two months and have loved driving it.
But, I am sad to say I am letting it go after this last drive. A nine hour drive took over 14 hours due to problems at EA chargers along the route
from Balto to Indy.
The 22 degree weather killed our range and here I am driving a $80K truck with the heat off to make it to our next stop. Why?
I think the real kicker was when we stopped at a Sheetz station and there was a line of 8 cars waiting to charge at the 4 chargers. I looked at the gas pumps, no lines. Why am I doing this.

I plan on coming back to this in a couple of years once I can pull into a staion with 100% confidence that I'll get a charge and be on my way in 20 min.

Best wishes to all of you early adopters.

I agree with you, there is a huge EV infrastructure issue in this country. This is the best truck I have ever had but the best charging for it is at my house. I drive to Maine and back from Boston and the chargers on the way are a joke. 50% them are not in service and there are lines. There are 8 Tesla chargers to 4 Charge point chargers. I dont understand why stations dont see this as a huge incentive to add chargers and create a place for people to spend money. In the EV market you get a consumers attention for 45 minutes while they recharge. Make it a fun 45 minutes for them.

 

[Nbc10homepro]

Evan - You have it all good. I have found keeping the speed below 70 and watching what I ma using for interior power (seats, steering wheel heater etc) really make a difference. I have purposely been using only 1 Pedal and this does extend my range on suburban roads but not highway. Being on the leading edge is not always easy but it is workable and have no issues so far just proper planning.

 

[StanT]

Evan - You have it all good. I have found keeping the speed below 70 and watching what I ma using for interior power (seats, steering wheel heater etc) really make a difference. I have purposely been using only 1 Pedal and this does extend my range on suburban roads but not highway. Being on the leading edge is not always easy but it is workable and have no issues so far just proper planning.

So I hear you but even the best planning does not fix broken defective charging stations or 30% battery reduction in 25 degree weather. I laugh when I hear folks say just turn off your heat and drive 65 Mph till you make your next stop. With that said now I have a new problem, I can not find anything I want to drive other than the lightning. Money being no object! Going in I was naive thinking charging would not be a problem. I am sure two years from now it won't be. For someone that drives 2-3K miles a month it is a problem.

 

[Simsonic]

First off I LOVE this truck, I have made several long distance drives these past two months and have loved driving it.
But, I am sad to say I am letting it go after this last drive. A nine hour drive took over 14 hours due to problems at EA chargers along the route
from Balto to Indy.
The 22 degree weather killed our range and here I am driving a $80K truck with the heat off to make it to our next stop. Why?
I think the real kicker was when we stopped at a Sheetz station and there was a line of 8 cars waiting to charge at the 4 chargers. I looked at the gas pumps, no lines. Why am I doing this.

I plan on coming back to this in a couple of years once I can pull into a staion with 100% confidence that I'll get a charge and be on my way in 20 min.

Best wishes to all of you early adopters.

That's a bummer. I am hoping EV charger companies know of your problems and improve the infrastructure rapidly. Simply because, so many of us are buying EVs in the coming years.

 

[tj309]

1st time pure EV owner here. As a retired test pilot I have 2 takes.

This is new and cutting edge for regular consumers and there will be a learning curve, infrastructure limitations, and mistakes. And the 580 hp is just pure fun.

Planning a trip is no different than planning a flight. Would you take off not knowing if there's fuel when you get there? Know your range. Understand how weather will impact the trip. They've worked out the kinks in commercial and military aviation. It's just a matter of time until EV's are a significant part of ground transportation and I personally like being the tip of the spear.