[FM_Jack]

Hour long. I'm just starting it now.

"I get an exclusive interview with Ford Model e's Vice President of Electric Vehicle Programs, Darren Palmer to discuss my initial F-150 Lightning ownership experience. I ask Darren a variety of questions from charging strategy to warranty concerns to supply issues. I then ask him to comment on the things I don't love about my Lightning and finish up by asking him about the issues that some owners are having with Ford Charge Station Pro. Much was learned. "

 

[EVolution]

"order banks to open soon" at 22.20 mark! "the waves are working quite well"

I just hope they do away with the prioritization that occurred in MY22 models. I'd prefer they start working down the reservation list now.

 

[THEsocalledfan]

"order banks to open soon" at 22.20 mark! "the waves are working quite well"

I just hope they do away with the prioritization that occurred in MY22 models. I'd prefer they start working down the reservation list now.

I'd think there is a 0.0% chance this happens until the initial dealer priority lists are cleared. I could see them not doing that again once cleared.....and simply going down the list.

 

[FM_Jack]

Good questions. Don't have to worry about the overheating the Mach E is doing. Ford Charger pro has some overheating issues and they are about to release an update. In general they are looking at social media and dealer led customer feedback (I'm assuming). They are going to keep making improvements. They aren't worried about the truck feeling outdated when the silverado comes out because of 2025...

He's a cheeky fellow.

 

[SteelTerp87]

Curious, for those that have taken delivery, are you seeing the same regen achieved for 1 pedal and 2 pedal driving as Darren mentions? I thought that was interesting that it is simply a driver preference vs efficiency.

 

[Fryballin]

Just my initial thought is that I see better regen when I have one pedal drive on versus when I don’t. I havent tested it to know for sure though

I don’t know why he didn’t ask him about implementing the charge rate as displayed information inside the vehicle when fast charging

 

[FM_Jack]

Curious, for those that have taken delivery, are you seeing the same regen achieved for 1 pedal and 2 pedal driving as Darren mentions? I thought that was interesting that it is simply a driver preference vs efficiency.

I haven't switched on 1 pedal because of some early reviews about the feel of the pedal like Tom mentioned. I also haven't because we haven't been in using it in the Mach E because the Mach E had an issue early on and we stopped using it. I've gotten very use to just using Adaptive CC all the time. So 1 pedal isn't needed then. I can believe his statement because when you put it in Sport mode the vehicle will come to a stop. I was surprised by this, because I don't know why they wouldn't do this in Normal but I think they see it as you are stomping in sport so make the regen more aggressive to recoup more faster?. But no matter what mode you are in, if you lift off the accelerator the power bar switches and depending on decline or flat, it starts to regen without you hitting the brake. This is without cruise control on. I can't recall at what speed but it'll start slowing down. It does coast but not by much.

The comment Tom mentioned about the Brake Coach, as he said it only shows up when you come to a complete stop but it is on any time you brake. I've mentioned in other posts; I did a drive up and back 80 miles one way and in the Fordpass App for your driving log, it shows miles gained from regen. I think I was doing ~15-16 miles one way.

All this to say, it is constantly on regen when you lift off the accelerator it is active regen. You can't control how much or how little like in other EVs. I think they'll keep playing with the mapping and maybe they'll put in settings for it eventually. I still like my idea of adaptive cards And that's another setting that could be added.

I know 1 pedal has been seen as the end all for EVs but for me once I'm out of my neighborhood I don't care. I'm using Adaptive CC to come to stops. In my 80 mile drive that was all highway, I don't see how 1 pedal is anymore useful that ACC unless you are traffic and that's only if you want to be closer to the person in front of you. I used ACC for 95% of the drive, maybe more.

 

[ErichKeane]

I haven't switched on 1 pedal because of some early reviews about the feel of the pedal like Tom mentioned. I also haven't because we haven't been in using it in the Mach E because the Mach E had an issue early on and we stopped using it. I've gotten very use to just using Adaptive CC all the time. So 1 pedal isn't needed then. I can believe his statement because when you put it in Sport mode the vehicle will come to a stop. I was surprised by this, because I don't know why they wouldn't do this in Normal but I think they see it as you are stomping in sport so make the regen more aggressive to recoup more faster?. But no matter what mode you are in, if you lift off the accelerator the power bar switches and depending on decline or flat, it starts to regen without you hitting the brake. This is without cruise control on. I can't recall at what speed but it'll start slowing down. It does coast but not by much.

The comment Tom mentioned about the Brake Coach, as he said it only shows up when you come to a complete stop but it is on any time you brake. I've mentioned in other posts; I did a drive up and back 80 miles one way and in the Fordpass App for your driving log, it shows miles gained from regen. I think I was doing ~15-16 miles one way.

All this to say, it is constantly on regen when you lift off the accelerator it is active regen. You can't control how much or how little like in other EVs. I think they'll keep playing with the mapping and maybe they'll put in settings for it eventually. I still like my idea of adaptive cards And that's another setting that could be added.

I know 1 pedal has been seen as the end all for EVs but for me once I'm out of my neighborhood I don't care. I'm using Adaptive CC to come to stops. In my 80 mile drive that was all highway, I don't see how 1 pedal is anymore useful that ACC unless you are traffic and that's only if you want to be closer to the person in front of you. I used ACC for 95% of the drive, maybe more.

Brake coach comes on every time you get sub-5mph. You don't need a complete stop for it to show up.

 

[FM_Jack]

Brake coach comes on every time you get sub-5mph. You don't need a complete stop for it to show up.

That was discussed in the video. It was a suggestion by Tom. I've never paid that close attention to when it actually comes on and doesn't. But randomly going down a decline and slowing down doesn't present the icon and Tom wants it to.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

from past experience in my Nissan Leafs, one with 'B' mode, like 'one pedal', the actual real-world difference in efficiency between the two does not exists in everyday driving.
The main reason is the laws of gravity/physics: if you are comparing two IDENTICAL drives, same speed, same conditions, same locations.
The main reason is that while extra regen, i.e., one-pedal driving is ON, the truck is being SLOWED DOWN, which means it must also then 'catch back up to speed' when you want to continue driving - said another way, you are drastically reducing your 'coasting' opportunities. Coasting requires no power/energy, and coasting still provides regeneration, and you are not losing near the speed and MOMENTUM.
Sure, there are situation when one-pedal makes more sense, in order to save your brakes, or otherwise not have to use the brakes at all, which is nice in traffic and city driving - but the overall 'total trip' outcome between the two does not work strongly for one versus the other, it's just a different way to allow the truck to either coast more, or regen more - either way, the laws of physics say that on the same identical trip, one will not out do the other.

 

[SteelTerp87]

from past experience in my Nissan Leafs, one with 'B' mode, like 'one pedal', the actual real-world difference in efficiency between the two does not exists in everyday driving.
The main reason is the laws of gravity/physics: if you are comparing two IDENTICAL drives, same speed, same conditions, same locations.
The main reason is that while extra regen, i.e., one-pedal driving is ON, the truck is being SLOWED DOWN, which means it must also then 'catch back up to speed' when you want to continue driving - said another way, you are drastically reducing your 'coasting' opportunities. Coasting requires no power/energy, and coasting still provides regeneration, and you are not losing near the speed and MOMENTUM.
Sure, there are situation when one-pedal makes more sense, in order to save your brakes, or otherwise not have to use the brakes at all, which is nice in traffic and city driving - but the overall 'total trip' outcome between the two does not work strongly for one versus the other, it's just a different way to allow the truck to either coast more, or regen more - either way, the laws of physics say that on the same identical trip, one will not out do the other.

Thanks for the "brake" down...see what I did there? Seriously though, this is what I expected to hear. This is going to be my first EV and I hear so many EV drivers rave about 1-pedal but I'm very much a coaster type of person and like giving my foot some rest from consistently needing to have pressure applied to the pedal.

Makes sense from a brake saving stand point and I may be inclined to learn 1-pedal but I'm reassured that it doesn't truly make a material difference with everyday normal driving that I have since I do not deal with traffic on a regular basis.

 

[Voltz]

OPD reminds me of a driver staying too long in too low of a gear with a manual transmission. You're trying to recover energy when momentum would be your best friend. Let it roll. Regen when you need it.

That being said, I have never driven a Lightning, just other EVs.

 

[FM_Jack]

Makes sense from a brake saving stand point and I may be inclined to learn 1-pedal but I'm reassured that it doesn't truly make a material difference with everyday normal driving that I have since I do not deal with traffic on a regular basis.

Don't get me wrong, I like the 1 pedal when we first got the Mach E. It was neat playing around with coming to a stop at a stop sign with ever using the brake. Didn't take long but I got it. But once I'm out of the neighborhood that becomes more of "play time" then actually paying attention to driving imo. I think it is amazing in stop and go traffic but 1) I avoid that at all costs 2) I just end up using ACC.

If the vehicle is already regening from just coasting (which the Mach E doesn't do very much of at all out of 1 pedal), I don't see the point. Especially since I like ACC so much.

What's better than 1 pedal? Not having your feet near the pedals at all.

 

[Leaf to Lightning : )]

I love one-pedal when in stop and go and slow traffic, where you're not constantly hitting the brake pedal - even the 'brake hold' is fantastic in those situations since you don't have to keep applying pressure on the brake pedal the whole time you sit there... nice : )

 

[FM_Jack]

I love brake hold. that and ACC are the features I wanted the most for the last 5+ years.

I just went for a drive and put 1 pedal on. I was on a back road. And in this situation I do like to coast. When I coast it does regen, not a lot but it does. With 1 pedal, trying to maintain a spend, just too much work. The regen is medium? You lift up and it comes on strong. I don't know how Tesla does it. And in the Lightning, you are slowing down by 10-20 mph cause it is trying to come to a stop instead of letting me coast.

Plus, and this is a criticism of Ford. I'd want this option to be a physical button so that I can switch between them easier than taking my eyes off the road. So because most of the time I don't need 1 pedal I don't bother turning it on. In comparison it probably does come out to equal about the same with it on or off. Because once you push forward it doesn't regen at all. My acceleration isn't as good as ACC either. I'm using more than ACC does.

 

[ChasingCoral]

This is another great interview with Darren. He is a great spokesperson for Ford’s electric vehicles and really believes in his product. He usually doesn’t shirk from hard questions, although sometimes he’ll answer the question he thinks the interviewer should have asked rather than what they actually asked. He’s also learned to be smarter about what he promises. You’ll notice he separates what he wants to implement from what Ford is actually implementing and isn’t making so many promises of when updates will roll out as he used to.

As for the efficiency issue, this came up with the Mustang Mach E as well. One drive mode (at least for Normal vs Sport) isn’t inherently more efficient than another and the same for 1PD vs 2PD. In the Mach E, Whisper isn’t inherently more efficient than Unbridled and the same for the Lightning’s Normal vs Sport. Flooring either one gets the same acceleration, too. However, in the Mach E, Unbridled does encourage more spirited driving, which will generally reduce efficiency.

1PD is even more nuanced because it depends on how you apply it. You can either coast in 1PD by backing off on the accelerator and using the power gauge to minimize power to the motors, or you can back off hard to gain the effect like downshift braking in a manual.

Personally, I wish the Lightning had a Whisper-like mode. I find even Normal to be too powerful when I’m trying to just drive around efficiently. Whisper in the Mach E provides the most gradual pedal mapping and makes it easier to accelerate and brake gently in 1PD. I almost always use Unbridled 1PD in the Mach E and my wife almost always uses Whisper 1PD. I relish than fun in the Mach E but would like to calm the truck down a little more most of the time.

Like many others here, I use Adaptivere Cruise Control a lot. That will really enhance efficiency.

 

[FM_Jack]

As for the efficiency issue, this came up with the Mustang Mach E as well. One drive mode (at least for Normal vs Sport) isn’t inherently more efficient than another and the same for 1PD vs 2PD. In the Mach E, Whisper isn’t inherently more efficient than Unbridled and the same for the Lightning’s Normal vs Sport. Flooring either one gets the same acceleration, too. However, in the Mach E, Unbridled does encourage more spirited driving, which will generally reduce efficiency.

Yea just recently, before I got my truck, I switched the mode I drove my wife's Mach E to Engage (Normal) and I found the brake coach came up and I could feel some regen compared to Whisper. So we stopped using Whisper. I would say I would like them to have an Eco mode but only if the regen mapping was actually different or like you said power was more subdued. Similar to Whisper vs Engage.