The first EV tow-barge (with real-world potential) to hit Australia – Ford’s F150 Lightning – was recently reviewed and tested by RV Daily’s Robert Pepper. Great to see a motoring journalist actually taking the time to take the truck – and a caravan – out on the tracks, rather than write a gushing advertorial based on company handouts.
There’s no doubt that the electric F150 is a great truck; and no doubt that electric trucks have many advantages over the noisy, dirty and polluting 4x4s we drive today… but are they really ready to replace those LandCruisers and Rangers hauling camper-trailers and caravans all across Australia?
According to Robert Pepper, there are two main barriers to the take-up of these (otherwise superb) vehicles in Australia. One barrier is cost:
The Lightning is around $220,000 driveaway – check the AusEV website for the latest. You can get a petrol F-150 for under $110,000 driveaway, similar to a Ram 1500, much less for a Ranger. Even at today’s pricing, $100,000 buys you a lot of petrol. Say 50,000 litres or over five years, 10,000 litres a year, which will take you 40,000km at 25L/100km. I can’t see a Lightning making financial sense for recreational users any time soon.
And the other key barrier is the limitations of EV vehicles when towing:
Towing my van with the Ford F-150 Lightning more than doubled its energy consumption. This means the range was reduced by more than half, so on our test loop, that would mean less than 300km from 100% to 0%. But you’d never go to 0%, so 250km is a more realistic figure. This is the EV problem; they just can’t tow far.
In summary, a disappointed Robert reckons that Australia isn’t ready for the Lightning, because of the lack of infrastructure, suitable battery technology and the tyranny of distance. “It’s not quite there yet for recreational towing” – but he is hopeful for the future.
I’m glad the Ford F-150 Lightning is here in Australia, as towing range aside, I love the idea of an electric 4×4 and towcar. It’s better in every other way than diesel, which by comparison seems stale, aged and dated. But, sadly, we need a step-up in battery technology and a step-down in cost, as well as much more widespread fast charging, before I, as a recreational tower, will be changing to electric. May that day come soon!
Read Robert’s review on RV Daily.
Lighting F150s are available from AusEV in Australia.
