Ford kills off its all all-electric F-150

[MapleLeafFarmer]

well this doesn't really surprise me but today Ford announced they are killing off their all electric F150.
next to come is a plug in hybrid version that's supposed to be a combo electric-gas job.

so 2 systems / weight / etc... going forward as they concluded all electric is a failed experiment?

that was a pretty quick failed experiment.

 

[4570Man]

It was a failed idea from day one without government subsidies.

 

[tacticalturnip]

I actually drove one once and quite enjoyed it, but I would never purchase an electric. I'm not surprised the Lightning is gone, not am I surprised to see it's replacement is something more sensible.

 

[RayIN]

Plans are to build a F150 similar to the Ram hybrid with an onboard gas generator. Range projected to be 700 miles.

 

[fatjay]

Plans are to build a F150 similar to the Ram hybrid with an onboard gas generator. Range projected to be 700 miles.

Similiar to the fisker karma built in 2011, the smartest of hybrid designs. Instead of a stupidly complex transmission involving both gas engine and electric motors, take a page out of hte train book and their diesel electrics and have a purely electric drive full of torque and horsepower, powered by a diesel or gasoline engine connected to a generator with a small battery for a buffer.

 

[hayden]

Similiar to the fisker karma built in 2011, the smartest of hybrid designs. Instead of a stupidly complex transmission involving both gas engine and electric motors, take a page out of hte train book and their diesel electrics and have a purely electric drive full of torque and horsepower, powered by a diesel or gasoline engine connected to a generator with a small battery for a buffer.

The trouble with that is you lose a bunch of efficiency between engine output and drive wheels from various forms of power conversion. So to the extent it's running on the engine, it gets worse mileage than if the engine were connected straight through a mechanical transmission like it is in a so-called "parallel hybrid".

I think the lightening failed because it doesn't fit how people use a truck, and where people use trucks. It all comes down to range, access to recharge facilities, and time to recharge. A hybrid solves those problems.

Trains are diesel electric because it's the only (or best) way to build a transmission for that use. Similarly for tugs and cruise ships, diesel electric is about maneuverability. Ships that just go in a straight like for thousands of miles are always engine+shaft+prop. Many don't even have a transmission or clutch, and to reverse you shut down the engine and restart it with opposite rotation. The result is max efficiency while underway, but tug $$ assist is required for docking and maneuvering.

 

[JeepHead]

My neighbor has the Ford lightning and he absolutely loves it. I have ridden in it and it's insanely fast. But personally, I am not a fan of electric vehicles whatsoever.

 

[Hay Dude]

My neighbor has the Ford lightning and he absolutely loves it. I have ridden in it and it's insanely fast. But personally, I am not a fan of electric vehicles whatsoever.

I sense they will be able to be had used dirt cheap in the coming years

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

So, what will a hybrid cost?

I mean, maybe I'm weird, but $80k plus for a vehicle seems like a luxury that the vast majority cannot afford.

The US consumer is getting buried in debt. The average car payment is ridiculous

 

[MossRoad]

well this doesn't really surprise me but today Ford announced they are killing off their all electric F150.
next to come is a plug in hybrid version that's supposed to be a combo electric-gas job.

so 2 systems / weight / etc... going forward as they concluded all electric is a failed experiment?

that was a pretty quick failed experiment.

I can smell the ozone.