Update to the Ford EV Roadmap. No impact to Mustang Mach-E

[kikibop]

To those who are upset at Ford about the Lightning, I ask them to look at the sales charts. Even when it was being subsidized by losses at Ford AND a $7500 federal incentive (and often other local and dealer incentives), sales were modest at best and pathetic at worst. 2000 units/mo for a 700k annual volume program? Peanuts.

It was a bold move to invest in the Lightning and impressive that they got it to market so quickly. But it seems beyond debate that full-size pickups either need a 200+kWh battery (very expensive and stupidly heavy) OR an EREV powetrain.

I love EVs too and wish Ford had launched with a platform strategy like Hyundai-Kia, but they did not. So now what? Makes no sense to throw good money after bad trying to make fetch happen.

The Lightning needs to go EREV to be compelling, profitable, and to have any change at meaningful sales. LFG.

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[tuminatr]

Brian, I think Ford's Lightning design was compromised:

1. Not purpose-built as an EV and, therefore, doesn't look distinctive enough
2. Too small of a battery in comparison to others and, therefore, not a great range
3. Too expensive, given #1 and 2

I don't have the stats and I don't know if GM is / will be more successful with the Silverado and Sierra, given they solved #1 and 2. I suspect not. #3 is helpless, because very few people can afford the price point.

The whole thing is like trying to sell ice cream in the middle of a blizzard to people on a diet.

Ford has been the best selling BEV truck so GM making one with a huge battery that chargers fast seems to be not appealing either.

 

[SonicBlue]

I’m sure stats would show most of them never do those things. But people sure like to spend double what they need for capability they don’t use.

I love these entitled, elitist opinions so much. More please!

Dumbass doesn’t need a truck to tow that boat. He doesn’t need a boat. He doesn’t need a lake house. He doesn’t need that trailer.

MOAR!!!!

 

[SonicBlue]

In all the years I have owned an EV whenever having a conversation with someone about how it all works, they always, always, always, want to focus on the exceptions.

That one road trip they took once 12 years ago that definitely would be a pain in an EV.

I think that is how the majority of people think, they focus on the hard parts.

I'm not sure the automakers will ever be able to make those buyers think differently.

Yes! More!!!! More condescension!!!!

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Oh, Hank the Deuce had a hand in some of those decisions as well. In that era, no big decisions were made that did not have the personal scrutiny and approval of someone named “Ford”.

Fact.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Might be interesting to read what they are saying on the Lightning forum .

There are a couple of Lightning forums that are busy stm. One is associated with this group and another isn’t. The latter s s good owners group but I’m not allowed to publish the URL because obvious reasons. You can lurk on either of them.

 

[Tosh]

Yes, thanks - I've done some reading over at my regular F150 forum and a lot of what's being posted there is reflective of the posts here.

Some disappointment, some outrage, some enthusiasm, some resignation

 

[Maui]

So i am guess resale is going to get hammered even more.

 

[SonicBlue]

So i am guess resale is going to get hammered even more.

Resale only matters when you… sell. The longer you wait to sell, the less hit you’ll take. On the flip side, this is great news for anyone shopping in the used market. Buying any new EV is not a great financial decision.

 

[moritzes]

@Ford Motor Company any insight into how much longer the F-150 Lightning will receive OTAs? Will this announcement have any impact on MME OTAs?

The language from Ford is ambiguous. 10 years continuing support for parts and service, but only "ongoing support" for software with no mention of length of time. It certainly won't be 10 years.

F-150 Lightning Forum

What about support for my current F-150 Lightning?​

I know reading "production is ending" can be nerve-wracking for current owners. I want to be clear: We are committed to ensuring ongoing support of your vehicle’s software updates, quality and experience. Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years. The team is not walking away from the current F-150 Lightning, and I’m not going anywhere.​

 

[SonicBlue]

• Battery Tech: We are repurposing our Kentucky plant for grid storage and focusing our Michigan plant on LFP cells (which many of you already have in your newer Mach-Es).

I think this is the most interesting part of the announcement. Repurposing the Kentucky plant for grid storage?

 

[areacode413]

Brian, there no such thing as half pregnant. Ford is either in or out. An EREV is a piece of shit ice, not an EV. It’ll be a larger flop than the lightning. Just you wait.

Looks like Toyota picked the right horse. It’s like they knew Trump and the other Boomers would cuck BEVs. Luckily, nock on wood, our MachE is past the break in period and driving well. Either way, for us one BEV and one ice will be the path forward.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Looks like Toyota picked the right horse. It’s like they knew Trump and the other Boomers would cuck BEVs. Luckily, nock on wood, our MachE is past the break in period and driving well. Either way, for us one BEV and one ice will be the path forward.

Toyota is an incremental thinking company. No vision, no strategy, no real innovation. They took what other developed and perfected it. It is a specialized skill that fails miserably to innovate and tackle anything new. Toyota was positioned best to take advantage of BEV and ride it to the next level. But it took a radical person like Musk to show how transformational thinking can lead to serious change. I hate the guy, but you have to give credit where appropriate.

My wife and I chose to sell a perfectly okay 2.5 year old Mach-E and get a new one with a fresh battery to ride the next wave. Looks like we made the right decision.

 

[SonicBlue]

My wife and I chose to sell a perfectly okay 2.5 year old Mach-E and get a new one with a fresh battery to ride the next wave. Looks like we made the right decision.

A new one with a fresh battery? After 2.5 years?

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Electric Transit ... toast. Electric 150... toast. The MME is ~6 years old. The mythical Universal EV Platform is nowhere to be seen.

I guess it'll be a Hyundai/Kia or Rivian for the next car.

This is kind of where my head is at too. By now Ford could have really upgraded what is already a very good BEV. Imagine a Mach-E with a higher charging curve, much better suspension tuning out of the factory and efficiency improvements.

It seems most other automakers making BEVs are really pushing to make them better. I don't get that from Ford at all. Lots and lots and lots of talk but nothing really new you can actually buy right now. The Mach-E is my car and I like my car. I suspect it is going to last me for quite a while. By the time I need something new, right now, I don't see that being another Ford. Not unless Farley really, really puts his money where his mouth is.

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