By Patrick Soukup, Manager of Member Services and Marketing
EV Pickup Cost Comparison on the Open Road
The Ford F-150 Lightning marked a significant shift in the world of electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in the pickup truck segment. The Ford Lightning with an extended-range battery can travel approximately 300 miles on a full charge, depending on speed and other factors.
I recently took Central Electric’s Ford Lightning on a trip to Deadwood for meetings. The wind and price to charge influenced my thoughts and concerns about how I felt during the trip.
I received free charging at the hotel in Deadwood and paid upwards of $0.58 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to charge at the highest point on the trip.
For much of the trip, my thoughts were focused on whether I could get there and back. Traveling across the state is quite common for people in South Dakota. The numbers and stats provided later in this article may be relevant in perfect conditions. I did not have perfect conditions during this trip.
The wind was my friend and my enemy. I felt defeated driving into a head wind on the way to Deadwood. On my way back, I felt I could make it all the way back to our Mitchell office with the wind at my back. It was the best feeling in the world, like I could go anywhere.
As I ran the numbers in my head and saw what I had left for battery life, I really thought I could make it back to Mitchell without stopping to charge. However, I needed to stop and stretch anyway, so I pulled into a charger at Wall and charged the pickup for 15 minutes. This was the best decision I made all week. On the way home, the wind switched directions, and I was never able to achieve the mileage I was previously getting.
Moral of the story: plan your trip, prepare for conditions that you could face and enjoy the ride.
Cost to Operate
One of the main concerns for potential EV buyers is the cost of driving and charging. The Ford Lightning offers significant savings when compared to traditional gas-powered trucks.
To compare costs effectively, we need to look at the energy consumption of the Lightning. The F-150 Lightning has an EPA-estimated efficiency of approximately 2.0 miles per kWh. That means that for every kilowatt-hour of electricity, the truck can travel about 2 miles.
Assuming an average electricity cost of $0.13 per kWh, the cost per mile to drive the Lightning would be calculated as follows: $0.13 / 2 miles = 6.5 cents.
For comparison, the average fuel economy of a gas-powered F-150 is around 20 miles per gallon. At an average gas price of $3.50 per gallon, the cost per mile to operate a traditional F-150 would be calculated as follows: $3.50 / 20 miles = 17.5 cents.
In ideal conditions, the cost of a 630-mile round trip from Mitchell to Deadwood would be $40.95 driving an electric Ford Lightning versus $110.25 driving a gas-powered Ford F-150.
Home Charging Versus Public Charging
When it comes to charging, the cost varies based on whether you charge at home or use public charging stations. If you have a Level 2 home charger, the cost to charge a Ford Lightning extended-range battery from empty to full would be calculated as follows:
98 kWh x $0.13 = $12.74.
Public charging stations have different rates, usually charging more per kWh than charging at home. Some fast-chargers have at rates of $0.35 to $0.58 per kWh. Charging at these rates will increase the overall cost of a long road trip. However, many charging networks offer subscription plans that can help lower costs.
The Choice is Yours
You may or may not be interested in EVs — the choice is yours. It’s my hope that sharing this information will help our members understand the opportunities and challenges of operating an electric vehicle. Please reach out with any questions if you are considering purchasing an EV or installing an EV charger at your home or farm.