Studying Electric Vehicles

By Patrick Soukup
Manager of Member Services & Marketing

In an effort to study home charging and its potential impact on your power distribution system, Central Electric is diving into the world of electric vehicles (EVs). As your energy experts, it is incumbent upon us to learn as much as we can about this emerging technology. After all, powering your life is our business, and we must take steps to plan for the future.

Ford Lightning 
Central Electric purchased the Ford F-150 Lightning with an extended-range battery that can travel approximately 320 miles on a full charge. Many of our farmers drive pickups and we live in South Dakota, so we thought this was a good fit for the cooperative’s first EV. 

There is so much to share about the Lightning. Some of you may have seen it at Dakotafest in 2022 before it was purchased from a local dealership. It’s hard to notice any difference between the standard F-150 and the EV version. It looks like a normal pickup in many ways. There are minor differences in the hood, some external lighting and Lightning decals. To see what sets it apart, you can pop the hood, which functions as a front trunk or frunk.

In-town driving has been amazing. When traveling longer distances, the range anxiety is real. I have experienced this several times now. When I drive the speed limit on the interstate, I can get up to 1.8 miles per kWh, versus 3.5+ miles per kWh in town. Wind speed and direction are factors, and cold temperatures will come into play this winter. 

Let’s talk about performance. If you’re looking for some get-up-and-go, driving the Ford Lightning is like an amusement ride that pulls you back into the seat. It is very exciting to experience. I compare this to climbing a tree, but in your truck. Keep in mind, it also has standard driving modes for a more traditional driving experience.

At-home charging is the most economical option for those who chose to go electric. Please consult with your dealership, an electrician and your electric cooperative before installing a home-charging system to ensure you have the appropriate electric service in place to meet your needs.  

If you’re interested in the annual savings, let’s compare a gas-powered pickup that gets 15 miles per gallon to the Ford F-150 Lightning at a modest 2 miles per kilowatt hour (kWh). Miles per kWh is a metric used to measure the energy efficiency of EVs. It represents the distance an electric vehicle can travel on one kilowatt-hour of electricity.

Ford F-150 Lightning vs. Gas-Powered Pickup

Ford Lightning
Average Efficiency: 2 miles per kWh
Electricity cost: $0.11 per kWh
Annual electricity cost: (10,000 miles / 2 miles per kWh) 
x $0.11 per kWh = $550

Gasoline-Powered Pickup
Average Efficiency: 15 miles per gallon (mpg)
Gasoline cost: $3.69 per gallon
Annual gasoline cost = (10,000 miles / 15 mpg) 
x $3.69 per gallon = $2,460

$1,910 in savings by going electric

This comparison assumes you drive a pickup that gets 15 miles per gallon 10,000 miles per year and EV charging is done at home, which is usually the case. The Lightning would cost approximately $550 per year in electricity, while the gasoline vehicle costs $2,460 per year in fuel. 

When considering oil changes would be a thing of the past, the Ford Lightning is roughly $2,000 less expensive to operate every 10,000 miles compared to a gasoline-powered pickup. 
There are also tax incentives available to purchase electric vehicles. Visit www.fueleconomy.gov to calculate the long-term financial benefit of going electric to determine if it’s right for you. 

Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic
Central Electric was approved for a grant from the Beneficial Electrification League in 2021 to help purchase an electric utility terrain vehicle (UTV), also known as a side-by-side. So, we placed an order for an all-electric Polaris Ranger Kinetic.

I have been told good things come to those who wait, and wait we did. After a few delays, the unit arrived this summer. I can’t say enough about how pleased I was with Mettler Implement for working with us and putting the unit together in short order so we could take it on the road and share information with the public. 

We’ve been able to showcase the electric UTV at Dakotafest, the S.D. State Fair, the annual meeting, two homecoming parades and a high school football tailgate event. Doug Cunningham with Today’s Farm Life featured the Kinetic in a story posted online at www.todaysfarmlife.com.

While showing off the Kinetic, I’ve been asked many questions – how far will it go, how fast does it go, and are you giving this away as a door prize? We didn’t! Needless to say, the electric UTV has sparked some interesting conversations, and I think this technology could play a key role in combatting rising fuel expenses on the farm.

We invite our members to come and test drive the side-by-side at our shop this fall if you have time. Please give me a call and we can schedule a time to drive the Kinetic, and maybe enjoy a cup of coffee. I hope to see you this fall.