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It seems every year there is a new electric vehicle hitting the market. Vehicle manufacturers are in a race against one another to be the first to produce an all-new better-than-ever, electric vehicle. But, with all this new technology, are they really worth the price? Better yet, can these “green” vehicles keep up with the rigorous demands of the consumer?
For example, RV owners need a vehicle that can not only tow their travel trailers, but can also travel the distances they cover to get to the next campground. Can the electric vehicle industry meet the demands of the RV owner? Take the new Ford Lightning for example. Can the new Ford F-150 Lightning EV tow a camper? What is the range one can expect to get on a full-charge? In this post we are going to answer those questions and more. Let’s jump in.
Can The Ford F-150 EV Tow A Camper?
Yes. The Ford F-150 EV can tow a camper. When properly equipped, the 2022 Ford Lightning EV has a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds paired with a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds. With numbers like these, this electric truck can tow most campers on the market today.
The Standard-Range battery has a “fully-charged” range of an estimated 230 miles, and a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds. However, you can upgrade to the Extended-Range battery pack to increase your range to an estimated 300 miles, and a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds.
Total range will be decreased by towing, although Ford has not released any data as to how much it will decrease.
Performance Of The Ford F-150 EV
If you are a die-hard Ford F-150 fan, you already know that the Lightning is a name from the past. Ford stopped production of the Ford SVT Lightning in 2004. You might be pleased to know that, unlike the new Silverado EV, Ford has designed the body of the Ford Lightning EV to look no different than it’s gasoline counterpart. The main difference is they swapped the engine for a pair of electric motors and battery packs.
With the Standard-Range batteries, the F-150 EV will produce 426 horsepower, and 563 horsepower with the available Extended-Range battery pack. Both setups will also produce an impressive 775 pound-feet of torque.
Onboard Power
With both battery options, Ford Lightning EV owners will have the capability to charge their electric trucks at home using either 120V or 240V. When charging at a public DC charging station, Ford states the Ford F-150 EV can charge up to 80% battery power in as little as 44 minutes.
In addition, the Ford Lightning EV has enough power to supply a house for up to three days with a full battery charge. Of course, your home will need to be equipped with a home transfer switch to get uninterrupted power when the grid goes down.
The Ford F-150 EV can even power a jobsite. With the Pro Power Onboard, this electric truck produces 9.6 kW of power through 11 outlets.
Key Features Of The Ford F-150 EV
The Power My Trip feature of the F-150 EV gives RV owners the ability to better plan their trips. Not only does this feature consider current battery charge levels, but it also provides users with convenient charging locations along the route.
The Ford F-150 Lightning EV can be equipped with Intelligent Range. With this feature activated, the truck learns how much energy is being used in different situations. It accurately adjusts the range of the truck when factoring in things like hills, towing, and payload weights.
Another great feature of this electric truck is the ability to sync your smart phone to the truck. When using the FordPass App, you can connect to 4 devices to access the Ford EV without using a key or a fob.
Towing Features
The Ford F-150 EV offers four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. Switching between modes is easily accomplished using the touchscreen infotainment system. Each drive mode helps the Lightning EV adapt to the different terrains you might encounter on the road.
As stated above, the Ford F-150 EV, when properly equipped, can tow up to 10,000 pounds. In addition, this truck is ready for any off-road adventure you want to take. With features like dual motors powering all four wheels, this truck can take you well off-the-grid.
The electric version of the Ford F-150 makes towing a travel trailer easier than ever for newbies and RV veterans alike. With available features like the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, On-Board scales, Smart Hitch, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, RV owners will be trailering like a pro. You can even showcase your backing-in expertise with the available Trailer Reverse Guidance.
Pro Trailer Hitch Assist
If you can hold down a button, you can hook up your travel trailer with ease. The Pro Trailer Hitch Assist feature of the F-150 EV helps you hook up your camper by automatically controlling the steering wheel, throttle, and brakes to align your hitch ball to the camper’s tongue. You will have to pay special attention that the hitch is lower than the camper tongue. Once everything is aligned, the truck stops, and you can easily lower the travel trailer onto the hitch.
On-Board Scales
The On-Board Scales feature of the F-150 EV automatically measures payload weight and displays the weight on the infotainment system. You can also have the weight displayed on your smartphone by using the FordPass App.
Smart Hitch
Kiss your tongue weight concerns goodbye with Smart Hitch. This feature of the electric Ford F-150 measures the tongue weight of a camper to help you distribute your weight more evenly. If the tongue weight is too high, the FordPass App will let you know.
Pro Trailer Backup Assist
How many times have you turned your steering wheel the wrong direction when backing in your travel trailer? I’ve done it a hundred times if I’ve done it once. With the Pro Trailer Backup Assist, you turn the dial in the direction you want the camper to go, and the Assist turns the wheel for you.
Trailer Reverse Guidance
If that wasn’t enough, the Trailer Reverse Guidance feature enhances your visibility when backing your trailer using sideview cameras and displaying the image on the infotainment center.
What will they think of next?
Built-In Storage
When it comes to storage, the Ford F-150 Lightning EV has room to spare. In addition to its 5.5-foot bed, the Lightning also has just over 14 cubic feet of space where the engine would be. In 2012 the Tesla Model S coined the term “frunk”. Of course, it is just a catchy word for “front trunk”.
With the size of the Lightning EVs “frunk”, Ford engineers believe that a bed longer than 5.5-feet in unnecessary.
As more and more electric trucks hit the market, frunks are here to stay. In fact, the frunk is going to be a battleground of sorts between EV manufacturers.
How Much Does The Ford F-150 Lightning EV Cost?
The cost of the Ford F-150 EV will depend on trim package. The cheapest Lightning EV you can purchase is the F-150 Lightning Pro with an MSRP of $41,669.
The Lightning XLT trim package has an MSRP of $54,669. Keep in mind that these recommended prices are before any state and federal tax credits are applied.
Additional trim packages for the Ford F-150 EV are the Lariat and Platinum. The MSRP for these trim packages are $69,169 and a whopping $92,569, respectively.
What RV Owners Are Saying About The Electric Ford F-150
When Ford announced that it will be releasing the F-150 EV in mid-2022, RV owners responded. Here is what they are saying:
“I intend to tow a travel trailer with the Lightning, but it’s definitely going to take some planning.”
“Maybe the first generation of EV trucks isn’t the answer for the weekend warrior type that have a set time to get everything in before they head back to work.”
“This is going to be an adventure, but that’s what camping is all about, right??”
“You could always get a smaller camper. Or a more aerodynamic one. Or opt for tent camping on the longer drive, cooler weather trips.”
In Conclusion
As more and more electric trucks hit the market, RV owners will have to decide if an EV is the right choice for them. There are challenges that have not been addressed yet. For example, charging stations and charging times. With the electric Ford F-150, most RVers just simply don’t have the time to pull over for a charge. In some cases, charging the batteries in these EV trucks can take up to 10 hours, where pulling over to fill the gas tank only takes minutes.
What are your thoughts on the F-150 Lightning EV? Is it something you would consider? What challenges do see on the horizon as more and more electric vehicles hit the road? Let us know in the comment section below.
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