F-150 Lightning EV Canceled. EREV Hybrid Lightning Replacement Announced

[Glen Baker LLC]

I think the Chevy Volt was the first mass market vehicle with a range extending ICE. On paper it makes sense, but you also end up with a vehicle that is more complex, and cuts out the market that will only buy a BEV.

Very few people who have adopted BEVs want to go back to owning a vehicle with an ICE, but many also want to buy from "legacy" automakers that probably won't vaporize overnight leaving them with a very expensive software defined vehicle that doesn't work. Kinda puts said legacy automakers in a pickle when the financials and sales figures of BEVs are really bad, but it's still a market everyone needs to compete in to have a future.

A big problem with the Chevy Volt back in 2013 was a $43,000 price tag. I owned a Gen 1 and Gen 2 bought them used.
Nice drivetrain I just wish it would have been in a SUV or a small pickup.

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[BigClydeLittleTruck]

I think the Chevy Volt was the first mass market vehicle with a range extending ICE. On paper it makes sense, but you also end up with a vehicle that is more complex, and cuts out the market that will only buy a BEV.

Very few people who have adopted BEVs want to go back to owning a vehicle with an ICE, but many also want to buy from "legacy" automakers that probably won't vaporize overnight leaving them with a very expensive software defined vehicle that doesn't work. Kinda puts said legacy automakers in a pickle when the financials and sales figures of BEVs are really bad, but it's still a market everyone needs to compete in to have a future.

I've never known much about the Volt so that's news to me. As far as the complexity, I'm not an engineer but it seems less complex to me - at least the way I saw it described. With that, I'll say that when I was in the market for a new vehicle I drove a Toyota Sienna and have to admit that for "normal" driving (as in not standing on the pedal), I was blown away at just how smooth they've gotten that to be. I am more of a gentle driver and literally could not tell when the ICE was engaged vs the battery nor could I feel any indication of the switch.

As far as the pickle around BEVs, I think that is somewhat inherent in the American market and our resistance to change and independent nature. So a lot of factors will ultimately guide the market including our vast wide open spaces not to mention our tendency for self referential thought. I mean, after all, we think the rest of the world drives on the wrong side of the road.

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

The EREV approach is the correct one for a truck. I believe it will be more popular than the BEV Lightning.

Dumb question of the day - What is "EREV"? I'm getting the EV part is Electric Vehicle, but the ER is something new. Article doesn't define the acronym.

 

[BigClydeLittleTruck]

Dumb question of the day - What is "EREV"? I'm getting the EV part is Electric Vehicle, but the ER is something new. Article doesn't define the acronym.

Extended Range Electric Vehicle. Basically the gas engine acts as a generator to power the battery that does everything else. That's my simplified understanding of it.

 

[Mavster Mechanic]

I just read the article from Motortrend regarding this. It was a long time coming. I rarely ever see Lightnings. They're overpriced and the range is abysmal. Plus, there's a lot of EV skepticism in the automotive world right now, especially regarding full-size trucks. Most of it is stemmed with range anxiety and towing capacity.

The idea of an EREV will be more receptive to the public if it tackles the two categories mentioned above. Hybrids (HEVs) are all the rage right now. It solves the range issue while being phenomenally efficient. To put similar technology in a truck would be great, especially when tackling towing or hauling. Only time will tell to see if this formula proves to be a success.

Hybrids were all the rage 15 years ago.

Where have you been the last 15 years?

 

[hdave]

Dumb question of the day - What is "EREV"? I'm getting the EV part is Electric Vehicle, but the ER is something new. Article doesn't define the acronym.

I assume its Extended Range Electric Vehicle and it's a similar concept to the Chevy Volt which was a good idea in a poor vehicle, but it was the first so it's expected.

Number one biggest issue with the F150 lightning is range, and this will help fix it.

Now hopefully Ford also gives us a cheap small EV truck to compete with the slate

 

[HeyBales]

What I got from the announcement.

Hey - that forum still has an official Ford company account that is active!
What's up with that?!

 

[mspmms]

What I got from the announcement.

Hey - that forum still has an official Ford company account that is active!
What's up with that?!

I'm thinking the way they were continually ridiculed* at MTC had a lot to do with it.




*deservedly

 

[Tom 71 Maverick 24]

Extended Range Electric Vehicle. Basically the gas engine acts as a generator to power the battery that does everything else. That's my simplified understanding of it.

So basically, like a train locomotive, except a gas engine instead of diesel.

 

[First Sergeant]

So basically, like a train locomotive, except a gas engine instead of diesel.

Not quite. Locomotive has no large battery that is recharged, the diesel engine drives a very large generator (size of a car, but taller basically), that then sends power to the traction motors (big ole washing machine motors) under the train. Usually, there is a traction motor for each axle. Over the road engines are normally 6 axle. There are starting batteries that do just that, start the diesel.

 

[HeyBales]

Thinking about the engineering decisions they've made.

Battery big enough for how much range not towing?
Or entire system built for max towing load - up a hill?
Meaning the ICE can supply the battery enough not be be a slowly draining situation.

If not and you do need more power.
To get rid of the bottle neck of generator to battery, and then battery to motor - will they allow ICE directly to motor (via DCDC thingy) if needed for extra power and get the ICE rev'd up past the sweet zone?

Be interesting to see if truly built for the truck folks that really need that size/power, or built more for the truck folks that mainly just want to be in a big truck.

 

[chilicharger]

Thinking about the engineering decisions they've made.

Battery big enough for how much range not towing?
Or entire system built for max towing load - up a hill?
Meaning the ICE can supply the battery enough not be be a slowly draining situation.

If not and you do need more power.
To get rid of the bottle neck of generator to battery, and then battery to motor - will they allow ICE directly to motor (via DCDC thingy) if needed for extra power and get the ICE rev'd up past the sweet zone?

Be interesting to see if truly built for the truck folks that really need that size/power, or built more for the truck folks that mainly just want to be in a big truck.

The generator is ONLY for charging the battery.

 

[MightyMaverick]

Hybrids were all the rage 15 years ago.

Where have you been the last 15 years?

I'm not saying they weren't popular 15 years ago. I meant that in recent years, they've caught on even more. Every year, I see more and more RAV4 hybrids, CR-V hybrids, Camry hybrids, Hyundai Tuscon Hybrids, you name it. There was a point where there was not a whole lot to go around. It was usually from either Toyota or Honda. Now, companies like Kia, Hyundai, Jeep, Ford and Nissan have jumped on the bandwagon.

 

[grandpa_disney]

Surprised anyone did not mention the RamCharger, which is an EREV. Of course it has been a long time in coming and still not here. Hope ford can execute better than RAM on the concept.

 

[Escapologist]

Now, companies like Kia, Hyundai, Jeep, Ford and Nissan have jumped on the bandwagon.

Ford had a hybrid since 2005, so I think you really have been under a rock

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