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'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

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Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#101

Post by 4thaccount »

ghettoimp wrote: post #27
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I look forward to it. My F150 gets between 19mpg and 13mpg depending on the gas and the temperature(!) I'd love to spend less than $90 at the pump

Do you need a truck? (If so that's just fine. But I'm in Texas, and I'm pretty sure most of these folks could get by on something smaller...)

I also live in the South and most people in my Suburb have zero use for a truck, but will gladly spend $90 to fill up their gas guzzler.

Why? Because it is a symbol of masculinity in the South and many men would never ever drive a car. Their grandfather had a truck, father had a truck, and they were given a truck as their first vehicle. It would have made sense for the grandparent on the farm, but if you sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day and live in a suburban neighborhood...you probably don't need a truck.

With that being said, there are folks down here that still need trucks for work and recreational activities like hunting and towing a boat.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#102

Post by gizmo385 »

Multicomp wrote: post #56
cowmix wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My 2013 Volt has 85K EV miles (100K total).. Zero battery degradation.

I'm glad for you, but 100k is like the starting point for 'how long a car can last' at least here in Atlanta GA. "Junky" cars manage to die at 100-150k, good cars get 150-200, and 200+ is preferred. 350k is a very different number than 85k. Alternate example: NYC Taxicabs used to be that Crown Victoria, and each vehicle could get upwards of 400-500k before being replaced. Will the Ford Escape EV replacement also get…

Okay so the car frame itself lasts 400-500k before being replaced? I'm assuming there are multiple stints of heavy powertrain maintenance during that lifetime. Similarly, if your car's battery gets degraded after 200k miles (or whatever), you just get a new one, much like you might replace the transmission.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#103

Post by winrid »

graycat wrote: post #66
azhenley wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not the OP, but I've recently had several similar discussions with friends/family about trucks when I bought my Tesla. I live in Tennessee, a popular truck area. They claimed to like trucks for the convenience. Being able to throw stuff in the back and not have to think about whether it will fit in a car. While I do understand this advantage, it would only help me 2-3 times a year, and I aim to optimize for the 95% o…

I like light trucks because they are for people who plow snow, carry bricks, lumber, cinder blocks, lawn mowing equipment, hogs, chickens, bails of hay, etc. in all weather over all roads and even no roads. E.g., there is good ground clearance for charging through snow, over rough ground, jumping curbs, etc. The suspensions are stiff, rugged, and long lasting, can take bad bumps and keep going with no damage. The lig…

Not sure why you're getting down voted...

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#104

Post by tikhonj »

make3 wrote: post #28
ProfessorLayton wrote: post #14

This is a big deal. The F-Series is the single most popular vehicle in the US, and nearly 900K of them are sold every year! In fact, the top 3 models in the US are F-Series, Silverado, and Ram, so the environment will definitely appreciate the electrified competition the F-Series will force.

I can't believe that pickups are the three most sold models in the US. That's really insane. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks...

I believe pickup trucks make up <20% of total car sales, but there are fewer models to choose from compared to sedans or crossovers, so the most popular pickup models get a disproportionate amount of sales.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#105

Post by LukeShu »

phjesusthatguy3 wrote: post #84
Rapzid wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It may be because they view the F-series as a platform. So they are adding "all-electric" as a feature to the F-series platform. Along with hybrid.

Article's real title is "'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says" which is more ambiguous than the misleading HN edit.

That's the in-page -title, the HN title is taken from the page's -title, which is different.

Ford: We're going to make F-Series all-electric

'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#106

Post by mikekchar »

StillBored wrote: post #69
make3 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't believe that pickups are the three most sold models in the US. That's really insane. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks...

I started driving a truck 15 years ago after a number of sports cars/sedans/etc. I will never go back. Its not insane when you consider any number of factors, starting with the fact that Americans are BIG. As a large person myself (although not overweight), I'm here to tell you that what a 120 pound 5'6" person finds comfortable frequently is painful for me. Second, I spend upwards of 2+ hours a day sitting my my car…

Interestingly (perhaps?) we got a Leaf a few months ago and the biggest thing that surprised me is that it is massive inside. I guess because the battery is stored under the floor. Although I have relatively short arms for someone my height (5' 10"), I still think it's instructive to say that when I'm sitting in the passenger seat, I can't touch the dash without leaning forward. And, again, I have slightly shorter legs, but with the seat all the way forward, I can still stretch out my legs without bending them and not touch the front. I have a long body (if it weren't for my short legs, I would be well over 6') and I can wear a straw hat in the car and still have a couple of inches of clearance. Not so sure about width... I'm probably "average sized" for a North American (fat for a Japanese person -- my wife likes to remind me...) and the width is perfectly comfortable.

My supposition is that electric vehicles are just a lot more efficient on space. The leaf isn't a huge car externally (although it's not exactly small either), but it's the biggest interior I've ridden in for a long time (probably not since my Grandfather's Buick).

As for the 2 car issue, I actually don't use a car much at all. The only reason we have one is because my wife insists that she needs it. Getting things delivered is both more convenient and cheaper from my perspective. The trade off is that I need to plan ahead a day or so, but I don't actually have to lift big heavy stuff. If I need to haul something bigger, I just rent the appropriate vehicle. I usually end up renting once or twice a year. It saves massive amounts of money. It is a lifestyle change, but it's got upsides as well as downsides.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#107

Post by nradov »

jws wrote: post #39

There is plenty of demand for short range commercial pickup trucks. Think of "on campus" maintenance vehicles. You need to tow equipment trailers, haul tools and bulk items, but you don't put many miles on them. A trip to the gas station is a pure waste of employee time, just charge them up at night. Marketing may prevent Ford from leading with a short range truck, but a less than eye wateringly expensive vehicle wit…

There's demand sure, but not much profit available. Those fleet buyers choose the cheapest stripper spec trucks and have no brand loyalty. So the manufacturers focus on more profitable segments.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#108

Post by EpicEng »

cowmix wrote: post #44
jmole wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was thinking the same thing. There isn't enough power generation capacity in the US to support something like that.

Wrong. For the energy it takes to refine 1 gal of gas you can drive an EV around 27 miles.

And best of all, electricity just produces itself!

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#109

Post by NorthOf33rd »

ghettoimp wrote: post #27
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I look forward to it. My F150 gets between 19mpg and 13mpg depending on the gas and the temperature(!) I'd love to spend less than $90 at the pump

Do you need a truck? (If so that's just fine. But I'm in Texas, and I'm pretty sure most of these folks could get by on something smaller...)

I'm in Utah. I have a small wagon that gets 30+ mpg and and f-250. Do I need the 250? No. I don't really need the wagon either, I can take transit to work every day, or bike. Or walk. But I like having the 250 so I can haul loads of dirt by the yard for my garden, stone fill for the driveway I'm diy'ing, the compactor to tamp it down, drywall sheets for my remodel, or my mountain bike along with those of six buddies. And if I had to pick just one car? It'd be a truck.

Re: 'We're going to electrify the F-Series,' Ford exec says

#110

Post by zaroth »

kstrauser wrote: post #59
saosebastiao wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also tend toward the thought that most truck drivers don't need trucks. But people don't buy vehicles based on their median driving behavior, they buy them based on their ability to handle common but not daily needs. I'd venture to guess that most texans with pickups use their truck bed far more often than californians use their back seats.

I use my back seats all the time. Where do you think we put our Whole Foods bags?

Surely the bags are reusable, so it’s not so much “Whole Foods bags” as it is, “bags of Whole Foods groceries”.
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