The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning: A Powerful and Versatile Electric Truck for Family Road Trips and Off-Road Adventures
Explored a 4,536-mile journey across the Pacific Northwest and Canada in a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, escorting a family of five. Performed 25 fast charges and maintained an average efficiency of 2.0 miles per kWh.
The new 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is making waves in the automotive industry, offering a unique blend of power, comfort, and versatility for family road trips and off-road exploration.
This extended-range electric truck is equipped with power outlets throughout, enabling activities such as cooking, charging devices, and using a Starlink Mini satellite internet rig. Real-world testing has shown that its extended-range battery can deliver about 345 miles on a full charge, exceeding the EPA estimate of around 320 miles, making it suitable for longer drives. The cabin is comfortable and refined, making it an ideal choice for family trips.
In terms of towing capability, the Lightning allows you to input trailer weight for accurate range estimates, enhancing planning for hauling gear or campers. It offers strong torque (580 hp and 775 lb-ft) and smooth acceleration, which benefits both highway cruising and off-road conditions. However, towing heavy loads can significantly reduce range—down to roughly 150 miles when towing a 7,700-pound trailer, so planning charging stops is necessary on long trips with trailers.
Off-road practicality is credible since the Lightning has good all-wheel drive and torque for rugged terrain, although its weight (~6,781 pounds) impacts nimbleness and handling over speed bumps or tight turns. It may not drive as "nimble" as some lighter trucks, but it provides confidence in various terrains. Additionally, some owners have reported interior squeaks and rattles developing over time, which might affect comfort on extended journeys.
The F-150 Lightning supports DC fast charging up to 155 kW, with peak practice of 175 kW. Onboard AC charging allows either 11.3 kW or 19.2 kW, depending on charger setup. The frunk (front trunk) offers around 14 cubic feet of weather-sealed storage, which is drainable and lockable, making it practical for both cargo and secure storage.
The Lightning, riding on the Ford T3 platform, maintains similar length, width, and bed space to ICE F-150s, though precise numbers vary by trim. The standard battery offers up to about 240 miles EPA-estimated range, while the extended battery offers up to 320 miles.
The 2023 F-150 Lightning can be equipped with either a 98 kWh standard or a 131 kWh extended-range battery. The truck's level of connectivity allows for modern activities such as streaming kids' movies while driving down unfamiliar highways. However, EV road trippers still need to keep their hands close to the wheel due to the inconsistency of the BlueCruise system.
Semi-autonomy in the truck is only as good as the digital map beneath it, as infrastructure remains uneven. The charging routine became part of the rhythm of travel, rather than an obstacle. Tbowd, a Lightning owner, calculated his total charging cost for a trip around $740, spread across various networks.
The sleeping platform built by Tbowd, out of plywood and 2x12s, enabled quick conversions between cargo hauler and makeshift camper. Overall, the F-150 Lightning extended-range is a strong contender for family road trips and moderate off-road exploration, offering a quiet, powerful, and refined driving experience. However, for extensive towing with minimal compromise or very rugged off-roading, a hybrid or traditional gasoline-powered F-150 might still provide greater range, payload, and handling versatility.
Despite the F-150 having historically had one of the highest recall rates among Ford's vehicles, with an average projected lifetime recall count around 17.2 issues, the 2023 F-150 Lightning is shaping up to be a game-changer in the electric truck market.
The versatile 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, ideal for family trips, also showcases connectivity for streaming entertainment on long drives. Furthermore, with advancements in technology, the truck offers DC fast charging capability and a Starlink Mini satellite internet rig for off-grid living.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, equipped with power outlets for cooking and charging devices, also supports modern lifestyle choices like remote work during travel, thanks to its impressive connectivity features.
