Ford Lightning Electrical Pickup Truck For $37,000

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Anybody who follows EV information intently understands the mainstream media ceaselessly will get electrical autos fallacious. The destructive information tales are over-reported, exaggerated, or simply incorrect. Perhaps the present US information anti-EV bias is partly deliberate, perhaps it’s simply ignorance — it may be tough to exactly decipher what the motivations of the overly destructive reporters and content material creators are.

One of many fixed incorrect complaints is that EVs are too costly, and but in some circumstances the overall price of possession will be decrease than comparable gasoline and diesel autos. Moreover, some EV critics could also be unaware of all of the incentives out there that decrease the sticker value of latest EVs.

A Colorado faculty instructor, Ben Westby, bought a brand new Ford F-150 Lightning for about $37,000, with incentives. Wanting on-line, the value for a gas-powered base mannequin 2023 F-150 is about the identical. Nevertheless, in the event you stroll right into a dealership and attempt to purchase one, you may discover there’s a vendor markup that will increase the value significantly.

Westby and his spouse do not need a mean American life-style. They stay off-grid at altitude in a rugged atmosphere and have a solar energy system mixed with vitality storage. The Lightning appealed to them as a result of, in his personal phrases, the truck has the power to supply 9,600 watts of energy. All that electrical energy can be utilized as backup energy for his or her residing wants, if needed. The actual mannequin Westby bought is the usual vary XLT Lightning, which initially had a value of $60,000. He was in a position to safe a $4000 vendor low cost mixed with a Ford rebate. His new truck additionally certified for the Colorado car alternate program so he might change his Ford Flex gasoline car and have the state program give the vendor $6,000 to cut back the vendor value of the Lightning. There was additionally a state of Colorado EV tax rebate of $5000. Westby additionally mentioned the EV will almost definitely be eligible for the total federal EV tax credit score of $7,500. When mixed, the varied incentives introduced the truck’s price all the way down to about $37,000. Westby and his spouse had a Tesla Mannequin 3 that they offered for the Lightning buy as a result of the truck higher suits their wants.

One other fantasy is dispelled within the video — the one about there not being sufficient public EV chargers. Nevertheless, all states and cities within the US do not need precisely the identical chargers and the identical variety of chargers. The video makes that time that Colorado does have some EV charging infrastructure. (There are different states reminiscent of Kentucky or the Dakotas the place there’s much less.)

Within the video wrap-up part, the Lightning is alleged to be very snug, spacious, and versatile. Stage 2 charging is out there on the proprietor’s office, so the truck will be charged there whereas he works. Charging at work is clearly extra handy than having to drive a gasmobile to a gasoline station.

He lately posted on X about sledding within the Colorado mountains, together with some photographs of the Lightning.

Vans do nice work however additionally they are nice for enjoyable!

Sledding celebration will get to have a raise again up the mountain. Our sledding hill is sort of 1/2 mile down!@ford @jimfarley98 @electric_jake @ebergg @COEnergyOffice pic.twitter.com/84f7BeQFnc

— Benjamin Westby (Again Roads EV) (@jaminwestby) December 17, 2023

The overly destructive mainstream EV information might need satisfied just a few folks that electrical autos aren’t worthy. In actuality, they’re superior in some ways. The inner combustion engine has all the time been fairly energy-inefficient (learn: wasteful). The exhaust creates dangerous air air pollution that contributes to human sickness and untimely deaths. Younger kids and the aged are most impacted by this air air pollution. Fossil fuels are also one of many main causes of local weather change.

Learn extra about electrical car advantages, and don’t consider the overly destructive nonsense coming from the mainstream information.