Is the F-150 Lightning Cheaper to drive?

Easy enough question, but cheaper than what? Let’s start by figuring out what the other 2023 F-150 options cost to drive using a $3.00 per gallon gas price (which is lower than the current national average, but a little higher than what I see in North Carolina.

• Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6

  The twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 is rated up to 18 mpg city and 24 highway which works out to between 12 and 33 cents per mile, making it the most expensive of the F-150 bunch to keep rolling.

• Turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6

  The Turbocharged 2.7-liter V-6 will earn up to 20 mpg city and 26 highway, so it costs between .11 and .15 cents a mile to drive.

• Hybrid

  Finally, the hybrid version has estimates as high as 25 mpg city and 26 highway, so between 12 and 12.5 cents per mile.

  As expected the hybrid 2023 is the cheapest to operate. Also, the regeneration from the electric motors leads to very similar efficiency in city and highway conditions, so it provides the most predictable experience.

Frugal and Fun is what I’m all about

I mean, after I bought the truck…. Because that’s how I have to roll now.

Can you drive an F-150 Lightning for less than 12 cents a mile?

Can you actually drive a full-sized Ford F-150 Lighting for less than 12 cents a mile? The EPA has officially rated the electric truck for up to 78 MPGe city and 63 MPGe highway. When you break those efficiency metrics down, it works out to somewhere between a single penny and a nickel per mile if I were purchasing this virtual fuel at home! Did you happen to notice that it actually achieves significantly better efficiency numbers during city driving than it does out on the open highway? Even more so than with the Hybrid, the regenerative breaking of the full-electric Lightning puts energy back into the battery when you stop or when you are going downhill.

How does that work out in the real world?

As long as it’s not too cold, I can get 2 miles per KW on average (this would be higher if I didn’t have the Go Fast Camper) and I pay 12 cents a KW here in NC for power so my Lightning costs 6 cents per mile, or half what driving an F-150 hybrid costs on paper. Of course, it is also entirely possible to drive around completely for free if you are willing to intentionally plan your day around utilizing free public chargers situated within short walking distance of your daily errands. At its core, the math is simple: it is just cheaper to operate—there is really nothing more to see here... Oh wait, what about the realities of public DC fast charging or long-term vehicle maintenance costs?

“I pay as little as 6 cents per mile when slow charging and as high as 24 cents per mile on most trips”

I end up using a lot of Electrify America’s and they charge a whopping 48 cents per KW, or FOUR TIMES what I pay at home. So I pay as little as 6 cents per mile when slow charging and as high as 24 cents per mile on most trips (higher if I’m forced to use a dealership charger). While that’s still not as expensive as the Twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, it is a big swing in cost. So you’ll always save in fuel costs when driving a Lightning as compared to the other models, but how much you save depends on how much slow charging you are able to do.

Don’t forget the maintenance savings

While I’m sure I overpaid for my 40,000 mile service (which is essentially a brake and battery check), it’s the only maintenance I’ve had other than tires. Electric vehicles (EVs) are generally less expensive to maintain compared to traditional gasoline vehicles for several reasons:

1. Fewer Moving Parts: EVs have a simplified drivetrain with significantly fewer components. While gasoline engines contain hundreds of moving parts, electric motors have only a few, which means there are fewer things that can go wrong.

2. No Oil Changes: Electric vehicles do not require engine oil, eliminating the need for regular oil changes. This not only saves on service costs but also reduces waste and environmental impact.

3. Brake Wear Reduction: Many EVs utilize regenerative braking systems that convert kinetic energy back into stored energy in the battery. This process significantly reduces wear on brake pads, extending their lifespan and lowering replacement costs.

4. Cooling System Simplicity: EVs typically have less complex cooling systems compared to combustion engines. Many do not require liquid cooling or have fewer parts that can fail, meaning lower maintenance needs.

5. Longer Lifespan of Components: Electric vehicle batteries, although they can be costly to replace eventually, often come with warranties stretching from 8 to 10 years. Additionally, the longevity of electric motors and related components tends to be greater compared to their gasoline counterparts.

I will readily admit, however, that accelerated tire wear is an ongoing issue—though that honestly has a lot more to do with my personal driving style than anything else! Hopefully, my current set of replacements will fare significantly better over the long haul. I managed to burn completely through the stock set at just about 30,000 miles. Needless to say, I am having way too much fun playing with all that instantaneous electric torque, and you truly cannot put a price tag on that smile!