Ford Lightning Electrical Pickup Truck For $37,000

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

One of many fixed incorrect complaints is that EVs are too costly, and but in some instances the entire price of possession may be decrease than comparable fuel and diesel autos. Moreover, some EV critics could also be unaware of all of the incentives accessible that decrease the sticker worth of latest EVs.

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

Westby and his spouse wouldn’t have a mean American way of life. They stay off-grid at altitude in a rugged surroundings and have a solar energy system mixed with power 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 dwelling wants, if vital. The actual mannequin Westby bought is the usual vary XLT Lightning, which initially had a worth of $60,000. He was in a position to safe a $4000 seller low cost mixed with a Ford rebate. His new truck additionally certified for the Colorado car alternate program so he might substitute his Ford Flex fuel car and have the state program give the seller $6,000 to scale back the seller worth of the Lightning. There was additionally a state of Colorado EV tax rebate of $5000. Westby additionally stated the EV will most certainly be eligible for the complete federal EV tax credit score of $7,500. When mixed, the varied incentives introduced the truck’s price right down to about $37,000. Westby and his spouse had a Tesla Mannequin 3 that they bought for the Lightning buy as a result of the truck higher suits their wants.

One other fable is dispelled within the video — the one about there not being sufficient public EV chargers. Nonetheless, all states and cities within the US wouldn’t have 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 equivalent to Kentucky or the Dakotas the place there may be much less.)

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

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

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

Sledding celebration will get to have a elevate 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 unfavourable mainstream EV information might need satisfied a number of people who electrical autos aren’t worthy. In actuality, they’re superior in some ways. The inner combustion engine has at all times 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 imagine the overly unfavourable nonsense coming from the mainstream information.