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.

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

The EPA has rated the F-150 Lightning Extended-Range for up to 78 MPGe city and 63 MPGe highway, so that would work out to somewhere between a penny and a nickel a mile if I were buying this virtual gas! Did you notice that it gets better city mileage than it does on the highway? Even more so than with the Hybrid, the regenerative breaking of the 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’s also possible to drive around for free if you want to plan your day around a free public charger within walking distance of your errands. That’s it, it’s cheaper, nothing more to see here…. Oh wait, what about fast charging?

“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 admit though, tires are problem, but that has more to do with me. Hopefully the replacements will fair better, but I burnt through the stock set at about 30,000 miles. Needless to say, I’m having fun with all that extra torque, and you can’t put a price on that!