The Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup has just been unveiled. Ford made some bold claims about its latest pickup truck. CEO Jim Farley even joked that it could charge a Tesla that needed juice. Can a Ford F-150 Lightning Electric pickup really charge a Tesla model?
Can the Ford F-150 Lightning charge a Tesla?
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning | ford
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Tesla is the automaker to beat in electric vehicles. Tesla was one of the first automakers to start mass-producing electric vehicles for the American market. American automakers Ford and General Motors are now starting to produce their own electric vehicles. Every automaker wants to topple the king of the hill, and some brands are giving Tesla stiff competition.
Ford CEO Jim Farley claimed the Blue Oval’s new pickup truck can charge a Tesla. He made that comment as a jab at a competitor, but is that claim true?
Ford F-150 Lightning trims include a feature called Pro Power Onboard. This feature allows the electric pickup truck to power many tools and equipment at the same time with its electric battery. Some models also include Intelligent Backup Power. This feature allows users to temporarily power homes by using the F-150 Lightning as a backup generator. Upper trim levels have the ability to store 9.6 kilowatts of exportable power.
Some Tesla Wall Connectors have a total output of up to 11.5 kilowatts. This gives Tesla models a range of 44 miles per hour of charging. Tesla offers wall connectors with an output of 9.6 kilowatts. So in theory, F-150 Lightning models should be able to charge Tesla models and other vehicles with the right charging accessories.
How long would it take for a Ford F-150 Lightning to charge a Tesla?
Tesla Wall Connector Charging Speed Chart | Tesla
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Now that we’ve established that an F-150 Lightning can actually charge Tesla models, how long would it take to charge some of Tesla’s most popular models? The popular Tesla Model 3 sedan gains 60 km of range per hour of charging with a 9.6-kilowatt power source.
The popular Model Y electric SUV gains 36 miles of range per hour of charging with a 9.6-kilowatt power source. The Model S gains 29 miles of range and the Model X gains 25 miles of range per hour with a 9.6-kilowatt power source. So the F-150 Lightning can charge Teslas, but it’s only viable as a last resort. Imagine an F-150 Lightning charging a Tesla like an hour jump starter. Also, there’s no way of estimating how much this would drain the F-150 Lightning’s battery capacity yet.
Is the Ford F-150 Lightning better than Tesla’s popular models?
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The two most popular Tesla models are the Model 3 and the Model Y. Since the F-150 Lightning has just entered the production phase, it’s too early to say how it competes with Tesla models from a sales perspective. In terms of affordability, the F-150 Lightning is more affordable than Tesla’s electric car and electric SUV.
Tesla Long Range models offer more range than any F-150 Lightning battery option. These vehicles aren’t in direct competition, but the Lightning is already sending shockwaves through the EV space. Ford is competing with Tesla by offering another electric vehicle option for consumers to consider.
We’ll have to wait and see what consumers think of the new Ford electric pickup once drivers get their hands on it. According to Car and Driver, some F-150 Lightning electric trucks have already sold out.
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