When a pickup truck - gas or electric - carries a heavy payload, it has impacts on performance. Namely, range. For gas-powered vehicles that means it reduces fuel economy so you get fewer miles out of your gas tank. For EVs, extra weight means reduced range provided by the electric battery.
Ford Lightning Range With Heavy Payloads
Researchers at the American Association of Automobiles wanted to find out just how much a large payload would impact the Ford F-150 Lightning's range, so they conducted a test to find out.
AAA Automotive Engineering researchers loaded a F-150 Lightning up with 1,400 pounds of sandbags, 100 pounds shy of its maximum capacity. They discovered that the large payload reduced the Lightning's range 24.5%, a drop from 278 miles to 210 miles.
“Our testing revealed a significant range reduction, but it’s important to note that the Lightning was loaded to near its maximum capacity,” said Greg Brannon, director of AAA Automotive Engineering. “Most buyers will likely use their Lightning with a lighter load, resulting in a much smaller range reduction.”
As we alluded to earlier, AAA reminds us that the range of all vehicles is impacted by weight, be it gas or EV. Researchers expect EV range while carrying large payloads to increase, as battery technology continues to improve. However, they say even with current technology, EVs are still more energy efficient than gas-powered vehicles regarding energy consumption. The Ford Lightning’s range is less than its gas-burning cousin, which may get over 500 miles per tank unloaded.
Why Heavy Payloads Reduce EV Range
AAA says heavier payloads typically reduce EV range because the extra weight takes more energy to move. How the pickup is being driven also plays a role. EVs are more efficient in city driving where there are more frequent stops and regenerative braking can kick in. Regenerative braking captures the energy from braking and converts into power to charge the battery. On the highway, EVs are less efficient since you're driving at faster speeds and there is less regenerative braking. So highway driving will reduce range further than city driving.
Another thing EV pickup owners should also consider. It's not just about payload adding weight. But also any equipment installed like racks, toolboxes or trays to hold things. These, too, can have an impact and reduce range at all times, even if you're not carrying additional cargo.
The takeaways here are if you're concerned about EV pickup range, consider what type of driving you'll be doing, what type of loads you might be carrying and what kind of equipment you may install on your pickup for daily use. This will help you determine whether an EV pickup has the right range for you.
You can read the full American Automobile Association study here →
