What's it like to take a road trip in a truck like the Terra (F-150 Lightning)?

[SpaceEVDriver]

Next road trip starts early tomorrow.

• Took the truck for its once-a-quarter touchless bath. Hand-washed the interior windshield and the mirrors, etc.
• Vacuumed.
• Charged to 100%
• Made sure all the emergency gear is in the frunk:
  • Charging gear
  • Cold-weather gear
  • Travel cribbage game (glove box, not frunk)
  • Snow cables
  • Tools
• Put the fridge in the bed of the truck, along with the power station. I typically run the fridge on the power station instead of the truck for a few reasons:
  • Less power draw from the truck, though the fridge uses about 0.5 kWh per day, which accounts for just a mile or two, at the very most.
  • I don’t have to worry about remembering to make sure the power outlets in the bed are turned on.
  • I charge the power station in the bed when I stop for a DCFC. Even if it was down to 0%, it wouldn’t slow down the truck’s charge in any measurable way.
• Packed and mostly ready to go.

Basic plan (estimating based on previous nearly-identical trips).

• Day 1: 470 miles
  • 7000 feet to sea level
  • Clear, dry, warm-for-winter
  • Two stops for restroom breaks, meals, and charging
• Day 3: 560 miles
  • Sea level up to 4000 feet down to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • Two or three stops for restroom breaks, meals, charging
• Day 4: 320 miles
  • 500 feet to 300 feet to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • One stop for airport pickup, restroom break, maybe charging if the flight is delayed
• Day 6: 950 miles
  • 500 feet to 4000 feet to 300 feet then lots of up and down and up and down to 7300 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding, then dry and clear, then cold and snow
  • Four to six stops, depending on weather, need to stop and move around, switch drivers, etc. At least two long stops for meals and stretching our legs

 

[J Alynn]

Next road trip starts early tomorrow.

• Took the truck for its once-a-quarter touchless bath. Hand-washed the interior windshield and the mirrors, etc.
• Vacuumed.
• Charged to 100%
• Made sure all the emergency gear is in the frunk:
  • Charging gear
  • Cold-weather gear
  • Travel cribbage game (glove box, not frunk)
  • Snow cables
  • Tools
• Put the fridge in the bed of the truck, along with the power station. I typically run the fridge on the power station instead of the truck for a few reasons:
  • Less power draw from the truck, though the fridge uses about 0.5 kWh per day, which accounts for just a mile or two, at the very most.
  • I don’t have to worry about remembering to make sure the power outlets in the bed are turned on.
  • I charge the power station in the bed when I stop for a DCFC. Even if it was down to 0%, it wouldn’t slow down the truck’s charge in any measurable way.
• Packed and mostly ready to go.

Basic plan (estimating based on previous nearly-identical trips).

• Day 1: 470 miles
  • 7000 feet to sea level
  • Clear, dry, warm-for-winter
  • Two stops for restroom breaks, meals, and charging
• Day 3: 560 miles
  • Sea level up to 4000 feet down to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • Two or three stops for restroom breaks, meals, charging
• Day 4: 320 miles
  • 500 feet to 300 feet to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • One stop for airport pickup, restroom break, maybe charging if the flight is delayed
• Day 6: 950 miles
  • 500 feet to 4000 feet to 300 feet then lots of up and down and up and down to 7300 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding, then dry and clear, then cold and snow
  • Four to six stops, depending on weather, need to stop and move around, switch drivers, etc. At least two long stops for meals and stretching our legs

Am I missing something? I don’t see day 2 or 5 or are they extensions to day 1 and day 6?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Am I missing something? I don’t see day 2 or 5 or are they extensions to day 1 and day 6?

Those days don't have any driving in them.

 

[oldgeeksguide]

Am I missing something? I don’t see day 2 or 5 or are they extensions to day 1 and day 6?

Those are the days he’s using the transporter, but we’re not supposed to know that tech exists yet.

Don’t want to disrupt the timeline…

 

[cyure]

Next road trip starts early tomorrow.

• Took the truck for its once-a-quarter touchless bath. Hand-washed the interior windshield and the mirrors, etc.
• Vacuumed.
• Charged to 100%
• Made sure all the emergency gear is in the frunk:
  • Charging gear
  • Cold-weather gear
  • Travel cribbage game (glove box, not frunk)
  • Snow cables
  • Tools
• Put the fridge in the bed of the truck, along with the power station. I typically run the fridge on the power station instead of the truck for a few reasons:
  • Less power draw from the truck, though the fridge uses about 0.5 kWh per day, which accounts for just a mile or two, at the very most.
  • I don’t have to worry about remembering to make sure the power outlets in the bed are turned on.
  • I charge the power station in the bed when I stop for a DCFC. Even if it was down to 0%, it wouldn’t slow down the truck’s charge in any measurable way.
• Packed and mostly ready to go.

Basic plan (estimating based on previous nearly-identical trips).

• Day 1: 470 miles
  • 7000 feet to sea level
  • Clear, dry, warm-for-winter
  • Two stops for restroom breaks, meals, and charging
• Day 3: 560 miles
  • Sea level up to 4000 feet down to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • Two or three stops for restroom breaks, meals, charging
• Day 4: 320 miles
  • 500 feet to 300 feet to 500 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding
  • One stop for airport pickup, restroom break, maybe charging if the flight is delayed
• Day 6: 950 miles
  • 500 feet to 4000 feet to 300 feet then lots of up and down and up and down to 7300 feet
  • Cold, rain, flooding, then dry and clear, then cold and snow
  • Four to six stops, depending on weather, need to stop and move around, switch drivers, etc. At least two long stops for meals and stretching our legs

Drive safe you two. Thanks for taking us along.

 

[J Alynn]

Those are the days he’s using the transporter, but we’re not supposed to know that tech exists yet.

Don’t want to disrupt the timeline…

If anyone on here has one we all know it’s him

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

I was weak last night and love their Coke every now and again and the fries complimented the 2 cold chicken tenders in our fridge. Needless to say it will be a long time before I eat there again

After you get out of the hospital?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Day 1

Leg	Distance (miles)	Energy used (kWh)	Mean speed (mph)	Efficiency (miles/kWh)	Start SoC (%)	Arrival SoC (%)	Battery % used	Depart SoC %	Added Energy (kWh)	Time on Charger (minutes)	Average Charge Rate (kW)	Charge Network	Start Temp (F)	Stop Temp (F)	Weather/other notes
1	177	70.7	64	2.5	100	46	54	80	46	19	145	EVGo	42	70	Clear, calm
2	188	96.9	67	2.0	80	6	74	60	71	30	142	T	75	77	Crosswinds
3	97	35.4	50	2.7	60	33	27	---	---	---	---	---	77	68	Traffic

On the Brand-T charger, we had to try three posts. The fourth one worked. I've never had good luck at Brand-T stations. I'm at about 70% success since we got the adapter. In my tens of thousands of miles of road trips and hundreds of DCFC sessions, this has the lowest reliability of any network I've used.

Note that the mean speed is not indicative of the highway speed. Spending a few minutes getting ready to go, five to ten minutes getting out of the parking lot and onto the 25 mph frontage road can easily weight the average down very quickly. I set the cruise control to 73 mph while on the freeway except on the last leg when we encountered a lot of holiday traffic.

 

[J Alynn]

Day 1, Leg 1:
177 miles
54% of the battery
70.7 kWh
2.5 miles/kWh
Started at 100%
Arrived at charger with 46%
Recharged to 80%.

Leg 2:
187.7 miles
74% of the battery
96.9 kWh
2 miles/kWh
Started at 80%
Arrived at charger with 6%
Recharged to 60%

Will post more data when I can process it.

Any chance you can add charging time as well?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Any chance you can add charging time as well?

Done.

Note that we ended up charging for a lot more time than necessary at the second stop. We were busy. If we had been in a rush, we could have saved 10-15 minutes by leaving sooner. But we didn't need to.

 

[cyure]

Day 1, Leg 1:
177 miles
54% of the battery
70.7 kWh
2.5 miles/kWh
Started at 100%
Arrived at charger with 46%
Recharged to 80%
Added 46 kWh
19 minutes
Average charge rate: 145 kW
Brand: EVGo

Leg 2:
187.7 miles
74% of the battery
96.9 kWh
2 miles/kWh
Started at 80%
Arrived at charger with 6%
Recharged to 60%
Added 71 kWh
30 minutes
Average charge rate: 142 kW
Brand: T
We had to try three posts. The fourth one worked. I've never had good luck at Brand-T stations. I'm at about 70% success since we got the adapter. In my tens of thousands of miles of road trips and hundreds of DCFC sessions, this has the lowest reliability of any network I've used.

Leg 3:
97 miles
27%
35.4 kWh
2.7 miles/kWh
Started with 60%
Arrived at hotel with 33%
Recharge overnight. None of my time used to recharge.


Will post more data when I can process it.

That first stop that’s about how long it takes to get gas and use the facilities.

 

[J Alynn]

That first stop that’s about how long it takes to get gas and use the facilities.

I agree. Unless people are literally running in and unzippering on the way I don’t know how people are pumping gas and using facilities in less than 12 minutes so what’s another 5-10 for what you are saving in fuel costs. Love seeing this info

 

[dreamweaver]

Day 1, Leg 1:
177 miles
54% of the battery
70.7 kWh
2.5 miles/kWh
Started at 100%
Arrived at charger with 46%
Recharged to 80%
Added 46 kWh
19 minutes
Average charge rate: 145 kW
Brand: EVGo

Leg 2:
187.7 miles
74% of the battery
96.9 kWh
2 miles/kWh
Started at 80%
Arrived at charger with 6%
Recharged to 60%
Added 71 kWh
30 minutes
Average charge rate: 142 kW
Brand: T
We had to try three posts. The fourth one worked. I've never had good luck at Brand-T stations. I'm at about 70% success since we got the adapter. In my tens of thousands of miles of road trips and hundreds of DCFC sessions, this has the lowest reliability of any network I've used.

Leg 3:
97 miles
27%
35.4 kWh
2.7 miles/kWh
Started with 60%
Arrived at hotel with 33%
Recharge overnight. None of my time used to recharge.


Will post more data when I can process it.

I was off line for a while and just saw this post. Thanks for including us in journey. Absolutely invaluable.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I updated the post to put the information in a table so it’s a bit easier to read and compare.

I’ll update it with temperatures and such as soon as I have the data processed.

Updated.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

That first stop that’s about how long it takes to get gas and use the facilities.

I agree. Unless people are literally running in and unzippering on the way I don’t know how people are pumping gas and using facilities in less than 12 minutes so what’s another 5-10 for what you are saving in fuel costs. Love seeing this info

Yeah. That’s all we did.
I backed into the charging spot.
I got out to start the charge.
My partner went to use the restroom.
I went to use the restroom.
By the time I was back, my partner was also and grabbing snacks from the fridge.
We try not to eat in the vehicles, but we were already up to 80% and so we decided to move on and snack while on the road.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

At the second charger, I had to move the truck a couple of times because the superchargers were refusing to talk to the Lightning. We had wanted to stop at the Rivian chargers, but all of those chargers were in use. The only reason we use brand-T is because it’s usually the case that we can find one working plug. But if I remember to check the availability of other networks’ stations before I arrive, I’ll usually stop for a free EA or RAN or EVGo charger instead. These particular superchargers are located in a strip mall, so the restrooms are farther away and we will often browse the outdoor gear outlets. That's why we spent 30 minutes at the charger—we could have left sooner if we’d remembered.

 

[R1TVT]

On the Brand-T charger, we had to try three posts. The fourth one worked. I've never had good luck at Brand-T stations. I'm at about 70% success since we got the adapter. In my tens of thousands of miles of road trips and hundreds of DCFC sessions, this has the lowest reliability of any network I've used.

This is interesting. Out here on the ICE COAST I have never had a T DCFC Charger not work - they seem highly reliable. Charging is generally fast and there are usually more chargers at Brand T DCFC stations, which makes sense based on unit sales and opening-up the network and adding new stations.

The problem for me out East has been with EA. I've experienced more EA broken, offline, or otherwise severely power-limited EA Chargers than any other brand. They may have gotten better in the last year though, b/c I have been avoiding them for the most part!

 

[LastDayScout]

This is interesting. Out here on the ICE COAST I have never had a T DCFC Charger not work - they seem highly reliable. Charging is generally fast and there are usually more chargers at Brand T DCFC stations, which makes sense based on unit sales and opening-up the network and adding new stations.

The problem for me out East has been with EA. I've experienced more EA broken, offline, or otherwise severely power-limited EA Chargers than any other brand. They may have gotten better in the last year though, b/c I have been avoiding them for the most part!

Exact same experience with Electrify America here in the southeast. I have not yet tried to use a supercharger with the BMW iX yet as it is a bit of a hack to use it. I was notified last week that my vehicle should have full compatibility in the spring.

Are we really thinking that the Scout will have similar mi/kWh to the Lightning? I would like to see 3.5+ in the warmer weather and 2.5-3.0 in colder weather. I'm probably dreaming with the weight, aerodynamics and tires.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

This is interesting. Out here on the ICE COAST I have never had a T DCFC Charger not work - they seem highly reliable. Charging is generally fast and there are usually more chargers at Brand T DCFC stations, which makes sense based on unit sales and opening-up the network and adding new stations.

The problem for me out East has been with EA. I've experienced more EA broken, offline, or otherwise severely power-limited EA Chargers than any other brand. They may have gotten better in the last year though, b/c I have been avoiding them for the most part!

To be clear: I've only had to leave a supercharger station twice because I couldn't get a charge. But I've had to change plugs a lot. The several supercharger stations we've most encountered have had entire sections taped off for months as well, reducing availability from 40 to 20 or fewer. Maybe it's the heat? I don't know.

The higher number of plugs at a SC station is the only reason we stop at them. If 4 or 8 of 40 plugs is down, it's much better than if 1 of 8 is down. But you can't tell if a SC plug is down without trying it. Usually we can tell if other brands are down because they have screens.

This is one of my concerns with Ionna. They're building mostly 4-8 plug stations. I wish they were building 20+ plug stations.

In late 2023 through mid 2024, we had functionality issues with EA, but recently the only problem we have had is that they've been too busy.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Exact same experience with Electrify America here in the southeast. I have not yet tried to use a supercharger with the BMW iX yet as it is a bit of a hack to use it. I was notified last week that my vehicle should have full compatibility in the spring.

Are we really thinking that the Scout will have similar mi/kWh to the Lightning? I would like to see 3.5+ in the warmer weather and 2.5-3.0 in colder weather. I'm probably dreaming with the weight, aerodynamics and tires.

I don't see how Scout will accomplish anything that high on the freeway.