Ford Takes the F-150 Lightning EV Pickup to the Limits
Image Credit: Ford
By Dave Bean, Associate Editor
Ford has long been proud of the fact that it’s F-150 pickup truck has been the best-selling vehicle in its class for some time.
Now, with the introduction of the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup, Ford hopes to extend its dominance to include the new electric pickup truck category, as well.
To ensure that the Ford F-150 Lightning is ready to hit the road when deliveries begin shortly, Ford put its new model through some very grueling weather testing. To be sure, severe weather testing has been conducted by vehicle manufacturers in all segments for decades.
In this case, however, Ford needed to push the limits of that testing since it hopes to jump ahead of the competition right out of the gate.
Why Electric Car Calendar Age Matters More Than Model Year
April 3, 2022 - Buying or selling a used EV is inherently different from its ICE counterpart. The primary reason is that the battery, which is the most expensive part of any electric vehicle, is hard to evaluate. Batteries age differently than combustion engines.
An odometer is not a particularly accurate indicator of battery health. The high voltage lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars naturally degrade with time and charging cycles. As an EV buyer (new or used), to maximize the chance of getting a battery that’s in great shape, pretend you’re in the dairy section of the supermarket, looking for the carton of milk with the furthest out expiration date.
For some EVs, the calendar age of the battery pack starts to really diverge from the production date of the car. Most recently, Chevy has been replacing battery packs in Bolts due to initial manufacturing QA problems. In addition to the safety benefit of the recall, owners are getting a huge range boost with their replacement batteries.
2023 Chevy Silverado Police Truck is Good for On-and-Off-Road Pursuit
Image courtesy of Chevrolet
April 2, 2022 - The 2023 Silverado PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle) is a new chase vehicle courtesy of Chevrolet that's capable of pursuit on public roads, through the back woods, and everywhere in between.
It's the first time Chevy has built a pursuit-rated pickup truck, and it joins the Tahoe PPV that's been a trusty steed to police departments since it debuted in 1997. Every 2023 Chevy Silverado PPV is configured with a crew cab and the short five-foot-eight-inch cargo box.
Lawbreakers will have a harder time using treacherous terrain to hide. The Silverado PPV comes equipped with some notable off-road hardware. There's a skid plate for extra underbody protection, a set of Rancho shocks from the regular truck's Z71 package, and a locking rear differential.
New Car Markup Tracker Crowdsources Huge List of Greedy Dealers Nationwide
April 1, 2022 - Dealer markups have become a lightning rod for controversy this year. Some dealer locations aren’t slowing down on making all they can while they have the opportunity, and prices are jacked up for popular and hard-to-get vehicles.
That has led to frustration across the board, and the founders of a new site called Markups.org have harnessed that collective energy to crowdsource and track prices at dealerships across the country.
If Markups.org is able to stay alive and avoid litigation from angry dealerships, it will remain a valuable resource for buyers looking for a car at sticker price. Meanwhile, they're taking note of which sites are charging more and brand-loyal buyers say they won't forget.
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