WATCH: Family’s road trip delayed when electric Ford Lightning truck needs a tow

[Dashinka 24,717]

Interesting and expensive trip.

 

WATCH: Family’s road trip delayed when electric Ford Lightning truck needs a tow

A family taking a 500-mile road trip in their Ford Lightning electric truck needed the help of a tow truck when a charging station would not work.

 

Steve and Katie Krivolavek, along with their three children, set out from Nebraska for an RV trip to Colorado. They drove their Ford F-150 Lightning while pulling an Airstream 30FB camper.

 

When the Krivolaveks pulled into an Electrify America charging station, Katie noted the chargers read, “Unavailable.”

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/familys-electric-ford-lightning-truck-needs-tow

[Mike E 11,742]

Electrify America and EVgo are dead men walking. In the EV community it is well known that entire stations often don’t work.  
 

I’ve said before: Teslas are expensive toys but at least the end tj end product works. All other EVs are just a joke.  
 

Ford and GM should just die already.  
 

Pro tip: EVs have regenerative braking and on some regenerative braking turns on when you take your foot off the accelerator.  So rather than pull a trailer, instead have motorized RV that pulls your EV. Then it will always arrive fully charged at your camp ground.  

Edited September 14, 2022 by Mike E

[Boiler 45,917]

That might have an impact on range.

[Mike E 11,742]

34 minutes ago, Boiler said:

That might have an impact on range.

But it’s an Airstream. 😂

 

Reading the article it seems they documented this on their you tube channel. Browsing their channel they are no stranger to towing 5th wheels with EVs. Seems like a contrived reality drama piece.  They would have known about the unreliability of non Tesla charging networks. 

[Boiler 45,917]

I see a lot more Rivians but not sure they would be up to a big tow, I guess I might not notice a F150 EV

 

Why run it dead, why not get some charge in it even if it was from 120v over night?

 

I remember driving back from CA and passing a sign that showed gas station 50 miles, in both directions. I do not know which route they took but there can be big gaps.

 

And I know about the unreliability of some systems, and I do not have an EV. 

[Dashinka 24,717]

39 minutes ago, Mike E said:

But it’s an Airstream. 😂

 

Reading the article it seems they documented this on their you tube channel. Browsing their channel they are no stranger to towing 5th wheels with EVs. Seems like a contrived reality drama piece.  They would have known about the unreliability of non Tesla charging networks. 

What EV are they using to tow a 5th wheel?  The Ford, Rivian, and GMC Hummer are essentially 1/2 tons, not really capable of towing a 5th wheel.  Last I heard on the Lightning is range drops to around 90 miles when towing.

[Dashinka 24,717]

36 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I see a lot more Rivians but not sure they would be up to a big tow, I guess I might not notice a F150 EV

 

Why run it dead, why not get some charge in it even if it was from 120v over night?

 

I remember driving back from CA and passing a sign that showed gas station 50 miles, in both directions. I do not know which route they took but there can be big gaps.

 

And I know about the unreliability of some systems, and I do not have an EV. 

If they were stranded in Ogallala, NE they were most likely heading West on 80 toward I76.  I have made that drive a few times both ways as my wife’s good friend lives in Ogallala.

Edited September 14, 2022 by Dashinka

[Mike E 11,742]

25 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

What EV are they using to tow a 5th wheel?  The Ford, Rivian, and GMC Hummer are essentially 1/2 tons, not really capable of towing a 5th wheel.  Last I heard on the Lightning is range drops to around 90 miles when towing.

They use a Model X and claim 50-60 percent range reduction. 
 

They claim their diesel one ton has a 40-50 percent range reduction 

 

 

59 minutes ago, Boiler said:

 Why run it dead, why not get some charge in it even if it was from 120v over night?

Exactly.  Or, given they are towing an airstream, they would likely have adapters to do level 2 (240V) charging at the nearest RV park.  
 

Quote

 

I remember driving back from CA and passing a sign that showed gas station 50 miles, in both directions. I do not know which route they took but there can be big gaps.

 

And I know about the unreliability of some systems, and I do not have an EV. 

My guess is if the tow  truck didn’t come through they had a gasoline powered generator 

Edited September 14, 2022 by Mike E

[Mike E 11,742]

24 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

If they were stranded in Ogallala, NE they were most likely heading West on 80 toward I76.  I have made that drive a few times both ways as my wife’s good friend lives in Ogallala.

PlugShare says there are three level 2 chargers there. ChargePoint says it has one level 2. 

[Dashinka 24,717]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

They use a Model X and claim 50-60 percent range reduction. 
 

They claim their diesel one ton has a 40-50 percent range reduction 

 

 

Exactly.  Or, given they are towing an airstream, they would likely have adapters to do level 2 (240V) charging at the nearest RV park.  
 

My guess is if the tow  truck didn’t come through they had a gasoline powered generator 

Those aren’t 5th wheel trailers.  Also, interesting they claim to be the “All Electric Family”, but they own an F350 diesel.  Seems off to me.  I really doubt they can tow 40k+ lbs with their Model X.  I am also curious why they didn’t take their Model X on that trip to CO.

[Dashinka 24,717]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

PlugShare says there are three level 2 chargers there. ChargePoint says it has one level 2. 

Possibly, I never looked for them since they also have multiple fuel pumps.  It is a major truck stop area along I80.

[LIBrty4all 3,754]

Sounds like a family of idiots.  Between towing a larger trailer with an EV to not stopping and plugging in at an RV park (most have 20/30/50A hookups), they seem to not really know their way around a campground nor an EV.

[TBoneTX 45,866]

But they're Saving The Planet!

[LIBrty4all 3,754]

[TBoneTX 45,866]

Interesting logic.  Comments?

Electric Vehicles Are the Veggie Burger of Cars

EVs deserve the fate of plant-based burgers—available in certain high-income urban areas where issues like cost, range, and charging pose less of a barrier.  [...]

 

https://amgreatness.com/2022/09/14/electric-vehicles-are-the-veggie-burger-of-cars/