Ford's half ton electric truck with a battery weighing nearly a ton

 The Drive:

U.S. President Joe Biden toured Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle plant on Tuesday to get a better understanding of the company's approach to zero-emission cars and trucks, unmasking the F-150 Lightning in the process. The president also spent some time with the truck's underpinnings, previewing how the battery pack fits within the frame--all 1,800-plus pounds of it.

During a conversation with the F-150 Lightning's chief engineer Linda Zhang, Biden explicitly asked the weight of the battery. Zhang revealed that it tips the scales at "over 1,800 pounds," a point that was mentioned by Reuters reporter David Shepardson on Twitter. EV expert John Osborn says that translates to a pack capacity of around 112 kilowatt-hours.

The weight of the electric motors was not mentioned. For comparison, the F-150's 5.0-liter V8 and 10-speed transmission weigh as much as 680 pounds together. A full tank of gas adds around 150 pounds.

It's anyone's guess how heavy the F-150 Lightning will be until it's revealed on Wednesday, but the upcoming Hummer EV pickup is said to weigh a whopping 9,046 pounds in production trim.

Biden then remarked that the low-slung weight would mean a lower center of gravity, which Zhang noted is perfect for the F-150's handling and towing capabilities. She then added that the large battery would work in conjunction with a tire option specifically selected for its lower rolling resistance to provide maximum range. It was also mentioned that the massive battery will support vehicle-to-home power supply.
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I think it is misleading to suggest that these vehicles are near "zero-emission.  Since wind and solar are of little value at night when most vehicles will be getting charged it is likely that power plants will have to be using fossil fuels to be working during those hours.  The weight of the vehicle will also tend to limit the range.  The charging time for the big battery is not given but I suspect it could be significant.  I also suspect that most traditional F-150s have a smaller V6 engine with a turbo weighing less than the 5.0-liter V8.

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