The Real Cost to Drive an F150 Lightning. 6 months and 8000 miles of data

[Biker16]

RIP

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2025 by Biker16

[akirby]

TL/DR - even with electricity rate hike and cheaper gas it's still cheaper to charge a lightning than to buy gas.

[fordmantpw]

For our Mach-E, at the current electric rates and charging at home (which we do 99% of the time), gas would have to be about $1.10/gallon to match the price of electricity.  That's comparing it to our 2020 Escape, and the Mach-E is 1000x more fun to drive!

 

Oh, and no oil changes in 17000 miles.  Did have to replace the summer tires already though...

[akirby]

15 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

Did have to replace the summer tires already though

Well I just had a flat in the Porsche and found out I have summer tires.  When I upgraded the wheels it wasn't clear that  they came with summer tires - I would have swapped them out for all seasons.  So I guess I won't be driving it below 45 degrees.  I'll just have to do more mountain trips next summer and wear them out before next fall......

[morgan20]

10 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

For our Mach-E, at the current electric rates and charging at home (which we do 99% of the time), gas would have to be about $1.10/gallon to match the price of electricity.  

 

Thanks for the calculations my friend. I did a little back of the envelope arithmetic for the combined average charging at home costs for my F-150 Lightning and my wife's MME GT and came up with about $1/gallon of gasoline or diesel to match the "fueling" costs for our two electric Fords.

 

I included the rate charge and distribution delivery charge (the variable components of the electric bill), but not the facility charge (the fixed component).

[fordmantpw]

12 minutes ago, akirby said:

Well I just had a flat in the Porsche and found out I have summer tires.  When I upgraded the wheels it wasn't clear that  they came with summer tires - I would have swapped them out for all seasons.  So I guess I won't be driving it below 45 degrees.  I'll just have to do more mountain trips next summer and wear them out before next fall......

 

I didn't realize we had summer tires either, then when turning sharp in cold weather it felt like a 4x4 truck with jerky and thudding.  Research showed it was the tires.  So, we replaced them last week and no more skidding the tires in the cold!  Does it even get cold in GA? 

 

12 minutes ago, morgan20 said:

 

Thanks for the calculations my friend. I did a little back of the envelope arithmetic for the combined average charging at home costs for my F-150 Lightning and my wife's MME GT and came up with about $1/gallon of gasoline or diesel to match the "fueling" costs for our two electric Fords.

 

I included the rate charge and distribution delivery charge (the variable components of the electric bill), but not the facility charge (the fixed component).

 

Ours is just a fixed rate per kWh (~10 cents) and I used that in the calculation.  I didn't include the facility charge either.  I also didn't include the fact that about 75% of our electricity is free due to solar panels on the roof. 

 

I fully expect our vehicles going forward to be electrified (except for my next Super Duty...I doubt the EREV will be available in time).  Whether it's BEV or EREV.  The driving experience is just so much better with electric than ICE.

[morgan20]

6 minutes ago, akirby said:

Well I just had a flat in the Porsche and found out I have summer tires.  When I upgraded the wheels it wasn't clear that  they came with summer tires - I would have swapped them out for all seasons.  So I guess I won't be driving it below 45 degrees.  I'll just have to do more mountain trips next summer and wear them out before next fall......

 

Best wishes with the tire situation on the Porsche, and smart move not drivin' a vehicle with summer tires in conditions below 45 degrees.

 

Your story reminds me of a visit to Capitol City Ford in Indianapolis over a decade ago when I bought a 2013 F-150 from them. While waiting on paperwork, I noticed that one of the new 2014 Fusions on their lot was equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires. From the factory! Found that really odd, original equipment summer ultra high performance tires on a family sedan? At a dealer in the Midwest where we have cold winters? It was so odd that I took pictures. The salesman was surprised too.

 

 

 

[akirby]

12 minutes ago, fordmantpw said:

I didn't realize we had summer tires either, then when turning sharp in cold weather it felt like a 4x4 truck with jerky and thudding.  Research showed it was the tires.  So, we replaced them last week and no more skidding the tires in the cold!  Does it even get cold in GA? 

17 yesterday morning.  😎

 

I found out on the way home from getting the tire replaced.  It was in the 40s and I hit the gas going around a large roundabout and the rear end tried to become the front end.  Luckily there was plenty of room and I caught it.  Thats when I realized it may have summer tires.

[akirby]

13 minutes ago, morgan20 said:

Your story reminds me of a visit to Capitol City Ford in Indianapolis over a decade ago when I bought a 2013 F-150 from them. While waiting on paperwork, I noticed that one of the new 2014 Fusions on their lot was equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 summer tires. From the factory! Found that really odd, original equipment summer ultra high performance tires on a family sedan? At a dealer in the Midwest where we have cold winters? It was so odd that I took pictures. The salesman was surprised too.

Wow, it was a stand alone option with 18" wheels.  Very strange!

[CurtisH]

3 minutes ago, akirby said:

17 yesterday morning.  😎

 

I found out on the way home from getting the tire replaced.  It was in the 40s and I hit the gas going around a large roundabout and the rear end tried to become the front end.  Luckily there was plenty of room and I caught it.  Thats when I realized it may have summer tires.

My Mustang came with summer only tires.  I knew they were summer only, so I was careful in cold weather.  Once they wore out, I switched to all seasons (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S).  Much happier with them and they last longer than the summer only tires. 

[akirby]

3 minutes ago, CurtisH said:

My Mustang came with summer only tires.  I knew they were summer only, so I was careful in cold weather.  Once they wore out, I switched to all seasons (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S).  Much happier with them and they last longer than the summer only tires. 

Thats exactly my plan.  Had pilot sports on my Lincoln LS and they were great.  Unfortunately the Porsche requires N rated tires so there goes my SS check for a month.

[Sherminator98]

36 minutes ago, akirby said:

17 yesterday morning.  😎

 

I found out on the way home from getting the tire replaced.  It was in the 40s and I hit the gas going around a large roundabout and the rear end tried to become the front end.  Luckily there was plenty of room and I caught it.  Thats when I realized it may have summer tires.

 

I did something similar with my first Mustang I got almost 30 years ago...since then I've been running nothing but All Season Performance tires on my other performance based cars I had. 

[akirby]

2 hours ago, Sherminator98 said:

 

I did something similar with my first Mustang I got almost 30 years ago...since then I've been running nothing but All Season Performance tires on my other performance based cars I had. 

Had I known I would have had the dealer swap them out when new.  But totally my fault for not double checking.  On the bright side the cornering in warm weather almost defies the laws of physics.

[Biker16]

9 hours ago, fordmantpw said:

For our Mach-E, at the current electric rates and charging at home (which we do 99% of the time), gas would have to be about $1.10/gallon to match the price of electricity.  That's comparing it to our 2020 Escape, and the Mach-E is 1000x more fun to drive!

 

Oh, and no oil changes in 17000 miles.  Did have to replace the summer tires already though...

 

8 hours ago, morgan20 said:

 

Thanks for the calculations my friend. I did a little back of the envelope arithmetic for the combined average charging at home costs for my F-150 Lightning and my wife's MME GT and came up with about $1/gallon of gasoline or diesel to match the "fueling" costs for our two electric Fords.

 

I included the rate charge and distribution delivery charge (the variable components of the electric bill), but not the facility charge (the fixed component).

 
You all should invest in Solar if you can. 

I expect some great deals next year.
 

[fordmantpw]

13 hours ago, Biker16 said:

 

 
You all should invest in Solar if you can. 

I expect some great deals next year.
 

 

I've got 11.7kW on my detached garage.