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This is a big deal. The F-Series is the single most popular vehicle in the US, and nearly 900K of them are sold every year! In fact, the top 3 models in the US

This is a big deal. The F-Series is the single most popular vehicle in the US, and nearly 900K of them are sold every year! In fact, the top 3 models in the US are F-Series, Silverado, and Ram, so the environment will definitely appreciate the electrified competition the F-Series will force.

JoeAltmaier 8y ago
I look forward to it. My F150 gets between 19mpg and 13mpg depending on the gas and the temperature(!) I'd love to spend less than $90 at the pump
- ghettoimp 8y ago
  Do you need a truck? (If so that's just fine. But I'm in Texas, and I'm pretty sure most of these folks could get by on something smaller...)
  - azhenley 8y ago
    Not the OP, but I've recently had several similar discussions with friends/family about trucks when I bought my Tesla. I live in Tennessee, a popular truck area. They claimed to like trucks for the convenience. Being able to throw stuff in the back and not have to think about whether it will fit in a car. While I do understand this advantage, it would only help me 2-3 times a year, and I aim to optimize for the 95% of daily driving. There is definitely a social and fashion element to it too, just like there is with any brand/type of vehicle.
    - MisterOctober 8y ago
      I disliked pickup trucks for their size and fuel consumption until I owned a house and got heavily into gardening. Home maintenance and significant garden activity are made waaaaay easier by having a truck [or big van, I guess] available. That said, I still don't personally own a truck, borrowing them as needed. An all-electric model of good quality would be pretty tempting to me.
      - xyzzyz 8y ago
        I rent trailers from U-Haul for that, it's only $15/day.
        secabeen 8y ago
        Plus however long it takes to drive to u-haul, wait for them to check-out the trailer, hook it up, use it, then drive back to u-haul, return it, etc. Time is money.
        Scoundreller 8y ago
        Trailers should lend themselves well to the sharing economy, no? Minimal maintenance, largely stored sitting idle, no cleaning required. You don't even need to unethically deem your workers as contractors.
        tlb 8y ago
        Untrained people pulling poorly maintained trailers with under-sized vehicles and without the brake lights hooked up properly because there are several connector standards will cause a lot of wrecks.
        Scoundreller 8y ago
        Isn’t that what U-Haul does? Possibly behind a 28’ truck driven by a driver that’s never driven anything more than a Civic?
        darkpuma 8y ago
        Trailers are a huge pain in the ass, have you ever backed up with one? I've done my fair share of trailer towing and given the choice between a trailer and a pickup, I chose the pickup every time. Trailers have a capacity advantage though. Sometimes the shit you're moving simply won't fit in a large pickup truck. In those cases though, having a truck with sufficient power to tow that trailer is still handy...
    - graycat 8y ago
      I like light trucks because they are for people who plow snow, carry bricks, lumber, cinder blocks, lawn mowing equipment, hogs, chickens, bails of hay, etc. in all weather over all roads and even no roads. E.g., there is good ground clearance for charging through snow, over rough ground, jumping curbs, etc. The suspensions are stiff, rugged, and long lasting, can take bad bumps and keep going with no damage. The light trucks have BUMPERS that actually work; so, can bump into something, push another truck, maybe by accident hit a deer some night, all with little or no damage. With no bumpers, lots of little bumps would need $1000+ for body repairs. So, as a result, light trucks are functional, rugged, and comparatively simple and easy to maintain. I.e., light trucks get rid of the nonsense luxury stuff I don't need, can't use, don't like, don't want, don't want to pay more for when I buy, and most of all don't want the cost and Excedrin headache #498,293,991 of maintenance. These trucks are much the same year after year, aren't "all new", and, thus, have a lot of the bugs, design errors, bad corrosion problems, and bad part kinks worked out. As soon as a seller claims "all new" I'll have to conclude the seller had a lot of problems with their models for the last several years and walk out saying "Maybe I'll see you again in 10 years.". "All new" may be good for Paris fashions, but I don't want it in a vehicle. These trucks have solid rear axles, usually with stiff leaf springs -- that is, RUGGED with no problems with alignment, weak bushings, etc. I like Ford and Chevy because they are made with parts readily available, from Ford, Chevy, or third parties, all over the US at relatively low prices now and for decades into the future, use English wrench sizes, and are well understood by a huge fraction of US mechanics. My next vehicle will be a light truck from Ford or Chevy even though I will rarely make good use of the bed in the back. For a vehicle I want a solid, mechanical tool, functional, rugged, durable, easy to maintain. As soon as a seller mentions luxury, I'm gone. Yup, like Jay Leno, I like blue jeans, too.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
      - winrid 8y ago
        Not sure why you're getting down voted...
      - slededit 8y ago
        I’m guessing your not happy with Ford and GM’s all new aluminum beds then?
    - farmerjoe_eatat 8y ago
      As someone who grew up on a farm I always looked at rich people in a city that drove a truck kind of funny. I don't get it, but around where I grew up there is a middle class of people who go to church, listen to country music, and drive $50k trucks everywhere even though they get terrible mileage. As a tangent, if you go far enough out in the wilderness, having a truck makes some sense. You might have to drive a couple hours to the nearest store in some remote parts of the US that I've visited, and I can't imagine making the trip more than a couple times a month at most- and you may have to haul a load up and down several (potentially icy) mountains. However, I don't think that's why most people own trucks. It's a fashion thing, the same reason people drive most other $50k cars around.
  - saosebastiao 8y ago
    I also tend toward the thought that most truck drivers don't need trucks. But people don't buy vehicles based on their median driving behavior, they buy them based on their ability to handle common but not daily needs. I'd venture to guess that most texans with pickups use their truck bed far more often than californians use their back seats.
    - kstrauser 8y ago
      I use my back seats all the time. Where do you think we put our Whole Foods bags?
      - zaroth 8y ago
        Surely the bags are reusable, so it’s not so much “Whole Foods bags” as it is, “bags of Whole Foods groceries”.
        kstrauser 8y ago
        I dunno. I’ve got a lot of bags. The kernel of truth in that: stores are required to charge for bags here (East Bay outside of SF). We have a bag of shopping bags - the “meta bag” - in our trunk so that we always have plenty available.
        zaroth 8y ago
        Gosh, I was really hoping your OP was sarcasm!
        kstrauser 8y ago
        It was, or at least my attempt to be funny. But there is a little nugget of "ha-ha but no really" in there.
  - Rapzid 8y ago
    In Texas, can confirm. It's also crazy how much they spend on them. Pretty much a second mortgage for a lot of people based on income.. Can fit a lot in my hatchback and would just do what they do in New Zealand on the odd occasion I need more; rent a truck or van for the day.
    - _underfl0w_ 8y ago
      Also in Texas, can also confirm. My coworker dropped the phrase "Texas Cadillac" the other day. Couldn't cringe hard enough. I hope to be able to afford an electric car for my next car purchase - for now, just a tiny Mazda stick-shift. Kinda having second thoughts after reading that comment about battery production though...
      - xnyan 8y ago
        > "Texas Cadillac" Also known as the redneck cadillac.
        thoughtpalette 8y ago
        I just learned that the term "redneck" actually comes from an old coal miner union strike that showed solidarity by using red kerchiefs hanging around their necks. I can't use that term in the same way ever again, fwiw.
        SECProto 8y ago
        > I just learned that the term "redneck" actually comes from an old coal miner union strike that showed solidarity by using red kerchiefs hanging around their necks. Curious, I reasearched this. While that was indeed one use of the term (especially re: the West Virginia mine war in 1921), the etymology for the term as we use it is from 1900ish, 20 years earlier. And it refers, more generally, to farmers and working class folk whose necks would be red from sunburn (wikipedia, well cited in the article on redneck). Stereotyping rural or working class or poor people using the term "redneck" is bad in its own right, but I dont think it originates from the strike of a coal miner's union. But thanks for leading me to do some research, it was interesting!
  - 4thaccount 8y ago
    I also live in the South and most people in my Suburb have zero use for a truck, but will gladly spend $90 to fill up their gas guzzler. Why? Because it is a symbol of masculinity in the South and many men would never ever drive a car. Their grandfather had a truck, father had a truck, and they were given a truck as their first vehicle. It would have made sense for the grandparent on the farm, but if you sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day and live in a suburban neighborhood...you probably don't need a truck. With that being said, there are folks down here that still need trucks for work and recreational activities like hunting and towing a boat.
    - fyfy18 8y ago
      How heavy is the boat? A Toyota Corolla can tow up to 1500lb.
      - toomanybeersies 8y ago
        A 20 ft trailer sailer will generally weigh around 1000 kg, plus trailer and rigging. And just because a Corolla can technically tow 1500 lb doesn't mean it does it well. In my experience Corollas do not tow well. The combination of small engine and relatively high gearing means that it's not really suitable. You really need at least a 2 L engine for towing. That's not to mention all the other stuff you end up carrying around for the boat, such as fuel, tools, life jackets, etc.
        sunstone 8y ago
        These days you also have to be careful about which kind of transmission a car has. The CVT's generally can't pull any where near as much load as the older geared transmissions.
      - haloux 8y ago
        Honestly, as someone who worked for AAA at the roadside, the Corolla is an admirable car in its own respects. Ive seen late 90s models absolutely abused and make it to the 150k mile mark. ... With that being said, if you try to tow a boat with a corolla, you’re practically sentencing the poor thing to transmission trouble and differential difficulties. I’d say that you’d be lucky to get a boat from driveway to launch ramp 3 separate trips before the transmission fails. All of that is assuming you can find someone to frame weld a tow hitch for a boat to the corolla.
  - NorthOf33rd 8y ago
    I'm in Utah. I have a small wagon that gets 30+ mpg and and f-250. Do I need the 250? No. I don't really need the wagon either, I can take transit to work every day, or bike. Or walk. But I like having the 250 so I can haul loads of dirt by the yard for my garden, stone fill for the driveway I'm diy'ing, the compactor to tamp it down, drywall sheets for my remodel, or my mountain bike along with those of six buddies. And if I had to pick just one car? It'd be a truck.
  - JohnJamesRambo 8y ago
    Do you need to fly in planes?
  - geggam 8y ago
    Here in AZ the unimproved roads require truck level clearance
  - JoeAltmaier 8y ago
    Haul my tractor on an 18-ft trailer. Make regular dump trips. Live on a 200ft driveway 2 miles from the paved road and have harsh winters, so the 4WD is very welcome. Bought it used, around $20K with 4 years / 80K miles on it. Lined the bed, replaced the transfer case motor and voila a pretty good truck that looks good! The $90/tank is because its a 36 gallon tank. Range around 600 miles full. With every advantage on the highway I've gotten > 20mpg but that's rare.
- bluedino 8y ago
  My 2015 with the 3.5 EcoBoost V6 got 22-24mpg on the highway
make3 8y ago
I can't believe that pickups are the three most sold models in the US. That's really insane. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks-in-america-in-2018-2018-8#2-chevrolet-silverado-291074-107-19 https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks...
- afarrell 8y ago
  Part of it is identity. Even now, living in central London, I really do miss my dad's Ford Ranger which we used to use for moving construction materials and scrap metal up in Maine.
- StillBored 8y ago
  I started driving a truck 15 years ago after a number of sports cars/sedans/etc. I will never go back. Its not insane when you consider any number of factors, starting with the fact that Americans are BIG. As a large person myself (although not overweight), I'm here to tell you that what a 120 pound 5'6" person finds comfortable frequently is painful for me. Second, I spend upwards of 2+ hours a day sitting my my car, spending a couple grand extra a year for a seat that is 6" wider, doesn't require me to have the flexibility of a 15 year old doing a deep knee bend every-time I get in/out of my car, and allows me to sit upright rather than tilting the seat back into the second row is well worth it. Third, while there are some SUV's and maybe minivans that qualify on the comfort front, they either tend to be less efficient, cost more, or have social stigma associated with them. Sure if I had two vehicles, I might be able to get away with driving the truck on the weekend or when I actually need it, but the convenience of being able to throw a bike, kayak, lawn mower, TV, piece of plywood/drywall/2x4/etc in the back when I need to is worth it. Plus, I tow something maybe once a year, but again, if you only have 1 vehicle.. The two vehicle argument might make more sense, if there was space and insurance/taxes/etc were per person rather than per vehicle. Finally, part of the problem is the American car market. Sedan seems to frequently translate to econobox. In Europe a basic car is smaller, but somehow frequently seems to have far more leg and headroom than a similar American car. This space problem seems to extend from the econoboxes in the US to the luxury car market as well. Apparently in the US, taking an econobox, putting leather and a bigger engine in while leaving the chassis/etc the same (or streamlining it and making it even smaller as honda/acura seems to do) is common. The result is that if your bigger than average, you likely don't fit in something that isn't a SUV/Truck.
zepearl 8y ago
>>...the environment will definitely appreciate the electrified... Nobody is concerned about the countries (e.g. Bolivia) involved to extract the materials needed for the batteries => this might kill them (on one hand I agree saying "they should be able to care for themselves", but on the other hand there are gigantic interests at play which will put huge pressure on their governments/politicians) => whoever buys a battery nowadays should think twice about its environmentally-friendliness? Ideally, we don't want to re-play the oil-wars, in a different theatre? Hopefully not?
- newnewpdro 8y ago
  Any transition on this scale is going to have casualties, it's pretty much moot. If you have a less harmful solution than EVs to transitioning to fossil-fuel-free transportation I hear it's quite a lucrative opportunity.
  - zepearl 8y ago
    I do agree with your statement in general, but consumers are supposed to care, at least a little bit. In my personal case I did invest something into a cobalt mine in Idaho because they're doing everything right from my point of view - but I agree that this might not be a selling point if people do not become aware of what's happening (as well far away).
- pjc50 8y ago
  I think this is more the other way round: Bolivia is desperate for something with world market value to export, so they're seeking investment for lithium mining. https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/others-snub-bolivias-lithium-will-morales-gamble-germany-pay https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/others-snub-bolivi... It's a very poor country.
ip26 8y ago
... Although now I'm reminded of the bit I read recently that noted in thirty minutes a two-stroke leaf blower emits as much CO & NOx pollution as driving an F-150 3,800 miles. https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/11/the-case-against-neighbors-with-leaf-blowers/506324/ https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/11/the-case-against-neighb...
- sjwright 8y ago
  Possibly, as two stroke burns oil intentionally. But the actual volume of carbon dioxide emissions is a function of the volume of fuel consumed. A small handheld tool won’t use much fuel compared to the (napkin math) 500 liters of petroleum in the vehicle.
  - ip26 8y ago
    Yeah, this is still momentous news. As with targeting gas-guzzlers twenty years ago, it's not eco-sexy like a 100MPG Prius, but the F-150 model probably produces more carbon dioxide than any other passenger vehicle in the US, maybe in the world.
    - haloux 8y ago
      >it's not eco-sexy like a 100MPG Prius Oh HN.
      - ip26 8y ago
        Oh honey.
  - darkpuma 8y ago
    Note that he said CO not CO2. Carbon monoxide is produced from incomplete combustion, which two stroke engines are notorious for. Leaf blowers lacking catalytic converters (which as the name suggests, catalyze the conversion of incomplete combustion byproducts like CO) only make this worse.
  - mcv 8y ago

JoeAltmaier 8y ago

I look forward to it. My F150 gets between 19mpg and 13mpg depending on the gas and the temperature(!) I'd love to spend less than $90 at the pump

ghettoimp 8y ago
Do you need a truck? (If so that's just fine. But I'm in Texas, and I'm pretty sure most of these folks could get by on something smaller...)
- azhenley 8y ago
  Not the OP, but I've recently had several similar discussions with friends/family about trucks when I bought my Tesla. I live in Tennessee, a popular truck area. They claimed to like trucks for the convenience. Being able to throw stuff in the back and not have to think about whether it will fit in a car. While I do understand this advantage, it would only help me 2-3 times a year, and I aim to optimize for the 95% of daily driving. There is definitely a social and fashion element to it too, just like there is with any brand/type of vehicle.
  - MisterOctober 8y ago
    I disliked pickup trucks for their size and fuel consumption until I owned a house and got heavily into gardening. Home maintenance and significant garden activity are made waaaaay easier by having a truck [or big van, I guess] available. That said, I still don't personally own a truck, borrowing them as needed. An all-electric model of good quality would be pretty tempting to me.
    - xyzzyz 8y ago
      I rent trailers from U-Haul for that, it's only $15/day.
      - secabeen 8y ago
        Plus however long it takes to drive to u-haul, wait for them to check-out the trailer, hook it up, use it, then drive back to u-haul, return it, etc. Time is money.
        Scoundreller 8y ago
        Trailers should lend themselves well to the sharing economy, no? Minimal maintenance, largely stored sitting idle, no cleaning required. You don't even need to unethically deem your workers as contractors.
        tlb 8y ago
        Untrained people pulling poorly maintained trailers with under-sized vehicles and without the brake lights hooked up properly because there are several connector standards will cause a lot of wrecks.
        Scoundreller 8y ago
        Isn’t that what U-Haul does? Possibly behind a 28’ truck driven by a driver that’s never driven anything more than a Civic?
        darkpuma 8y ago
        Trailers are a huge pain in the ass, have you ever backed up with one? I've done my fair share of trailer towing and given the choice between a trailer and a pickup, I chose the pickup every time. Trailers have a capacity advantage though. Sometimes the shit you're moving simply won't fit in a large pickup truck. In those cases though, having a truck with sufficient power to tow that trailer is still handy...
  - graycat 8y ago
    I like light trucks because they are for people who plow snow, carry bricks, lumber, cinder blocks, lawn mowing equipment, hogs, chickens, bails of hay, etc. in all weather over all roads and even no roads. E.g., there is good ground clearance for charging through snow, over rough ground, jumping curbs, etc. The suspensions are stiff, rugged, and long lasting, can take bad bumps and keep going with no damage. The light trucks have BUMPERS that actually work; so, can bump into something, push another truck, maybe by accident hit a deer some night, all with little or no damage. With no bumpers, lots of little bumps would need $1000+ for body repairs. So, as a result, light trucks are functional, rugged, and comparatively simple and easy to maintain. I.e., light trucks get rid of the nonsense luxury stuff I don't need, can't use, don't like, don't want, don't want to pay more for when I buy, and most of all don't want the cost and Excedrin headache #498,293,991 of maintenance. These trucks are much the same year after year, aren't "all new", and, thus, have a lot of the bugs, design errors, bad corrosion problems, and bad part kinks worked out. As soon as a seller claims "all new" I'll have to conclude the seller had a lot of problems with their models for the last several years and walk out saying "Maybe I'll see you again in 10 years.". "All new" may be good for Paris fashions, but I don't want it in a vehicle. These trucks have solid rear axles, usually with stiff leaf springs -- that is, RUGGED with no problems with alignment, weak bushings, etc. I like Ford and Chevy because they are made with parts readily available, from Ford, Chevy, or third parties, all over the US at relatively low prices now and for decades into the future, use English wrench sizes, and are well understood by a huge fraction of US mechanics. My next vehicle will be a light truck from Ford or Chevy even though I will rarely make good use of the bed in the back. For a vehicle I want a solid, mechanical tool, functional, rugged, durable, easy to maintain. As soon as a seller mentions luxury, I'm gone. Yup, like Jay Leno, I like blue jeans, too.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - winrid 8y ago
      Not sure why you're getting down voted...
    - slededit 8y ago
      I’m guessing your not happy with Ford and GM’s all new aluminum beds then?
  - farmerjoe_eatat 8y ago
    As someone who grew up on a farm I always looked at rich people in a city that drove a truck kind of funny. I don't get it, but around where I grew up there is a middle class of people who go to church, listen to country music, and drive $50k trucks everywhere even though they get terrible mileage. As a tangent, if you go far enough out in the wilderness, having a truck makes some sense. You might have to drive a couple hours to the nearest store in some remote parts of the US that I've visited, and I can't imagine making the trip more than a couple times a month at most- and you may have to haul a load up and down several (potentially icy) mountains. However, I don't think that's why most people own trucks. It's a fashion thing, the same reason people drive most other $50k cars around.
- saosebastiao 8y ago
  I also tend toward the thought that most truck drivers don't need trucks. But people don't buy vehicles based on their median driving behavior, they buy them based on their ability to handle common but not daily needs. I'd venture to guess that most texans with pickups use their truck bed far more often than californians use their back seats.
  - kstrauser 8y ago
    I use my back seats all the time. Where do you think we put our Whole Foods bags?
    - zaroth 8y ago
      Surely the bags are reusable, so it’s not so much “Whole Foods bags” as it is, “bags of Whole Foods groceries”.
      - kstrauser 8y ago
        I dunno. I’ve got a lot of bags. The kernel of truth in that: stores are required to charge for bags here (East Bay outside of SF). We have a bag of shopping bags - the “meta bag” - in our trunk so that we always have plenty available.
        zaroth 8y ago
        Gosh, I was really hoping your OP was sarcasm!
        kstrauser 8y ago
        It was, or at least my attempt to be funny. But there is a little nugget of "ha-ha but no really" in there.
- Rapzid 8y ago
  In Texas, can confirm. It's also crazy how much they spend on them. Pretty much a second mortgage for a lot of people based on income.. Can fit a lot in my hatchback and would just do what they do in New Zealand on the odd occasion I need more; rent a truck or van for the day.
  - _underfl0w_ 8y ago
    Also in Texas, can also confirm. My coworker dropped the phrase "Texas Cadillac" the other day. Couldn't cringe hard enough. I hope to be able to afford an electric car for my next car purchase - for now, just a tiny Mazda stick-shift. Kinda having second thoughts after reading that comment about battery production though...
    - xnyan 8y ago
      > "Texas Cadillac" Also known as the redneck cadillac.
      - thoughtpalette 8y ago
        I just learned that the term "redneck" actually comes from an old coal miner union strike that showed solidarity by using red kerchiefs hanging around their necks. I can't use that term in the same way ever again, fwiw.
        SECProto 8y ago
        > I just learned that the term "redneck" actually comes from an old coal miner union strike that showed solidarity by using red kerchiefs hanging around their necks. Curious, I reasearched this. While that was indeed one use of the term (especially re: the West Virginia mine war in 1921), the etymology for the term as we use it is from 1900ish, 20 years earlier. And it refers, more generally, to farmers and working class folk whose necks would be red from sunburn (wikipedia, well cited in the article on redneck). Stereotyping rural or working class or poor people using the term "redneck" is bad in its own right, but I dont think it originates from the strike of a coal miner's union. But thanks for leading me to do some research, it was interesting!
- 4thaccount 8y ago
  I also live in the South and most people in my Suburb have zero use for a truck, but will gladly spend $90 to fill up their gas guzzler. Why? Because it is a symbol of masculinity in the South and many men would never ever drive a car. Their grandfather had a truck, father had a truck, and they were given a truck as their first vehicle. It would have made sense for the grandparent on the farm, but if you sit in front of a computer 8 hours a day and live in a suburban neighborhood...you probably don't need a truck. With that being said, there are folks down here that still need trucks for work and recreational activities like hunting and towing a boat.
  - fyfy18 8y ago
    How heavy is the boat? A Toyota Corolla can tow up to 1500lb.
    - toomanybeersies 8y ago
      A 20 ft trailer sailer will generally weigh around 1000 kg, plus trailer and rigging. And just because a Corolla can technically tow 1500 lb doesn't mean it does it well. In my experience Corollas do not tow well. The combination of small engine and relatively high gearing means that it's not really suitable. You really need at least a 2 L engine for towing. That's not to mention all the other stuff you end up carrying around for the boat, such as fuel, tools, life jackets, etc.
      - sunstone 8y ago
        These days you also have to be careful about which kind of transmission a car has. The CVT's generally can't pull any where near as much load as the older geared transmissions.
    - haloux 8y ago
      Honestly, as someone who worked for AAA at the roadside, the Corolla is an admirable car in its own respects. Ive seen late 90s models absolutely abused and make it to the 150k mile mark. ... With that being said, if you try to tow a boat with a corolla, you’re practically sentencing the poor thing to transmission trouble and differential difficulties. I’d say that you’d be lucky to get a boat from driveway to launch ramp 3 separate trips before the transmission fails. All of that is assuming you can find someone to frame weld a tow hitch for a boat to the corolla.
- NorthOf33rd 8y ago
  I'm in Utah. I have a small wagon that gets 30+ mpg and and f-250. Do I need the 250? No. I don't really need the wagon either, I can take transit to work every day, or bike. Or walk. But I like having the 250 so I can haul loads of dirt by the yard for my garden, stone fill for the driveway I'm diy'ing, the compactor to tamp it down, drywall sheets for my remodel, or my mountain bike along with those of six buddies. And if I had to pick just one car? It'd be a truck.
- JohnJamesRambo 8y ago
  Do you need to fly in planes?
- geggam 8y ago
  Here in AZ the unimproved roads require truck level clearance
- JoeAltmaier 8y ago
  Haul my tractor on an 18-ft trailer. Make regular dump trips. Live on a 200ft driveway 2 miles from the paved road and have harsh winters, so the 4WD is very welcome. Bought it used, around $20K with 4 years / 80K miles on it. Lined the bed, replaced the transfer case motor and voila a pretty good truck that looks good! The $90/tank is because its a 36 gallon tank. Range around 600 miles full. With every advantage on the highway I've gotten > 20mpg but that's rare.
bluedino 8y ago
My 2015 with the 3.5 EcoBoost V6 got 22-24mpg on the highway

make3 8y ago

I can't believe that pickups are the three most sold models in the US. That's really insane. https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks-in-america-in-2018-2018-8#2-chevrolet-silverado-291074-107-19 https://www.businessinsider.com/best-selling-cars-and-trucks...

afarrell 8y ago
Part of it is identity. Even now, living in central London, I really do miss my dad's Ford Ranger which we used to use for moving construction materials and scrap metal up in Maine.
StillBored 8y ago
I started driving a truck 15 years ago after a number of sports cars/sedans/etc. I will never go back. Its not insane when you consider any number of factors, starting with the fact that Americans are BIG. As a large person myself (although not overweight), I'm here to tell you that what a 120 pound 5'6" person finds comfortable frequently is painful for me. Second, I spend upwards of 2+ hours a day sitting my my car, spending a couple grand extra a year for a seat that is 6" wider, doesn't require me to have the flexibility of a 15 year old doing a deep knee bend every-time I get in/out of my car, and allows me to sit upright rather than tilting the seat back into the second row is well worth it. Third, while there are some SUV's and maybe minivans that qualify on the comfort front, they either tend to be less efficient, cost more, or have social stigma associated with them. Sure if I had two vehicles, I might be able to get away with driving the truck on the weekend or when I actually need it, but the convenience of being able to throw a bike, kayak, lawn mower, TV, piece of plywood/drywall/2x4/etc in the back when I need to is worth it. Plus, I tow something maybe once a year, but again, if you only have 1 vehicle.. The two vehicle argument might make more sense, if there was space and insurance/taxes/etc were per person rather than per vehicle. Finally, part of the problem is the American car market. Sedan seems to frequently translate to econobox. In Europe a basic car is smaller, but somehow frequently seems to have far more leg and headroom than a similar American car. This space problem seems to extend from the econoboxes in the US to the luxury car market as well. Apparently in the US, taking an econobox, putting leather and a bigger engine in while leaving the chassis/etc the same (or streamlining it and making it even smaller as honda/acura seems to do) is common. The result is that if your bigger than average, you likely don't fit in something that isn't a SUV/Truck.

zepearl 8y ago

>>...the environment will definitely appreciate the electrified... Nobody is concerned about the countries (e.g. Bolivia) involved to extract the materials needed for the batteries => this might kill them (on one hand I agree saying "they should be able to care for themselves", but on the other hand there are gigantic interests at play which will put huge pressure on their governments/politicians) => whoever buys a battery nowadays should think twice about its environmentally-friendliness? Ideally, we don't want to re-play the oil-wars, in a different theatre? Hopefully not?

newnewpdro 8y ago
Any transition on this scale is going to have casualties, it's pretty much moot. If you have a less harmful solution than EVs to transitioning to fossil-fuel-free transportation I hear it's quite a lucrative opportunity.
- zepearl 8y ago
  I do agree with your statement in general, but consumers are supposed to care, at least a little bit. In my personal case I did invest something into a cobalt mine in Idaho because they're doing everything right from my point of view - but I agree that this might not be a selling point if people do not become aware of what's happening (as well far away).
pjc50 8y ago
I think this is more the other way round: Bolivia is desperate for something with world market value to export, so they're seeking investment for lithium mining. https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/others-snub-bolivias-lithium-will-morales-gamble-germany-pay https://www.americasquarterly.org/content/others-snub-bolivi... It's a very poor country.

ip26 8y ago

... Although now I'm reminded of the bit I read recently that noted in thirty minutes a two-stroke leaf blower emits as much CO & NOx pollution as driving an F-150 3,800 miles. https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/11/the-case-against-neighbors-with-leaf-blowers/506324/ https://www.citylab.com/life/2016/11/the-case-against-neighb...

sjwright 8y ago
Possibly, as two stroke burns oil intentionally. But the actual volume of carbon dioxide emissions is a function of the volume of fuel consumed. A small handheld tool won’t use much fuel compared to the (napkin math) 500 liters of petroleum in the vehicle.
- ip26 8y ago
  Yeah, this is still momentous news. As with targeting gas-guzzlers twenty years ago, it's not eco-sexy like a 100MPG Prius, but the F-150 model probably produces more carbon dioxide than any other passenger vehicle in the US, maybe in the world.
  - haloux 8y ago
    >it's not eco-sexy like a 100MPG Prius Oh HN.
    - ip26 8y ago
      Oh honey.
- darkpuma 8y ago
  Note that he said CO not CO2. Carbon monoxide is produced from incomplete combustion, which two stroke engines are notorious for. Leaf blowers lacking catalytic converters (which as the name suggests, catalyze the conversion of incomplete combustion byproducts like CO) only make this worse.
- mcv 8y ago