7 ms·

I could legitimately see every job site having at least one as a rolling power station. That could be a very useful and popular niche, construction sites witho

I could legitimately see every job site having at least one as a rolling power station. That could be a very useful and popular niche, construction sites without power at early phases of construction aren't rare and power tool batteries are expensive.

seem_2211 5y ago
I would be really interested in understanding the breakdown in F150's as sold by model number. For a lot of truck owners, there's going to be some resistance because they love having a v8 engine etc. I don't see those people moving over quickly (although they might be swayed by the acceleration/speed). But if you're using one as a tradesperson, this seems like an absolute no-brainer. You're not driving enormous distances regularly and if you're able to run your entire job site for free, as well as have lower servicing costs... why wouldn't you?
- jrsj 5y ago
  Many new trucks have used turbo V6s instead of V8s for awhile now. There’s definitely some buyers who just want the sound of a V8 or don’t quite trust the reliability of a twin turbo BUT I think more people would be open to electric than you would think, even in people primarily just using them for transportation
  - seem_2211 5y ago
    Couldn't agree more. I'd hazard a guess that 90% of car users aren't wedded to using gas. There are enthusiasts, but they are a small minority.
    - nexuist 5y ago
      I don't know a single person who enjoys going to a gas station. Paying $40 a week just to hear some loud noise is an incredibly lame proposition, and only makes sense if you drive your truck for fun instead of utility. Most people buy a car for work, so avoiding the pump is a huge bonus. I'm sure gas guzzler enthusiasts will continue to exist, but the financials don't make sense; it would be far cheaper for them to daily drive an EV and keep the old guzzler for fun days. They'd save on gas and maintenance by not driving an ICE all the time, and they still get to use it whenever they have free time. In conclusion, my argument is that Ford/whoever will still eventually capture these enthusiasts, because they can still keep their old trucks but will always eventually need a new one.
      - seem_2211 5y ago
        I don’t mind it. I drive a v8 Mercedes and love the sound etc... but at the same time, I’ve moved to NYC so the odds that I even keep a car aren’t particularly high.
      - thevardanian 5y ago
        lol $40 for full tank...
        GongOfFour 5y ago
        I bought my truck used and somehow missed that it had the extended range tank, which is 36 gallons. I was so confused when I filled it up for the first time and it just kept going and going...
  - bluGill 5y ago
    I know a few people who tow big trailers, and they buy the V8 because once you hook up a real load the turbo kicks in and you are burning just as much gas. They figure that larger engine without a turbo is probably going to last a lot longer. Those who use the truck for a mix, sometimes with the trailer, sometimes with small loads opt for the turbo v6 and like it just fine, but they all agree if towing is the real goal get the v8. (or better yet get a diesel, and a bigger truck)
  - wrycoder 5y ago
    I keep my vehicles a long time. I wouldn’t buy a turbo. When they fail, and they will, it’s super expensive. V8s have been around for a century, and they are very reliable.
    - jrsj 5y ago
      I had the same thought but I ultimately had to choose between an F150 Lariat w/ EcoBoost or a near base model Tundra in the same condition for $8k more. So I decided to take a gamble on the turbos.
- tclancy 5y ago
  Man, pipes and noise can be nice, but people who really like a v8 will also love the lack of a torque curve.
- frosted-flakes 5y ago
  You'd be surprised at how far tradesmen need to drive sometimes. Jobsites are all over the place, and not everyone lives in the same place. So the jobsite might only be 45 minutes from the builder, but it's 75 minutes away from the trimmer. That's the situation for me, and it's not uncommon to travel that far to a job.
JeremyNT 5y ago
I think it could be quite useful in construction, food trucks, events - any situation you normally see generators. However, even better for that kind of stuff would be a hybrid with a smaller battery, but a generator in the frunk (sort of like the Volt).
- Someone1234 5y ago
  I agree that would be even better. Unfortunately I don't think such a vehicle exists yet, while hybrids and even plug-in hybrids are common, they aren't designed to be used as power stations/offer multiple 110v outlets. This new F-150 is rare in that the manufacturer actually supports its usage like this. If you use a Tesla as a glorified battery they will actually void your warranty.
  - jcims 5y ago
    New f-150 hybrid has (up to) a 7.2kW generator with 120/240 outlets in the bed. This would probably be a better option for most commercial applications than the electric.
- PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
  My self-built sprinter has seen it's solar-charged electrical system been used many times to power PA systems at parties and running events. Only 120VAC (no 240VAC), and only about 2.5kW/hrs of power available, but I've never needed close to that for anything it's been used for. I've used it a few times to run power tools, but that's when I most regret only having 1kW inverter instead of a 1.5kW one: a router or circular saw startup can trip the inverter breaker.
akira2501 5y ago
> That could be a very useful and popular niche Perhaps.. but we'll have to see how the battery holds up under extremely hot or cold conditions to really know if it will be used that way; and few people will want to be stuck at the job site after the end of the day.

seem_2211 5y ago

I would be really interested in understanding the breakdown in F150's as sold by model number. For a lot of truck owners, there's going to be some resistance because they love having a v8 engine etc. I don't see those people moving over quickly (although they might be swayed by the acceleration/speed). But if you're using one as a tradesperson, this seems like an absolute no-brainer. You're not driving enormous distances regularly and if you're able to run your entire job site for free, as well as have lower servicing costs... why wouldn't you?

jrsj 5y ago
Many new trucks have used turbo V6s instead of V8s for awhile now. There’s definitely some buyers who just want the sound of a V8 or don’t quite trust the reliability of a twin turbo BUT I think more people would be open to electric than you would think, even in people primarily just using them for transportation
- seem_2211 5y ago
  Couldn't agree more. I'd hazard a guess that 90% of car users aren't wedded to using gas. There are enthusiasts, but they are a small minority.
  - nexuist 5y ago
    I don't know a single person who enjoys going to a gas station. Paying $40 a week just to hear some loud noise is an incredibly lame proposition, and only makes sense if you drive your truck for fun instead of utility. Most people buy a car for work, so avoiding the pump is a huge bonus. I'm sure gas guzzler enthusiasts will continue to exist, but the financials don't make sense; it would be far cheaper for them to daily drive an EV and keep the old guzzler for fun days. They'd save on gas and maintenance by not driving an ICE all the time, and they still get to use it whenever they have free time. In conclusion, my argument is that Ford/whoever will still eventually capture these enthusiasts, because they can still keep their old trucks but will always eventually need a new one.
    - seem_2211 5y ago
      I don’t mind it. I drive a v8 Mercedes and love the sound etc... but at the same time, I’ve moved to NYC so the odds that I even keep a car aren’t particularly high.
    - thevardanian 5y ago
      lol $40 for full tank...
      - GongOfFour 5y ago
        I bought my truck used and somehow missed that it had the extended range tank, which is 36 gallons. I was so confused when I filled it up for the first time and it just kept going and going...
- bluGill 5y ago
  I know a few people who tow big trailers, and they buy the V8 because once you hook up a real load the turbo kicks in and you are burning just as much gas. They figure that larger engine without a turbo is probably going to last a lot longer. Those who use the truck for a mix, sometimes with the trailer, sometimes with small loads opt for the turbo v6 and like it just fine, but they all agree if towing is the real goal get the v8. (or better yet get a diesel, and a bigger truck)
- wrycoder 5y ago
  I keep my vehicles a long time. I wouldn’t buy a turbo. When they fail, and they will, it’s super expensive. V8s have been around for a century, and they are very reliable.
  - jrsj 5y ago
    I had the same thought but I ultimately had to choose between an F150 Lariat w/ EcoBoost or a near base model Tundra in the same condition for $8k more. So I decided to take a gamble on the turbos.
tclancy 5y ago
Man, pipes and noise can be nice, but people who really like a v8 will also love the lack of a torque curve.
frosted-flakes 5y ago
You'd be surprised at how far tradesmen need to drive sometimes. Jobsites are all over the place, and not everyone lives in the same place. So the jobsite might only be 45 minutes from the builder, but it's 75 minutes away from the trimmer. That's the situation for me, and it's not uncommon to travel that far to a job.

JeremyNT 5y ago

I think it could be quite useful in construction, food trucks, events - any situation you normally see generators. However, even better for that kind of stuff would be a hybrid with a smaller battery, but a generator in the frunk (sort of like the Volt).

Someone1234 5y ago
I agree that would be even better. Unfortunately I don't think such a vehicle exists yet, while hybrids and even plug-in hybrids are common, they aren't designed to be used as power stations/offer multiple 110v outlets. This new F-150 is rare in that the manufacturer actually supports its usage like this. If you use a Tesla as a glorified battery they will actually void your warranty.
- jcims 5y ago
  New f-150 hybrid has (up to) a 7.2kW generator with 120/240 outlets in the bed. This would probably be a better option for most commercial applications than the electric.
PaulDavisThe1st 5y ago
My self-built sprinter has seen it's solar-charged electrical system been used many times to power PA systems at parties and running events. Only 120VAC (no 240VAC), and only about 2.5kW/hrs of power available, but I've never needed close to that for anything it's been used for. I've used it a few times to run power tools, but that's when I most regret only having 1kW inverter instead of a 1.5kW one: a router or circular saw startup can trip the inverter breaker.

akira2501 5y ago

> That could be a very useful and popular niche Perhaps.. but we'll have to see how the battery holds up under extremely hot or cold conditions to really know if it will be used that way; and few people will want to be stuck at the job site after the end of the day.