EV's (except one Porsche) have no transmission. Just a gearbox with a reduction of about 10:1 incorporating a differential so there's no shifting. Reverse is accomplished by reversing the motor via the inverter. Most have no parking mechanism but use the brakes instead. (Tesla has a mechanical parking brake integrated into the rear calipers also) The Lightning will have a very simple drivetrain. One drive train. One drive unit (inverter, motor, gearbox/differential) in front and one in the back. They are not interconnected. There may be no oil change interval as there are no clutches and the operating temperature is very low. The A/c uses its own inverter/motor sealed into and cooled by the A/C system. So it can run at full capacity standing still vs an ICE system that relies on the engine RPM for capacity. That and a remote control like a Phone App can allow you to start the A/C or heat remotely before you get to the truck.

 

When a reservation is converted to an order, I believe they increase the deposit to $500 total. Make sure the dealer gives you paperwork indicating it is 100% refundable.

 

Yeah, on my wife's Focus Electric, it's great being able to pre-cool or pre-warm the car while it sits in the garage with the door closed and is still hooked to the EVSE. Previously, we were opening the garage to pre-heat the vehicles and even that isn't fully safe.

The AC unit being electric in the PowerBoost was an unexpected surprise also. Can sit there without the engine running for ten minutes and the AC keeps running at full capacity. It was only a surprise because I didn't think about it much when ordering the PB, but it makes sense that the PB would have a different way of cooling the cabin than what the other engines have with Stop/Start, because people clearly can't sit at a traffic light for a minute with the engine off on hot days, so potentially sitting in a parking lot like if waiting on someone for ten minutes without the engine running for AC would have made people keep the engine going in a lot of conditions.

 

In the event of a power outage at home you can sit in the vehicle in the garage and keep a little warmer. Cooling the car would heat the garage so not much advantage there.
In the winter heat comes on faster because you don't have to wait for anything to warm up.

A lot is different comparing the lightning to ICE vehicles.
A cousin opted for an automatic trans because she felt it was easier on her horses. Is that a thing? The Lightning won't shift at all.

 

Auto trans require no effort for 'seamless acceleration' - an EV will be even more seamless, well, literally seamless and linear.

 

I agree and really don’t understand why they didn’t just make it clear or maybe a tinted finish. It does look strange to me as well but I would bet that’s one of the first things that gets tweaked at model change. The aftermarket my offer some help with that as well.

 

Whether I'm in the minority or not (I couldn't care less) I like it. Would be very easy to "tint" and make any color you choose.

I believe it's to help differentiate it as well from the ice's.

 

One of the auto rags drove a pre-production R1T, was super impressed with it. Too bad it's so damm ugly (Avante anyone?). Will be curious to see the price structure when it comes out.

Intro edition is supposed to be $75'ish.... should be a good comparison with an upper trim Lightning. R1T seems more performance (on & off road) oriented, vs. "work truck" but we'll see....

 

Yeah, I suspect I will grow to appreciate it. Will have to wait until I can see more of them in person.

I just watched the Motor Trend ride review of it, very cool truck. I don't hate the look, it's a bit softer maybe than an F-150, but it looks like it was designed around being capable first and the looks were second, but not miles back like I feel the CyberTruck landed.

The quad motor setup though is going to be a killer feature, plus air bags. It will be hard to pick a Platinum Lightning over one of those assuming options packages are roughly equivalent for creature comforts, since that's what you are mainly paying for once you step up to the Platinum. If the R1T doesn't get Platinum level stuff until $95k, then that gives the F-150 a consistent advantage.

But even in the snow, being able to modulate each wheels power down to the percent will make the R1T pretty incredible.

I think the Lightning is still the right move for Ford, it isn't so far out there that it embarrasses the ICE offering which is what putting some of that stuff exclusively on the Lightning would do, while probably raising the price. I feel like Ford invested in Rivian because they want a piece of their tech in the long run, and it's a good move. They are going to learn a lot together about building vehicles in this space in a short period of time.

 

I really like the Rivian too. And that gear tunnel. I'm only skeptical because they have never built anything. That could be a plus.
I understand that Ford did not want to deviate from the tried and true F150 too much At first. But that shifter has no place in an EV.
Just think if it wasn't there, you would not have to fold it out of the way to access that work space. It would make a great table to eat off of on the road.
BTW the Lightning has the spare in the right place. Not in the bed.