$115k Ford electric truck abandoned on family road trip

author: FutureCar Staff    

A Canadian man and his family recently encountered charging troubles with their electric truck during a road trip, which led them to finish the journey in a petrol-powered car. The man, Dalbir Bala, had purchased a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat with an extended-range battery for $115,000 (around £90600) in January. While traveling from Manitoba, Canada to Chicago, Bala and his family faced difficulties with charging their vehicle.

The problems began in Albertville, Minnesota, where they received a 'faulty connection' error message from a fast charger. They continued to Elk River, but the charger there also failed to work. As a result, they were forced to abandon their electric truck in Minnesota on July 27th. Bala described the situation as a "nightmare frustration" for the family.

With only 15 kilometers of battery life remaining, the truck was towed to a local Ford dealership, and the family rented a Toyota 4Runner to reach their destination. It remains unclear why the truck could not charge, as other customers successfully charged their electric vehicles at both charging stations that day.

Bala had previously experienced delays in getting his truck repaired after a minor accident, which he believes contributed to his frustrations. He had purchased the electric truck to offset his fuel costs, which had reached up to $1.5K per month. Bala had installed chargers at his office and home and had to upgrade his domestic electric panel.

Despite the setbacks, Bala still commutes using his electric truck but expressed disappointment that he cannot use it for other purposes such as trips to his lake cabin or off-grid camping. He referred to eco-friendly vehicles as the "biggest scam of modern times."

In response to the incident, Megan Joakim of Ford of Canada stated that driving range can vary based on various factors, including external conditions, vehicle use, and maintenance. Ford continues to develop its charging network, which includes 10,000 fast chargers and partnerships with Tesla and dealerships. James Hart, President of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, acknowledged similar situations and suggested contacting charger companies for assistance. Bala believes that the government should provide consumers with accurate information regarding electric vehicles.

FutureCar Staff