Forced to Abandon $115k Ford Electric Truck on Family Road Trip

author: FutureCar Staff    

A Canadian man and his family recently encountered charging troubles with their electric truck, leading them to finish their road trip in a petrol-powered car. The man, Dalbir Bala, was traveling from Manitoba, Canada to Chicago in his six-month old 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat with an extended-range battery. The vehicle, which cost him $115,000, experienced charging issues during their journey.

Bala and his family initially left home with a fully-charged battery and had planned stops to top it up. However, their problems began in Albertville, Minnesota, where they encountered a 'faulty connection' error message from the fast charger. They continued to Elk River, but the charger there also did not work. Frustrated, they had no choice but to abandon the electric truck in Minnesota.

With only 15 kilometers of battery life left, the truck was towed to a local Ford dealership. In order to reach Chicago, the family rented a petrol-powered Toyota 4Runner. Bala expressed his frustration, stating that they were stuck, hungry, and heartbroken by the situation.

The reason behind the charging issues remains unknown, as other customers successfully charged their electric vehicles at the same stations that day. Bala had previously experienced delays in getting his truck repaired after a minor accident. Despite these setbacks, he had been impressed with the electric vehicle technology and had installed chargers at his office and home.

However, Bala now feels limited in using the electric truck, as he cannot take it to his lake cabin or for off-grid camping. He believes that electric vehicles are a scam and can only be driven in the city. Ford claims to have a charging network of 10,000 fast chargers, along with additional chargers at dealerships. The president of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association suggests that situations like Bala's may require a reset of the chargers.

Bala believes that the government should provide consumers with accurate information about electric vehicles. Ford of Canada acknowledges that driving range can vary based on various factors and states that public charging infrastructure is continuously developing as electric vehicle sales increase.

FutureCar Staff