Forced to abandon $115k Ford electric truck on family road trip

A Canadian man and his family recently encountered charging troubles during their road trip in their electric truck, forcing them to switch to a petrol-powered car. This experience led the man, Dalbir Bala, to express his frustration and label eco-friendly vehicles as 'the biggest scam of modern times'.

Bala, who resides in Manitoba, Canada, embarked on his journey to Chicago in his six-month-old 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat with an extended-range battery. He had purchased the vehicle in January for $115,000, excluding tax.

Initially, Bala's wife and three children joined him for the ride, and they started the trip with a fully-charged battery and planned stops to recharge along the way.

However, their charging troubles began in Albertville, Minnesota, where Bala encountered a 'faulty connection' error message from the fast charger. They proceeded to Elk River, approximately 15 minutes away, but encountered another charger that wouldn't work.

As a result, Bala and his family were forced to abandon their electric truck in Minnesota on July 27. Bala described the situation as a frustrating nightmare, leaving them stuck, hungry, and heartbroken.

With only 15 kilometers of battery life remaining, the truck was towed to a local Ford dealership. In order to continue their journey to Chicago, the family rented a Toyota 4Runner.

It remains unclear why the truck failed to charge, especially since other customers successfully charged their electric vehicles at both stations that day.

Bala had previously experienced delays in getting his truck repaired after a minor accident, which he claims required light assembly on the front bumper. This delay lasted six months, according to FOX Business.

Bala's motivation for purchasing the electric truck was to offset his fuel costs, which had reached up to $1,500 per month. He was initially impressed by the new technology and believed it would be a cost-effective solution.

To accommodate his electric vehicle, Bala installed chargers at his office and home and upgraded his domestic electric panel.

Despite his initial enthusiasm, Bala now feels limited in using the electric truck. He can only use it for his daily commute and cannot take it to his lake cabin or for off-grid camping. He believes that electric vehicles are a scam.

In response to the incident, Megan Joakim of Ford of Canada emphasized that the actual driving range of electric vehicles can vary depending on external factors, vehicle use, and maintenance. She also mentioned that the public charging infrastructure is continuously developing as electric vehicle sales increase.

James Hart, the President of the Manitoba Electric Vehicle Association, acknowledged similar situations to Bala's and mentioned instances where charger resets were necessary. He emphasized the need for consumers to have access to accurate information.

Bala expressed his belief that the government should provide consumers with the right information regarding electric vehicles.