Despite being the top-selling electric pickup in the US, Ford is scaling back its F-150 Lightning production. Production outpaced demand and the company says the cuts are strategically aimed at achieving a balance between the two.
In addition to the scale back at the Lightning plant, the company says they will up production of gas powered Broncos and Rangers.
European Electric Explorer Delayed. Ford's plans to bring an all-electric version of the Explorer EUV to Europe have been delayed eight months due to new battery standards. The brand's 2nd EV in the market should still be released in 2024, but many wonder if the delay will diminish its competitiveness for some time after.
Honestly, it's for the better... The company also abandoned ambitions to patent tech designed to create self-repossessing cars. Since Ford simply never responded to the Patent and Trademark Office to complete the filing.
We like to imagine this plan got abandoned when Ford learned about bike chains and let their imaginations wander a bit.
A few days ago, we covered a dead-battery pile-up at Tesla chargers in Chicago, but some Vikings told us cold and ICE also don't mix.
In Norway, EVs make up 23% of cars on the road, but a roadside assistance company called Viking says electric cars only make up about 13% of too-cold-to-drive issues reported to them.
Doesn't change much for the stranded people. That is true, but it does change the context for solution-minded thinking. The issue rests with the chargers, as long as the EV battery is pre-conditioned correctly.
So, the idea that Tesla is the only game in town if you want to charge an EV may not be set in stone. Reliability can beat convenience from time to time.
Back here in the states, the government is looking to handle these pesky charging issues like a matador... without the red cape. Or bull. Or battle to the death. Really, just the "charging" part is shared.
Let's hope NY is one of those states... A mandate in New York City has all rideshare fleets moving toward the electric doors by 2030, which is a nice 6 years of prep time that people should, apparently, take more advantage of.
Lines at NYC EV chargers are starting to back up with folks trying to take advantage of the benefits of going electric in the gig worker world, leading to some companies, like Revel, building their own "Superhubs" to keep their drivers moving and increase access for the public at the same time.
Here at home or across the ocean (Pacific, to be specific), energy, power, electricity, or plain ol' go-juice is becoming the main character in many mobility discussions.
Fun(?) Fact(?): Chinese electric cars consumed as much power as all of Ireland last year. At first glance, it seems like a dire situation, but it reveals a bit of hope about the sustainability of a nation's grid under the pressure of electrification.
That is, if the nation's grid is modernized. China's BYD is looking to triple its dealership presence in Thailand. The explosion will lead to about 300 dealerships by the end of 2025. That's a steep ramp-up for Thailand's 2/3 natural gas power grid.
We've played enough risk to know one of the best ways to conquer the US is to dominate every other part of Europe and Asia first.
The US has the grid, but where will they get more power to keep these. "environmentally friendly" cars, environmentally friends? Snatch it outta the sky!
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Excluding carts and horseshoes, mobility tech as we know it has existed for just over 100 years.
A few generations separate us from the Model T in one direction and who knows what in the other.
One hundred years of changing tech is no indication we can expect anything to stay the same.
One hundred years of consumers having preferred brands, dealers, and salespeople because of their experience indicates that people buy what they trust and from whom they trust.
You can control one of those things.