An electric pickup truck owner says charging at home for a year cost roughly the same as one month of petrol for his previous vehicle. The Ford F-150 Lightning driver covered approximately 9,000 miles (14,484km) after installing a home charger, highlighting the potential savings available to electric vehicle owners.
The driver shared his experience on Reddit, explaining that his previous Ford F-150 Raptor cost around $450 a month in petrol. He said the amount he would previously have spent on fuel could now cover almost a full year of driving-related charging costs.
His experience has sparked discussion among electric vehicle owners about the financial benefits of home charging. However, other drivers have warned that the savings depend heavily on local electricity prices, driving habits and the vehicles being compared.
Home charging helps reduce running costs
The F-150 Lightning owner said he had installed his home charger almost a year earlier. During that period, he had driven approximately 9,000 miles and used a public rapid charger only once.
His experience suggests that drivers who can charge their vehicles at home may avoid much of the expense associated with petrol or diesel. Home charging can also reduce the need to visit public charging stations, where prices vary depending on the provider, charging speed and location.
The savings can be particularly significant for drivers who cover high annual mileages or previously owned fuel-hungry vehicles. Large petrol-powered pickup trucks can consume substantial amounts of fuel, making the cost difference between petrol and electricity especially noticeable.
However, the owner’s figures reflect his personal circumstances and should not be treated as a universal estimate for every electric vehicle driver.
Electric vehicle owners report different results
Other members of the F-150 Lightning Reddit community shared similar experiences, although the savings varied.
One driver said their electricity bill increased by roughly the amount previously spent filling a Toyota Prius. The driver explained that the Prius had required two fuel stops each month.
Another contributor reported paying approximately $85.76 a month for charging. A separate owner said they had driven around 2,200 miles a month after installing a home charger in mid-April.
These accounts suggest that some drivers can achieve significant savings by charging at home. However, they also show why electricity tariffs and driving distances must be considered when calculating the cost of owning an electric vehicle.
Electricity prices make a difference
Not every owner reported savings as large as those described by the original poster.
One driver in Massachusetts, in the United States, estimated that charging the truck would cost around $1,500 over a comparable period because of high local electricity rates. Despite the higher expense, the driver said charging would still be cheaper than running a petrol-powered F-150.
The difference illustrates how electricity prices can influence the financial case for switching to an electric vehicle. Drivers on cheaper domestic electricity tariffs may spend considerably less than those who rely on expensive tariffs or public rapid charging.
For a fair comparison, motorists should consider their annual mileage, electricity tariff, vehicle efficiency and previous fuel consumption. They should also account for installation costs, maintenance, insurance and any applicable vehicle taxes.
Could solar panels make electric vehicles cheaper to run?
Solar panels could offer another way for homeowners to reduce the cost of charging an electric vehicle.
A household with solar generation can use some of its electricity to charge a vehicle during daylight hours, potentially reducing the amount purchased from the grid. A home battery may also allow excess solar electricity to be stored for use later.
However, the financial benefits depend on installation costs, household electricity consumption, the vehicle’s charging schedule and local solar conditions. Drivers should compare the upfront investment with their expected savings before deciding whether a solar installation makes financial sense.
For households already considering rooftop solar, adding electric vehicle charging to their energy plans could provide another opportunity to make better use of the electricity they generate.
What does this mean for electric pickup buyers?
The F-150 Lightning owner’s experience highlights an important consideration for motorists evaluating electric vehicles: purchase price is only one part of the total cost of ownership.
Charging expenses can be substantially lower than petrol costs for some drivers, particularly those with access to affordable home electricity. The potential difference may become more noticeable over several years of ownership.
However, the actual savings will vary between drivers and markets. Buyers should calculate their likely running costs using local electricity and fuel prices rather than relying on another owner’s experience alone.
As electric pickups compete with traditional combustion-engine trucks, running costs will remain an important factor in determining whether the technology makes financial sense for individual buyers.
Read also: 2023 Pickup truck showdown: Ford F-150 vs Toyota Tacoma
