Ford electric vehicle customers are now eligible to get a free Tesla Supercharger adapter thanks to a visionary relationship that allows customers to take advantage of the more than 2,000 Tesla Supercharger stations with over 20,000 actual ports to charge an EV in America and Canada.
A Word From Ford
Jim Farley, President and CEO, Ford Motor Company, announced the news on Twitter, saying, “When we announced Ford EVs would get access to Tesla Superchargers, I said we’d send customers a Fast Charging Adapter. I’m pleased to confirm that eligible Mustang Mach E & F150 Lightning owners in the U.S. + Canada can reserve a complimentary adapter starting soon. This is our way of saying thank you! We want to make charging more convenient for our Ford EV owners, so we’re excited to add Tesla chargers and will continue growing our BlueOval Charge Network. More details soon.”
A Partnership To Benefit All
This partnership allows Ford EV drivers to enjoy the cars and trucks even more than they already do, knowing that there are thousands of places where they can easily charge their vehicles on the go.
BlueOval Charge Network
The BlueOval Charge Network from Ford was already the most extensive public charging network in the United States, with over 106,000 chargers available nationwide. Adding the ability to charge via a Tesla Supercharger makes it easier for drivers to feel more freedom when driving longer distances.
NACS Charge Port
The adapter will allow the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E to charge on Tesla V3 and above Superchargers. Starting in 2025, all Ford electric vehicles will feature the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charge port so that customers will no longer have to get an adapter to charge their vehicles on any other charging network.
Strong EV Sales
For 2023, Ford announced they had record EV sales and were now the number 2 best-selling electric vehicle automaker in the United States. Each EV model line enjoyed an increase in sales, with the F-150 Lightning rising 55% compared to 2022, while the Mustang Mach-E enjoyed a modest bump of 3%, and the E-Transit work van jumped by 18%.
At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. Our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
MAMA Names Ford Maverick as “Favorite Pickup Truck”
The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) announced seven category winners for MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle of 2024 awards. Benna Ford is pleased that MAMA’s Favorite Pickup Truck Award winner went to the Ford Maverick. The Maverick will join the six other category winners as finalists in competing for the overall title of MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle.
What is MAMA?
This is the 33rd year for the Midwest Automotive Media Association, which is composed of 273 automotive journalists and public relations professionals from across the country and Canada. The automotive journalists test drive vehicles individually throughout the year for their own media organizations year, and gather three times a year for three drive events:
- The MAMA Spring Rally
- Chicago Drives Electric
- MAMA’s Favorites Fall Fest
Before this year, MAMA only granted awards for the Family Vehicle of the Year and Luxury Family Vehicle of the Year. This year, the organization expanded its award categories to “recognize the diversity of vehicles available and of interest to the readers, viewers, and listeners of MAMA’s membership base.”
Voting on their category favorites narrowed a field of over 100 eligible models to a few select members in each category. They selected the Maverick and the six other category winners and finalists at the Favorites Fall Fest.
“With more than 100 new, redesigned, or refreshed vehicles MAMA members could drive during 2023, it was time to assess the breadth and depth of product at each event and for the year as a whole,” said Robert Duffer, MAMA President. “You could say MAMA loves all of her vehicles equally, but everyone knows there’s only one MAMA’s Favorite.”
Let no one say MAMA isn’t self-aware of how its acronym reads.
Why the Maverick?
While details weren’t released for the reasoning behind the Maverick’s recognition, it is easy to guess. The Maverick harks back to the small, efficient, and useful vehicles that spurred the small pickup truck market explosion about 45 years ago. It can take on almost any task a homeowner or small service business requires. At the same time, it leaves plenty of room around it in the garage and is easy on the gas credit card. The latter is particularly the case with the hybrid model, which has an EPA city/highway/combined rating of 42 / 33 / 37.
However, unlike those original small trucks, its Escape-derived platform means it drives and feels like a compact SUV. It has two rows of seats and four doors, making it practical as a passenger carrier. It is a best-of-several-worlds vehicle with a straightforward design inside and out that doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t and just happens to be Ford’s most affordable model.
MAMA members will decide which of the seven finalists they will award as MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle of 2024. They will announce the winner on February 8th at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show during a MAMA-hosted breakfast. If the Maverick wins, it will add another trophy to its case, and we at Benna Ford will undoubtedly be pleased and will likely post about it in this blog. But it has already won among pickup trucks, which is what really counts. If a small light-duty pickup truck can fill your hauling and transportation needs, you should visit Benna Ford and explore the Ford Maverick.
Used cars are an essential part of the automotive industry. While many people can’t afford a new car, there are also many buyers who don’t want to purchase a depreciating asset, instead opting for a vehicle that is anywhere from 1 to 5 years old so they can get the best bang for their buck. With that in mind, Ford offers some of the best value on the used car market.
Used Car Data
With data compiled by iSeeCars and reported by Autoweek, we can see that 9.2 million used vehicles from model years 2018 to 2022 were sold in 2023. Some of the most popular models that were bought as used were the Ford F-150, Explorer, and Escape.
Ford F-150
It should come as no surprise that the Ford F-150, the best-selling vehicle in America, just so happens to be the best-selling vehicle on the used car market, too. When reporting on the used car trends, Autoweek said, “Making up 3.3% of the 9.2 million used car sales examined, the Ford F-150 retained its top spot for another year, not just in the used market. According to Ford’s recently released 2023 sales data, over 700,000 buyers chose the F-150 as their truck of choice, making it the best-selling truck of last year.”
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer ranked 9th among the top 20 best-selling used cars. According to data, the Explorer was 11th in 2022, meaning that more people see the overall utility and charm of one of the most well-established SUV monikers. The current Explorer arrived in 2020 as an all-new vehicle, which makes the 2020-2022 models popular since they have all the same features and amenities as the current Explorer. The mid-size Ford is an excellent 3-row SUV for buyers who don’t want to break the bank and get a greater return on their investment.
What Autoweek Said
When discussing where the Explorer ranks amongst used vehicles purchased in 2023, Autoweek said, “1.5% of used cars sold from the 2018-2022 model years were Ford Explorers, bumping the midsize crossover to the ninth spot for 2023. That’s a significant jump from 11th in 2022, beating out the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. It also holds the third spot for most popular used SUVs in America, representing 3.4% of the sales mix.”
Ford Escape
Ranking in 13th place is the Ford Escape, which is an excellent option for buyers looking for a vehicle that sits higher and has more interior usability but doesn’t have the poor fuel economy of a larger SUV. The Escape accounted for 1.4% of 2018-2022 model year cars sold in 2023, not far behind the larger Explorer and ahead of cars like the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and the Jeep Cherokee.
At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
Maverick Wins Consumer Reports Accolades
The Ford Maverick has been popular since its very launch. Benna Ford is pleased to announce that Consumer Reports has given it suitable recognition in its 2024 Buying Guide, which names the Maverick as the “Best Small Truck” and the Maverick Hybrid as the “Best Fuel Efficient Truck.”
A Different Kind of Truck
The Maverick is definitely a different truck from Ford with its unibody construction and front-wheel drive architecture. But the reasoning is sound. Not every pickup owner needs to load a Bobcat skid-steer in the bed, tow a 30-foot Airstream, or forge its way through a long-neglected two-track. Many pickup truck owners just want something that can bring home a washing machine, treadmill, or chest of drawers. The fact is, the Maverick can handle most, if not all, of the hauling tasks of the average homeowner. And it can do it with a car-like ride and leave plenty of room around it in the garage.
Stretching the Miles Between Gas Stations
It can also do it quite efficiently. The standard Maverick with the Ecoboost 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4, front-wheel drive, and 8-speed automatic has an EPA city/highway/combined MPG estimate of 23 / 30 / 26 with AWD figures of 22 / 29 / 25. The Maverick Hybrid, with its 2.5-liter engine, hybrid system, and CVT, is only available with front-wheel drive but delivers an impressive 42 city mpg along with 33 on the highway for a combined mpg of 37. For the sake of comparison, the rear-wheel drive Ranger gets a combined 22 mpg. At the same time, the Maverick can haul 1,500 pounds in the bed and up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped.
Solid Bones
The earlier crossover reference is apt because the Maverick rides on the same platform as the Bronco Sport. This means it has the Bronco Sport’s front strut suspension with a trailing arm rear suspension on front-wheel drive models and a fully independent multi-link design on all-wheel-drive models, the latter offering better ground clearance and improved handling, particularly on bumpy curves.
While the Maverick dashboard is not filled with swoopy curves and exotic materials, it features a straightforward, functional design that is in keeping with the truck’s mission. High in the center is an 8-inch touchscreen that can display AppleCarPlay and Android Auto interfaces as well as its own. A rotary transmission selector on the center console is simple to use and stays out of the way of access to cupholders and the forward storage bin, which is just one of many storage spaces throughout the cabin. Of particular note are the large bins under the swing-up rear seat cushions for secure and hidden placement of tools, emergency items, and whatever else you want to have on hand at all times.
Flat Out Affordable
Not to be overlooked is the Maverick’s price. With the departure of the Focus, the Maverick takes over as the most affordable model in the Ford model lineup, with a starting MSRP of $23,815 and $25,315 for the Maverick Hybrid. For an entry-level vehicle, it checks off a lot of capability boxes. Visit Benna Ford and see what the Maverick is all about and why it may be the perfect new vehicle for your garage.
Ford SuperDuty Wins NACTOY Truck Of The Year
2024 was a big year for truck introductions. The mid-size truck class was awash in activity with redesigns for the Ford Ranger, Tacoma, and the Colorado/Canyon twins. There was also the Silverado EV (following in the Ford F-150 Lightning’s footsteps) and even the Cybertruck. But Benna Ford is pleased to announce that the truck that brought back the 2024 North America Truck of the Year trophy in its bed was the Ford SuperDuty.
How NACTOY Selects Its Winners
The vehicles were voted on by 50 respected automotive journalists who write for a wide variety of print, online, and broadcast media outlets from across the U.S. and Canada, from several publications and media outlets. Each of the journalists tested the vehicles in their own way by the customs of their own media outlets. NACTOY’s winner selection was based on outstanding innovation, design, performance, driver satisfaction, and value. This unique process and level of expertise involved in the selection makes being named a NACTOY finalist—and even more so a winner—a highly coveted achievement.
The many truck candidates were whittled down to three finalists, announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show. On January 4th in Pontiac, Michigan, the Ford SuperDuty was announced as the winner. The award primarily reflects the changes in the 2023 model year, which came too late for last year’s contest and thus qualified for the 2024 award. The redesign in 2023 included new exterior and interior design, updated technology focused on improving hauling and towing, and two new V8 engines, one gas and one diesel.
Versatility and Capability
Part of the Super Duty’s attraction is the broad scope of the model line, which can range from a work truck with vinyl floors and seating to offering heated, ventilated, and massaging seats covered in two-tone leather upholstery, all in a cab with an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.
“Ford’s F-series Super Duty pickups embody the concept ‘a workhorse and a show horse.’ Equally suited to construction sites and towing million-dollar trailers, it’s loaded with technology to simplify its chores and keep the driver comfortable.” – Mark Phelan (Detroit Free Press) and NACTOY juror.
Taking on the Challenges of Towing
A heavy-duty truck is expected to have excellent capability, and the Super Duty does not disappoint. Ninety percent of Super Duty owners use their vehicles to tow. Towing capabilities range from an F-250 Crew Cab, long-bed 4X4 model capacity of 13,700 pounds to 40,000 pounds with a gooseneck behind a single cab F-450 powered by diesel.
It may be the towing technology that impressed the most, including:
- Onboard Scales with Smart Hitch – Estimates cargo weight in real-time and provides guidance on trailer tongue weight distribution, which can be accessed on the center touchscreen, FordPass™ app, or within the taillamps
- 360-Degree Trailer Camera System – Using mobile cameras can provide a bird’s-eye view of the trailer to assist in maneuvering in tight spaces.
- Blind Spot Information System for Fifth Wheel & Gooseneck – Mobile sensors can be attached to a trailer to extend blind spot identification across the entire length of the truck and trailer.
- Tailgate Down Camera and Tailgate Down Reverse Sensing System – The camera and reverse sensors in the top tailgate provide visual and audible alerts regardless of whether the tailgate is up or down.
- Pro Trailer Hitch Assist – Automatically backs the truck up and aligns the conventional hitch ball to the trailer receiver.
- Trailer Navigation – Plots routes that can be safely navigated with given trailer dimensions and weight to avoid potential issues with low bridges and tight turns
“The Ford Super Duty retains its leadership in the heavy-duty pickup truck category with its impressive towing, payload, torque, and horsepower figures. Its four engine choices are highlighted by the new standard 6.8-liter gasoline V8 and 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel V8. And the big Super Duty is remarkably comfortable and easy to drive.” – Jack R. Nerad (America on the Road Radio/JDPower.com/TrueCar.com/USNews.com) and NACTOY juror.
A heavy-duty pickup is always a significant investment, so it is good to know that in selecting the Super Duty, your choice has the backing of US and Canada’s most distinguished journalists. If you are in the market for a heavy-duty truck, visit Benna Ford and see the best Ford truck available.
It happened again. The Ford F Series has been named the best-selling truck for the 47th year. Benna Ford is just as proud as always that the F-Series retains its title of the best-selling truck in the U.S. By extension that makes it the best-selling vehicle of any kind in the U.S. Just to save you from doing the math, the F-Series has been the best-selling truck since 1977, the same year Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours ruled the airwaves and 20th Century Fox released something called Star Wars.
Earning the Truck Triple Crown
The Ford F-Series sold 750,789 units in 2023. That is over 200,000 more than the Silverado and over 300,000 more than the Ram Pickup. The F-Series also led sales in a way Ford calls the Truck Triple Crown. With electrification becoming more a part of the industry, Ford is also proud to claim the best EV truck sales of the year with the F-150 Lightning. The F150 PowerBoost Hybrid claims the title of the best-selling full-size full-hybrid pickup in America. In fact, the only hybrid pickup truck that outsold the F-150 PowerBoost is Ford’s own Maverick Hybrid.
“Today, I am thrilled to share a milestone that fills all of us at Ford with immense pride. In 2023, more than 700,000 customers chose a new Ford F-Series truck, making it the best-selling truck in the United States for the 47th consecutive year.” Says Robert Kaffl, Ford Director, U.S. Sales. “It’s a streak that spans four generations (and started when I was only four) and has lasted longer than the entire lifespan of many other popular consumer products, including compact discs and mp3 players, and the entire brick-and-mortar video rental industry.”
Changing for the Better While Keeping What Works
Ford remains on top by paying close attention to what its customers want and how their needs have changed over the years. You will find plenty of differences between the F-150 of today and 47 years ago. Still, they have all been built “Ford Tough” and embody the strength, reliability, and versatility that our customers have come to rely on. Even so, Ford hasn’t hesitated to enhance its vehicles with technological innovations. Nearly a half-century ago, that may have meant the transition from carburated to fuel-injected engines. Today, you see it in the availability of BlueCruise hands-free highway driving, versatile infotainment systems, and sophisticated tools to assist in towing.
Whether it is for the worksite, home, loading the bed full, or towing, there is an F-Series to meet your needs, and chances are you will find exactly what you are looking for at Benna Ford. Check our inventory, drop in for a test drive, and see for yourself why the F-Series is and has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
The Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) announced seven category winners last fall. Benna Ford is happy to tell you that the Mustang Dark Horse was named their favorite Performance vehicle. Each category winner will be a finalist for MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle of 2024 award.
The Favorite Performance Vehicle and four other category favorites are new from MAMA, which previously only issued awards for Favorite Family Vehicle of the Year and Favorite Luxury Family Vehicle of the Year. The organization expanded its awards to “recognize the diversity of vehicles available and of interest to the readers, viewers, and listeners of MAMA’s membership base.”
MAMA was founded in 1994 and now comprises 273 automotive journalists and public relations professionals from across the U.S. and Canada. The automotive journalists have been testing vehicles throughout the year for their particular media outlets, and all members are invited to gather together for three drive events:
- The MAMA Spring Rally
- MAMA’s Favorites Fall Fest
- Chicago Drives Electric
Voting for the category favorites narrowed a field of over 100 eligible models to a few select members in each category. In the fall, they selected the Mustang Dark Horse and the other category winners.
“With more than 100 new, redesigned, or refreshed vehicles MAMA members could drive during 2023, it was time to assess the breadth and depth of product at each event and for the year as a whole,” said Robert Duffer, MAMA President. “You could say MAMA loves all of her vehicles equally, but everyone knows there’s only one MAMA’s Favorite.”
Though they riffed plenty on their MAMA acronym, the organization of communicators did not explain their reasons for selecting the Mustang Dark Horse. Still, it is not hard to imagine how the 5.0-liter V-8 producing 500 horsepower while still being naturally aspirated could capture their attention. The choice in transmissions is between the 10-speed, which is capable of greater acceleration and lap times, or the rev-matching 6-speed manual, which is simply more fun. A Torsen LSD, tighter chassis tuning, and Brembo six-piston front calipers clamping on 15.4-inch rotors, plus four-piston calipers and 14.0-inch rotors, round out the performance. It probably also doesn’t hurt that the Dark Horse shows the Mustang proudly soldiering forward while the Camero and Challenger say their goodbyes again.
MAMA members will now vote on which finalists they will award as MAMA’s Favorite Vehicle of 2024, which will be announced on February 8 at the 2024 Chicago Auto Show during a MAMA-hosted breakfast. As they have done non-stop for 60 years (as of April 17th, 2024), Ford keeps the high-performance sport coupe tradition alive in America. If you would like that tradition in your driveway, visit Benna Ford for a thrilling test drive.
Motor Authority Annual Best Car To Buy
Every year Motor Authority holds their Best Car To Buy, and for the 2024 challenge, they took roughly 25 new or updated luxury and performance cars, trucks, and SUVs, and chose just 5 of the bunch to be named the site’s best of the best. The official winner will be announced on January 3, 2024. One of the five finalists they chose was the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Why The Dark Horse
When talking about why they chose the Dark Horse as one of their finalists, Motor Authority said, “The Ford Mustang will be the last pony car standing at the end of this year, and the S650 generation brings with it a monster, the Dark Horse. With 500 hp from a naturally aspirated V-8, dual throttle bodies, and an available handling package with sticky Pirelli Trofeo RS tires, the Mustang has morphed into a thoroughbred sports car.”
The 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is seemingly a performance bargain, especially when fitted with the ultra-wow Pirelli Trofeo RS tires that are normally reserved for extreme super and hyper cars that cost in the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. However, the Mustang, at roughly $60,000, wears them so that drivers can get the maximum amount of performance out of the Mustang as possible.
Engine And Brakes
As mentioned, the Dark Horse Mustang features a Coyote 5.0-liter V8 that muscles out 500 horsepower and 418 lb-ft of torque, aided by a dual throttle body intake and connecting rods courtesy of the Shelby GT500. Either a 6-speed manual or 10-speed automatic transmission can be had to put that power to the rear wheels. From their years of racing, Ford has given the Dark Horse larger rear sway bars, MagneRide adaptive dampers, and Brembo 6-piston brakes both front and rear to haul the vehicle down from high speeds.
The 2024 Mustang Dark Horse is available for purchase or a custom order now.
At Benna Ford, we offer our customers some of the best prices and services. With more than 100 new and used vehicles to choose from, our outstanding sales team and finance department will work hard to make sure you drive away happy. And our fantastic service department will take care of your new-to-you vehicle as if it were their own.
Available on the F-150 Lariat and Tremor and standard on King Ranch and Platinum, Ford’s Pro Access Tailgate is the latest in tailgate design. A visit to Benna Ford will quickly demonstrate how its side-swinging door within the traditional tailgate promises to solve some problems that have long plagued traditional tailgate design. It is also the latest in Ford’s long tradition of tailgate innovation.
The Basics Were Set in 1927
The basic form of the tailgate has changed little since the 1927 Model A Wagon and truck. It was the width of the cargo area, bottom hinged with supports on either side that held it to a horizontal position when lowered. Initially, those supports were simply chains. They hung in a loop when the tailgate was up and bounced against the inner walls. In 1964, Ford replaced the chains with hinged metal bars that folded within the tailgate sides and stayed quietly in place.
How the Tailgate Both Provides and Hinders Access
One issue with the standard tailgate design is that an open tailgate keeps one away from the load in the bed, making it more challenging to position items in the bed, make adjustments, and reach for things to unload. In 1980, Ford combatted this with the easily removable tailgate. Though a bit cumbersome, the removed tailgate did allow a person much easier access to loading and unloading the bed.
Interestingly, Ford developed a precursor to the Pro Access in 1966 on its full-size station wagons with a feature called the Magic Doorgate. An available feature at the time was seats on each side of the cargo area, each of which could fit one adult or two children. To prevent those passengers from having to crawl over the tailgate to get in and out, Ford created the Magic Doorgate, in which the full tailgate opened to the side and down. As this was for passenger accommodation, Ford did not extend this feature to its pickup trucks.
The 2000s Provided an Explosion of Tailgate Ideas
In the mid-2000s, Ford showed they paid considerable attention to the tailgate. In another move to improve access to the truck bed in 2006, Ford created a step extension for the King Ranch model. This would drop down at a height approximately halfway between the lowered bed and the ground and out a bit to help you step into the cargo bed. The following year, they showed a Pickup concept in which the entire tailgate would power downward horizontally to both act as a step and give the operator access to the bed while standing on the gate. It never went into production.
In 2008, however, Ford addressed the issue of using the tailgate as an extension of the bed but subsequently leaving the rear open. Available on Super Duty trucks, the Bed Extender was a three-sided cage that could rotate out to create an enclosure on top of the extended gate for long loads. When not needed, the extender would rotate inside to divide the cargo bed or collapse out of the way. In 2021, Ford used the bedliner composite molding on the tailgate to create an on-site workbench with a built-in yardstick, grooves for pencil holders, and other clever shapes to assist working.
Ford’s Pro Access is the Best Tailgate Innovation Yet
Ford’s latest and most comprehensive innovation is the Pro Access tailgate. Here, the middle 60% of the tailgate, or 37 inches, is hinged on the passenger side to swing out of the way to give you access to the cargo bed. The swing-out gate has check-stops at 37, 70, and 100 degrees. The first check stop addresses a long-term issue with traditional tailgates when towing, in which a trailer jack hampers the ability to lower the tailgate.
The 37-degree check is designed to stop just short of the trailer jack to give the operator bed access. When there is no trailer, the 70-degree stop provides easier access while still remaining within easy reach to close. Opening it 100 degrees gets it completely out of the way for unloading. A wider kick step on the bumper under the license plate provides a convenient step for entering the cargo bed area.
That the Pro Access hardware adds 62 pounds to the tailgate weight is not an issue because every Pro Access tailgate comes standard with power raising and lowering. By contrast, GM’s Multi-flex tailgate does not address the trailer jack issue, and Ram’s 60/40 side swinging tailgate adds 75 pounds and has no power function.
The Pro Access tailgate is both the latest in Ford’s long history of tailgate innovation and just an example of the clever, user-based thinking that Ford puts into all of its trucks. Take a look at the best and best-selling trucks in the U.S. at Benna Ford.
Bidirectional charging is the ability to draw current from your household and when needed, reverse the process and send electricity back into the home. The F-150 Lightning has always had this ability, and Ford has explained it as a potential power source in the event of a grid power outage. Ford is considering harnessing this ability to lower a household’s electricity bill. Benna Ford explains how this is possible.
This past December, Ford announced they will partner with a company called Resideo Technologies. This partnership is meant to explore an energy management system that pairs the electric pickup truck’s battery with a Resideo smart thermostat used to control a home’s heating and cooling system, which is usually a home’s most energy-intensive system.
Taking Advantage of Tiered Energy Plans
The system would benefit locations with an electricity supplier with a tiered energy cost program in which the company charges more per kilowatt for peak usage periods. The peak period can often be in the late afternoon to early evening when both work and home locations draw power for climate control systems. For instance, the electricity supplier may charge more per kilowatt from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm than the rest of the day. The idea is that if an F-150 Lightning is home for the day during all or part of this time, it can supply electricity for the climate system during the peak period and draw from it during non-peak hours. Homes with solar can further benefit from vehicle charging while the electricity is essentially free and then having the vehicle supply power during the peak period after sundown.
The value of this ability would depend greatly on the habits of individual households and the timing of their use of their EV and climate control system. If used on a widespread basis, such a system could even reduce strain on the grid during these peak periods, theoretically to the point where there are no longer peak usage periods.
Year-Long International Feasibility Study
Ford will explore the potential for this capability through the 2024 calendar year. Part of the program involves collaborating with Volkswagen to test the system on an entire housing estate in Sweden. Volkswagen presently sells no bidirectional capable models in the United States. If the program yields positive results, and Ford thinks the results can apply to the United States, they will likely expand bidirectional charging to the Mustang Mach-E and future EVs.
When the time comes, Benna Ford will be sure to have information on how you could benefit from the idea. In the meantime, the F-150 Lightning, Kelley Blue Book’s winner for Electric Truck Best Buy, and fully bidirectional charging capability are available at Benna Ford right now. See how the EV pickup truck could fit into and benefit your life.
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