Electric Vehicles

[Martinjlm]

I did a quick check via AI. Here's what they say when I ask "how many pilot / flying j have EV charging"...

Currently, Pilot Flying J has EV charging at over 130 locations across more than 25 states. This is a result of a collaboration with General Motors and EVgo, aiming to build a coast-to-coast EV fast-charging network.
The long-term goal for this partnership is to establish up to 2,000 fast-charging stalls at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J locations strategically positioned along major highways and travel corridors across the United States.
These charging stations are designed to offer a convenient and user-friendly experience, including features like multiple fast-charging stalls with up to 350kW power, pull-through stalls to accommodate larger vehicles and trailers, canopies for protection from the elements, and amenities like lounges, restrooms, food options, and free Wi-Fi.

[snizzle]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

I did a quick check via AI. Here's what they say when I ask "how many pilot / flying j have EV charging"...

Currently, Pilot Flying J has EV charging at over 130 locations across more than 25 states. This is a result of a collaboration with General Motors and EVgo, aiming to build a coast-to-coast EV fast-charging network.
The long-term goal for this partnership is to establish up to 2,000 fast-charging stalls at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J locations strategically positioned along major highways and travel corridors across the United States.
These charging stations are designed to offer a convenient and user-friendly experience, including features like multiple fast-charging stalls with up to 350kW power, pull-through stalls to accommodate larger vehicles and trailers, canopies for protection from the elements, and amenities like lounges, restrooms, food options, and free Wi-Fi.

This part is exactly what I was curious about in bold. I will pass by a few Pilots that are marked as having EV charging this weekend on the way to OBX. I'll have a truck and a trailer. Maybe i'll go take a look (and then get gas).

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by snizzle

This part is exactly what I was curious about in bold. I will pass by a few Pilots that are marked as having EV charging this weekend on the way to OBX. I'll have a truck and a trailer. Maybe i'll go take a look (and then get gas).

I actually wound up charging at the Port Huron, Michigan Pilot / GM Energy charge station yesterday. Returning home from a trip and figured that I'd get enough charge to make certain I would get home drama-free. It does not have a pull through. Unless it was on the other side of the building where the class 8 truck refueling is (I didn't go around that side) there is no pull-through. I thought they all had pull-through, but apparently not.

Anyway, I pulled in, plugged in and the charge started immediately, just like with Teslas at Superchargers. Went inside, bought a sandwich and a ginger ale. By the time I came back out I had enough charge to complete my trip. Spent 8 minutes 54 seconds to get an additional 75 miles or so. I was only 62 miles from home. Cost me $10.78 for about 20 kWh of energy.

[Martinjlm]

Hot rumor… Ford is going to announce SIX new EVs next week. After a couple years of silence and program delays, Ford is bringing their “skunkworks” above ground.

[detamble13]

I had read Ford was making an announcement but I had no idea it included six vehicles. I was under the impression it had to do with battery technology. A real game changer would be EVs that cost the same or less than their ICE counterparts. Here's to hoping.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by detamble13

I had read Ford was making an announcement but I had no idea it included six vehicles. I was under the impression it had to do with battery technology. A real game changer would be EVs that cost the same or less than their ICE counterparts. Here's to hoping.

I did a little digging and have a bit more clarification. Ford will likely introduce 1 or 2 new EVs next week. They have concurrently trademarked 6 names for EVs, so they are not going to reveal them all at the same time. They’ll just reveal 1 or 2.

[olrocker]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Hot rumor… Ford is going to announce SIX new EVs next week. After a couple years of silence and program delays, Ford is bringing their “skunkworks” above ground.

Perfect timing for them, just as the EV craze is downturning, the tax credits expire, and EPA and CAFE regs are lifted/rescinded/eliminated……

I know they’ve had to have this in the works for probably 4-5 years but it’s gonna sting them now.

[Martinjlm]

A little more clarification...

Ford will be revealing the new low cost EV platform that was developed by their skunkworks. Like GM's "platform formerly known as Ultium" this new platform will be capable of supporting multiple tophats and delivering multiple products. So Monday, they will reveal the platform and 1 or 2 of the products produced on the platform. The other trademarked names are basically reserved spots for the next several vehicles coming off of that platform.

[Capricio]

I wonder if Ford will also use their profits from ICE sales to sustain their EV losses? Better get a leg up by raising their ICE prices some more.

[bigd1276]

Looks like Ford is pumping the brakes on EVs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news...9a96da4e&ei=14

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by bigd1276

Looks like Ford is pumping the brakes on EVs.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news...9a96da4e&ei=14

I think it would be more accurate to say that they are restructuring their approach to EVs. On Monday they are revealing the "fruits" of their skunkworks EV development. They are also finishing construction of their EV development campus. They are delaying the major upgrade planned for F150 Lightning but at the same time we (the company I work at that forecasts the auto industry) expect that the first vehicle off the skunkworks platform will be a compact pickup EV. They may or may not introduce a small SUV based off the pickup, which is why I say they will intro 1 or 2 vehicles Monday. Could be just the pickup. Could be the pickup and the SUV.

Ford has (in my opinion) a big portfolio problem. Edge is gone. Escape is gone at the end of the year. Fusion and Focus are long gone. Their portfolio starts at Bronco Sport and Maverick. Then there is nothing in the middle until you get to Explorer and Mach E. Big price jump there. Other than pickups, which they clearly have a solid handle on, they have nothing in the highest volume segments in the US market. No Compact or Midsized CUV. That's the hole left by Edge and Escape getting dropped. I think their original plan had EV CUVs in those slots, but those are the vehicles being delayed. Life's gonna be interesting for the next 2 - 3 years. They do have product in those segments in Europe, but there's that whole tariff thing.

[Martinjlm]

Here is what Ford has actually said on this matter, as reported by Automotive News. AN is basically the Bible of automotive industry information.

Ford Motor Co. is again delaying two of its next-generation electric vehicles as it switches its focus to smaller, more affordable offerings.

The automaker in recent months told suppliers that a full-size electric pickup set for its BlueOval City assembly plant in Tennessee has been delayed to 2028 from 2027, according to three people familiar with the plans. Separately, an electric van — expected to be a next-generation E-Transit — slated for 2026 production in Avon Lake, Ohio, also is delayed until 2028, the sources said.

Both vehicles already have been pushed back before. The van, first announced in 2022, originally was expected “mid-decade,” while the pickup, known internally as “T3,” initially had been promised by this year.

Ford confirmed the delays Aug. 7 in response to a request for comment from Automotive News, saying it informed suppliers and employees of the new timetables in June.

“F-150 Lightning, America’s best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet today’s customer needs,” a Ford spokesperson said in a statement. “We remain focused on delivering our Ford+ plan and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability.”

The delays come as Ford pivots its focus to a low-cost EV platform designed to underpin a handful of smaller models, starting with a small pickup in 2027. The automaker is expected to share details on those plans Aug. 11 at its Louisville Assembly Plant in Kentucky.

“The pure EV market in the U.S. seems to us very clear: small vehicles used for commuting and around town, so to speak,” CEO Jim Farley said on Ford’s second-quarter earnings call. “And commercial … we think that’s going to be a robust business, but we want to shrink the number of top hats. We’re going to have just a few. And we’ve made the adjustments in timing, we think, and to be in segments where we can actually make money on EVs.”

Ford last year canceled a pair of three-row electric crossovers it planned to build in Oakville, Ontario. Instead, Ford is transforming the Canadian plant to make Super Duty pickups.

“We are moving from being the dominant player in truck hybrids in the U.S. to offering EREVs, PHEVs, and a full range of hybrids across our lineup, especially our bigger vehicles,” Farley said on the second-quarter earnings call. “We think that’s a much better move than a $60,000 to $70,000 all electric crossover. We think that that’s really what customers are going to want long term.”

[bigd1276]

From the article.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by bigd1276

From the article.

I read all of that. Not sure what you think I missed. Ford is delaying one pickup (the full-size F150 Lightning refresh) and one van (the Transit EV refresh) until 2028. At the same time they will on Monday introduce a small EV pickup and maybe an SUV based on the small EV pickup. What did I miss?


***EDIT*** Just got my invitation to attend the livestream of Monday's announcement. Interesting that they are referring to it as their next Model T moment. Apparently they think it's a big deal. Kinda like NOT pumping the brakes.