My F-150 Lightning Hit 33K Miles, It Powers My House, Hauls Server Racks, and Tackles Off-Road Trails, But There's One Thing Missing

A year into ownership, 33,000 miles under its belt, and one Ford F-150 Lightning owner has his verdict: This truck is a workhorse, an engineering marvel, and possibly the best EV truck on the market. But like every modern electric vehicle, it has its Achilles’ heel, and in this case, it’s the one thing keeping it from total perfection.

"Crossed the 1yr mark this week.

33k miles and only issue I’ve had was a clicking CV joint that went away when I got new wheels and tires - kinda strange.

Really couldn’t be any happier with the truck unless it had an onboard range extender. Really the only thing it’s lacking. I don’t want bigger batteries. Give me 100KWH and a 60KW range extender and I’ll have my ideal EV truck.

But for now the Lightning is easily one of the best trucks on the market. I’ve powered my house, hauled entire server racks of equipment, powered camp sights, light wheelin at the off-road parks, and hauled more cedar at mt property than I wanted to have to clear. Did Austin to Oklahoma in single digit weather and the Texas coast in 110° weather.

Only gripe is now moot with Tesla charging - fast charging in Texas is aweful."

A Truck That Lives Up to the Hype (Mostly)

The F-150 Lightning isn’t just some glorified mall crawler built for wealthy suburbanites who like the idea of an EV truck. This is a real, honest-to-God truck that has seen everything from hauling server racks to conquering brutal Texas heat and ice-cold road trips through single-digit weather. It has powered homes, pulled loads, and tackled trails without a hiccup—aside from that strange clicking CV joint, which miraculously fixed itself with a new set of wheels and tires.

F150 Lightning Specifications

• The F‑150 Lightning features a dual‐motor all‐wheel drive system that delivers impressive horsepower and torque, offering brisk acceleration and a practical driving range (up to around 300 miles on a charge) for both daily commutes and heavy-duty work. 
• With its Pro Power Onboard system, the Lightning transforms its truck bed into a mobile generator, providing built-in power outlets to run tools, appliances, and even serve as a backup power source during outages. 
• Loaded with smart connectivity features and Ford Co-Pilot360 driver-assist technologies, it combines cutting-edge tech with the enduring durability and versatility that the F‑150 lineup is known for.

And here’s what makes this story interesting: the owner isn’t asking for more battery. In an era where EV enthusiasts scream for more range, more kilowatt-hours, and more megawatt charging speeds, he just wants a range extender. A 60kW onboard generator paired with a 100kWh battery would eliminate the only real drawback of this otherwise stellar truck: unpredictable charging infrastructure.

A Gamble You Don’t Want to Take

Gary’s biggest complaint—charging in Texas—exposes the major flaw in America’s EV revolution. The Lightning itself is more than capable, with fast-charging speeds exceeding 150 kW when the stars align. But that’s the catch, when the stars align.

In reality, charging outside of major metro areas is a game of Russian roulette. Broken stations, slow charging speeds, and software bugs make long-distance EV truck ownership an exercise in patience. And in Texas, where road trips can stretch across hundreds of miles of empty land, that’s a dealbreaker.

Ford finally wised up and signed on to Tesla’s Supercharger network, which should fix the problem, eventually. But the fact that Tesla had to save Ford from its own infrastructure problem is a little embarrassing. Imagine if, in 1975, Ford owners had to drive to a Chevrolet dealership just to find a working gas pump.

The Backup Power Disaster, $11,000 for Nothing?

While Gary’s experience has been largely positive, other Lightning owners are less forgiving. Ford’s biggest selling point for the Lightning—its ability to power your house during a blackout—is starting to look like vaporware for some unlucky buyers.

Scott Shepard, another F-150 Lightning owner, chimed in with this:

“I have had mine it will be two years on Feb 6th and I paid $11k for the whole house backup power system and they have yet to get it to work. Ford keeps telling me it’s a software issue and they are working on it and will roll out over the air patch that will fix it. It’s just not being done and I’m growing more frustrated all the time. Love the truck, but I just can’t believe it. Ford isn’t in a hurry to solve this problem. Love the truck though.”

Ford pushed its Intelligent Backup Power system hard, just plug in your truck, and it can power your entire home during an outage. Sounds amazing, right? Except that, in practice, it seems to be about as functional as an 8-track player in 2024.

When Software Glitches Become Lawsuits

Scott isn’t alone. Another owner, Werdna Izzy, responded with this,

“Same. Have had my HIS installed for 2 years now. Doesn’t work. There has to be litigation that can be done with this.”

Scott is already considering taking things public,

“I’m trying to figure out the next steps here. I have told the EV division that I was going to go to the local news customer complaint line. It didn’t accomplish anything with a threat so maybe I’m just going to have to do it. That will give Ford Motor Company some unwanted PR. Trying to avoid that posturing but it doesn’t seem to faze the EV Division.”

Ford is already facing challenges in its EV division, slowing sales, aggressive price cuts, and a customer base that’s realizing maybe full battery-electric trucks aren’t quite ready for prime time. The last thing it needs is a class-action lawsuit over a feature that should have worked from day one.

So, Is the Lightning Still Worth It?

Gary’s takeaway is blunt: It’s still one of the best trucks on the market. If you use it like a real truck, hauling, off-roading, and working, it delivers. But that experience depends on three things, reliable charging, working software, and reasonable expectations about how far an EV truck can take you before needing a recharge.

If you live in a place where charging is reliable, you’re set. If you expect your truck to function as a mobile backup generator? You might want to hold off until Ford gets its act together.

Fix It, or Fall Behind

Ford has two major issues to address if it wants the Lightning to remain a leader in the EV truck segment, Fix the software, now. If Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power system isn’t working for paying customers, it needs to be a top priority. No vague promises, no corporate excuses, just fix it.

Give truck buyers a real range-extending option. Gary’s idea of a 60kW onboard generator isn’t crazy, it’s necessary. EV trucks are incredible machines, but expecting them to work everywhere without a backup plan is a fantasy. The Lightning is proof that an electric truck can be a legitimate workhorse. But if Ford doesn’t address its software and charging shortcomings, it risks losing the segment to companies that will. If Rivian or Tesla delivers a rock-solid alternative, one that charges anywhere, works as promised, and doesn’t leave owners fighting corporate indifference, Ford’s head start in the EV truck space might evaporate faster than a full charge on a cold winter night.

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.