2027 Ford electric truck replaces 12V with 48V zonal architecture

[WXman]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

 

[metroshot]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

What rumors have you been reading ?

My EV's 12V battery has never given me an issue - 3 + years & 50,000 miles.

I have left my Mach E at the airport parking lot for a month recently while away in Europe and never an issue upon return. The HV battery was still at the same charge level and TCU modem worked well with connectivity via the Ford Pass app even from halfway around the world.

My wife's PHEV original OEM 12V battery was recently replaced after 7 + years and 80,000 miles.

 

[ScooterAsheville]

The more I read, the more I dislike this vehicle. On the F-150 Lightning (and other EVs as well from what I’ve seen across the Web) one of the common issues is that the system will drain the 12V battery in about a week. That’s why it’s so important to totally disconnect 12V power if you plan to store the truck for a while. And it’s also why 12V batteries don’t last long on these EVs. So now they are going to replace the job the 12V battery used to do with a 48V battery? A 48V battery that certainly is not going to be stocked at every Walmart and auto parts store in America like 12V batteries are.

This is more and more starting to sound like a vehicle that Ford is building to save money at time of sale, but as the years pass the owner will shell it out in dealership repairs instead.

You're aware UEV vehicles don't have a low voltage battery, right? They use a DC to DC converter (generally a highly reliable component if properly specified and cooled) to supply low voltage directly from the high voltage battery.

You're not wrong about some vehicles having battery drain issues. Heck, Maverick hybrids were dying for that reason in the early days. But it's completely irrelevant to the UEV platform.

I don't think there's any data out there suggesting the UEV will be a glorious source of wealth to dealerships. In general, BEVs are extremely low maintenance, and dealerships hate selling them for that reason (most dealer profit originates from service). And also, the UEV platform can be updated OTA for software issues - unlike my Maverick, which has been flashed four times in four years for recalls.

I think generally people start disliking a vehicle, and then they come up with reasons to explain why they dislike it. The same is true in reverse. Over on the Slate forum, you should see the total baloney people put out just to justify totally nutty narratives about how the Slate walks on water.

Another narrative out there is that "stealerships" will charge $5,000 over list. Let them. Just buy from one of the national volume dealerships at a discount and have them ship it to your door. You don't have to use your legs. Click the mouse a few times. Click a few keyboard keys. You've got a discounted Fathom in two minutes. Maverick owners have been doing this for years (not me, because Asheville Ford ROCKS).