I have a 2023 SR and I see many posts from people getting 1.9kwh or 1.8kwh on the expressway even in ideal weather. In the same conditions—about 60 to 70 degrees—I’ve only managed around 1.6 on the expressway and about 2.0 in the city. This is what my truck shows while I’m driving, not my overall trip numbers. Am I missing something here?
You’re talking about efficiency, not performance. The ER definitely has better performance; it can draw more power from the battery. It offers higher towing capacity and more horsepower. For efficiency, I’d guess the SR is better since it doesn’t have that extra battery weight.
On the freeway, you’ll get below 1.9 if you’re going over 65. I usually drive around 75 in a 70 zone and get about 1.8 for my 25-minute drive. Keep it at 60, and you should hit 320 miles or better. I can easily manage 2.3 or better at that speed. If you’re flooring it from light to light in the city, your range will suffer. I wish Ford would add a chill mode to save battery. The Mach E has a similar feature.
@Micah
At 60, I’m still lucky to hit 2.0. It has to be calm winds or a tailwind and ideal temps for me to go above that.
Mal said:
@Micah
At 60, I’m still lucky to hit 2.0. It has to be calm winds or a tailwind and ideal temps for me to go above that.
I’ve done 30 minutes back and forth at 60 mph and gotten 2.2 or higher with temps in the 60s or 70s using my 24 Flash, no one pedal driving (I’m not a fan), and cruise control with the AC on.
@Micah
Yeah, I’ve hit 2.1-2.2 a few times with a tailwind, but it’s rare. It might be those AT tires that came with my truck.
Mal said:
@Micah
At 60, I’m still lucky to hit 2.0. It has to be calm winds or a tailwind and ideal temps for me to go above that.
Your wheels and tires can easily cause a 10% difference.
@Quincy
I agree, I’m using stock 20-inch wheels but they have Scorpion AT tires on them. Once they wear out, I’ll change back to see if it makes a difference. They also said a 2-inch front lift was done at the dealer, which might not help either.
@Mal
Sometimes that 10% loss is worth it for better traction.
@Micah
I routinely get 2.1 at 70 mph.
Under ideal conditions (65-80F), on level ground, I consistently get 2.3-2.4 miles/KWH in my SR XLT if I keep speeds under 65 MPH. When it’s 30F outside in winter, my efficiency drops to about 1.7-1.8 miles/KWH if I’m under 60 MPH on backroads. Speed and temperature are the main factors.
@Skylar
Thanks for your input! Just to clarify, when you say you hit 2.4 at 65 mph, are you checking it after your trip or while you’re driving?
Greer said:
@Skylar
Thanks for your input! Just to clarify, when you say you hit 2.4 at 65 mph, are you checking it after your trip or while you’re driving?
I look at both real-time and what I see after the trip. I find the “current trip” meter to be super accurate for both range estimate and power consumption. I explained this to my 86-year-old father recently—battery percentage isn’t just an estimate; it’s the actual usable capacity. If I go 40 miles and it uses 15%, I know I can go another 40 miles with another 15% if I keep my driving conditions steady.
I have an SR, and while the ER has about 20-25% more horsepower at the top end, it has the same torque down low. It’s a bit quicker, but I think the 0-60 times are around 4.2 for the SR and 3.8 for the ER. Noticeable difference, but my SR is the fastest vehicle I’ve driven by about 3 seconds, so I’m pretty content lol. For efficiency, I’m averaging about 50/50 city and highway with 2.3 mi/kwh. I get around 1.8 on the highway at 70 mph and about 3.2 when cruising around at 40 mph.
Have you done any mods, like leveling or lifting? What about the tires? What’s your air pressure? And are you using 100% regenerative braking for stopping to maximize energy recovery? Those factors can really affect efficiency. I don’t see a big difference between SR and ER, but check your tire pressure and make sure regenerative braking is on.
@Bliss
What’s the ideal tire pressure?
It’s right on the driver door.
Not exactly. Ford sent out a TSB recommending 42 PSI for all Lightnings, regardless of door specs. Stock “A/T” tires have 36 PSI on the sill, but that’s for a lighter gas vehicle—it doesn’t account for the increased weight and efficiency needs of the EV Lightnings.
The dashboard tells you, but it’s high—like 42 or 46? It’s also on the door jam.
@Bliss
Everything is stock and regenerative braking is on. I’ll check the tire pressure, but the truck shows 35.