I’m in the market for one and had a few questions—hoping someone can help me out.
I just sold my Tesla, so I’m familiar with EVs, but the biggest thing for me is charging. I already have a Tesla wall charger. Is anyone using that to charge their Lightning at home?
With my Tesla, I could charge up to 90% in about 2-3 hours using the wall charger. I know the Lightning has a bigger battery, so I’m wondering how much longer it’ll take. I drive for work, usually 60-75 miles a day, but sometimes I go over 100-150 miles. Would the Lightning be a good fit for my daily needs?
My Tesla had a range of 267 miles, but I’d burn through that quickly. How does the Lightning compare in terms of efficiency? Also, what’s the fastest home charger available?
I found a brand-new Lightning Pro for $48k—seems like a good deal. What do you guys think?
I do at least 100 miles a day (hospital visits for my 4-month-old with RSV), and I use anywhere between 40-50% of the battery. I can charge back to 90% overnight in about 7 hours with the extended battery. Most of my driving is highway at 75 mph.
For your average of 75 miles a day, even the standard battery should be fine.
It’s definitely less efficient than a Tesla. I have both—my Lightning Flash gets about 1.8 mi/kWh, while my Tesla Model 3 gets 4 mi/kWh. But it’s a truck vs. a car, so that’s expected.
Your Tesla charger should work fine with an NACS to J1772 adapter. I have a 14-50 outlet and just swap mobile chargers. With your mileage, you should be fine—just plug in as soon as you get home.
Also, is your route mostly flat, or do you have hills?
Since you have consistent daily mileage, I’d recommend the **extended range model, especially if you’re in a cold climate. Used Lightnings can be found for about the price you mentioned.
Tesla is way more efficient, but the Lightning has better ride quality, more functional space, and great power. Software isn’t as good, but CarPlay is a plus. Your Tesla charger will work fine—just make sure it’s running at 48A/11.2 kW so you can charge from 20-80% overnight.
I got a used 2022 XLT Extended Range and bought an extended warranty for up to 100k miles. Also, make sure to get the 360 Camera Package—it’s a big truck, and parking can be tricky!
You listed different mileage numbers, so it’s a little unclear what your real daily use is. Is it 60-75 miles a day, or more like 100-150?
Also, is this mostly city or highway driving? How fast do you drive? What’s your climate like?
Here’s what I can tell you:
The Extended Range Lightning can barely hit 267 miles on the highway at 70 mph in perfect conditions.
If it’s cold, windy, or you drive aggressively, you might only get 200 miles.
City driving under 50 mph will get you 300+ miles.
Your Tesla wall charger on a 40A circuit will take about 9.5 hours to charge from 20-90%. If you want something faster, you might need a different EVSE (charging unit). The Lightning’s max charge rate depends on the model—some go up to 19.2 kW (80A), but most cap at 11.2 kW or 9.6 kW.
@Sawyer
You’re right, I wasn’t super clear—I usually do 60-75 miles a day, but some days hit 100+. I drive for sales, so I do a lot of stop-and-go plus highway miles.
If I wanted a higher-amperage home charger, which ones are good?
@Wade
Check out State of Charge on YouTube—he reviews a lot of home chargers.
I have the Ford Charge Station Pro, but it’s overpriced and missing features that aftermarket options have for half the cost.
Before buying, check your Lightning’s max AC charge capability. No point getting an 80A charger if your truck can only take 40A. Your Tesla charger might already be enough.
@Zephyr
This is super helpful. I’m really leaning towards the Lightning. With my Tesla, I’d charge to 268 miles (80%) but somehow use all of that driving around with my wife and son, even though I wasn’t actually going 200+ miles in a day.
I just switched from a Tesla Model X 100D to a 2024 Lightning Flash, and I love it! Been using a Tesla charger with J1772, and it works great. I drive 90 miles a day, charge at off-peak hours, and it’s always ready to go in the morning.
With 0% for 72 months, price drops, and Tesla-owner incentives, now’s a great time to buy.
@Sky
My dealer has 2024 Pros, but they’re $12k more than the 2025 model. If they match my price, I’d jump on the 2024. Are there any changes between the two?