Missed Opportunity: US Forest Service pilot program with Ford for Lightning Trucks

[jclicky]

Looks like Ford got in with the US Forest Service. IMO it would be worth the cost of the trucks & the charging infrastructure alone if Rivian were to get the chance to supply a number of their trucks for their move to EV vehicles.

https://jalopnik.com/us-forest-service-ford-f-150-lightning-ev-truck-test-1849853856

According to a report from Outside Online, the Forest Service has picked up three F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks for “field testing.” The trio will be used as an EV audit for the service, to determine if the trucks can meet the rough demands of the group in green.

Photo: Ford, Image: US Forest Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons​

Above, our speculative rendering of how an F-150 Lightning would look in the Forest Service’s signature green paint. We think it’s stunning.

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[COdogman]

It's a nice idea, but Rivian doesn't have the service capacity yet to be doing that. This was a no brainer for the USFS. Hopefully someday they will be!

 

[crashmtb]

Totally different markets. Rivian doesn't make a fleet spec truck. using R1Ts would be like specing range rovers.

USFS already uses F150s, lightning is a regular F150 with electric underpinnings, ford had models geared to fleet use.

 

[COdogman]

Totally different markets. Rivian doesn't make a fleet spec truck. using R1Ts would be like specing range rovers.

USFS already uses F150s, lightning is a regular F150 with electric underpinnings, ford had models geared to fleet use.

LOL Anyone who has driven any fleet vehicle will know the difference! Hello again window cranks. Yesterday someone in another thread posted the actual list of EVs that government agencies can choose from and it included the Hummer! As a taxpayer I would be pretty annoyed if I saw a Hummer driving around with "US Government" plates. What a waste.

 

[COdogman]

Here is that list if anyone is curious:

https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/FY2023 GSA ZEV Fact Sheet v19Oct2022.pdf

 

[Monkey]

US Forest Service already has a long-standing relationship with Ford. That and Ford is offering the Pro trim level on their Lightning and will probably be giving special pricing on that in this case. As has been pointed out above, Rivian doesn't offer a fleet spec version for the R1T. Which they may at some point once they can get through the backlog of orders. They have a good fleet program for the delivery van so I think they would just extend that to an R1T that's less flashy on the inside. ...Like the R1T, Rivian's delivery van waitlist is quite long. I don't think they have delivered to anyone other than Amazon at this point, maybe a few demo units. ...Amazon being the primary financial backer, integration partner and beta tester and all that.

 

[Monkey]

Here is that list if anyone is curious:

https://www.gsa.gov/cdnstatic/FY2023 GSA ZEV Fact Sheet v19Oct2022.pdf

Amazing that the Hummer EV and Silverado EV are listed. There is no rational or appropriate justification for the Hummer to be there. Never mind it being a serious misuse of taxpayer funds if they bought one, but how would they go about buying one anyway? Would they start hitting up the auctions? GM is only making a couple a week right now with all the supply and production issues and may be recalling *ALL* of them over potentially bad seals on the battery pack. Maybe the Silverado EV makes sense on the list, but it won't even go into production for another 18 months. So weird... GM fingered the right person I guess.

 

[crashmtb]

Amazing that the Hummer EV and Silverado EV are listed. There is no rational or appropriate justification for the Hummer to be there. Never mind it being a serious misuse of taxpayer funds if they bought one, but how would they go about buying one anyway? Would they start hitting up the auctions? GM is only making a couple a week right now with all the supply and production issues and may be recalling *ALL* of them over potentially bad seals on the battery pack. Maybe the Silverado EV makes sense on the list, but it won't even go into production for another 18 months. So weird... GM fingered the right person I guess.

I wouldn’t read too much into what vehicles are on there as it seems to cover off nearly every PHEV or BEV vehicle on the market.

CBP border patrol uses ford raptors in places. No idea if Ford builds them with work truck barebones interiors or iwhat

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