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And it Starts Below $40K: Ford Electric F-150 Lightning Rocks Debut

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Ford revealed its all-electric F-150 Lightning Wednesday night that CEO Jim Farley is convinced will propel the nascent EV industry ahead fast.

“There’s nothing that will move America faster into an EV future than #F150Lightning,” Farley tweeted Wednesday morning 12 hours ahead of tonight’s 9:30 p.m. reveal.

Fleets may well lead the charge for the low maintenance, 563-horsepower truck that starts at $39,974, or roughly $12,000 less than the competing Lordstown Endurance and $35,000 less than Rivian’s R1T Launch Edition.

“If you’re a commercial customer, we have an F-150 Lightning just for you,” Farley said on stage during the reveal. “It offers the lowest cost of ownership of any truck we’ve ever made. It needs less maintenance because it has 40 percent less moving parts in the powertrain and of course you never have to stop at the gas station.”

A 40% reduction in moving parts translates into big savings. When revealing electric Transit in November, Farley said the van “should save about 40% on operating costs tied to scheduled maintenance versus a gas-powered Transit during each vehicle’s lifetime. Customers should see more uptime too.”

While Ford has not released towing numbers on the E-Transit, F-150 Lightning Chief Engineer Linda Zhang said the truck will tow up to 10,000 pounds (on XLT and Lariat trucks with the extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package.)

If towing performance is anything like Rivian’s R1T electric pickup, which is set to roll out next month, then Lightning’s range will be cut roughly in half during max towing.

Compared to pickups with internal combustion engines, that’s not exactly bad news. A 2019 Titan XD diesel pickup reviewed by Hard Working Trucks and Equipment World was getting around 14mpg city and dropped to 7.5mpg city when hauling a bed full of oak firewood and towing 7,000 pounds. Fuel economy was cut about 40% when testing a 2019 Ford F-250 diesel with a 7,000-pound load in tow.

To help gauge range impact while carrying passengers and hauling, Ford’s Onboard Scales use Lightning’s sensors to estimate payload which is then used to calculate range.

As with all EVs, charger availability and charge times may prove challenging. On a 150-kilowatt DC fast charger, Ford reports that an “extended-range F-150 Lightning is targeted to get up to 54 miles of range in 10 minutes and charge from 15% to 80% percent in about 41 minutes.”

The University of Michigan’s battery lab technical director Greg Less told Equipment World’s sister publication Commercial Carrier Journal last year that fast-charging “puts a strain on current generation batteries” and that “you can do it once in a while without causing any serious damage to the engine, but you wouldn’t want to do it all of the time.”

Lightning’s standard-range battery offers up to 230 miles of EPA-estimated range and an extended-range battery targets 300 miles of EPA-estimated range.  

Charge it upPro Power Onboard provides juice to 11 outlets on the truck.Pro Power Onboard provides juice to 11 outlets on the truck.Ford

As demand continues to rise for more power and storage capacity, the F-150 Lightning appears to have stepped up to meet the challenge.

For fleets that remain on the hunt for outlets—and who doesn’t?—to charge up power tool batteries or to power up air compressors and other juice-hungry equipment, Lightning can provide.

Pro Power Onboard provides juice to 11 outlets on the truck. Up to 2.4 kilowatts is available through the spacious frunk while 7.2 kilowatts is available through outlets in the cab and bed.

During a power outage, Ford Intelligent Backup Power can provide up to 9.6 kilowatts to power a home. Based on an average of 30 kWh of power use per day, Lightning can meet a home’s power needs for up to three days or as long as 10 days if power is rationed.

With Ford Intelligent Backup Power, enabled by the available 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro and home management system Ford can help install, F-150 Lightning automatically kicks in to provide backup power. Once power is restored, the truck automatically reverts to charging its battery.

Keeping range impact in mind, a FordPass notification will provide an alert if the truck’s battery falls below one-third of its total range. Also, users can program Pro Power Onboard to stop if the battery level approaches the distance to the nearest charging station.

Because more stuff demands more storage, Ford has provided a spacious, 14-cubic-foot frunk under Lightning’s hood, which can hold up to 400 pounds of stuff while the bed has a max payload of 2,000 pounds.

The water-resistant frunk has four electrical outlets, two USB chargers and a drainable floor that can double as a cooler. If the frunk gets funky, just enable the outlet cover and wash it out with a hose.

Impressive EV performance

A low center of gravity on the Ford F-150 Lightning comes courtesy of the battery pack housed between the front and rear axles.A low center of gravity on the Ford F-150 Lightning comes courtesy of the battery pack housed between the front and rear axles.Ford

A fun and memorable hallmark of EVs is their instant access to all that power that those battery cells can provide. (Okay, torque limiters are put in place to keep Larry Leadfoot from getting too carried away.)

The F-150 Lightning is the fastest truck Ford has ever produced. Farley said it will go from zero to 60 in the mid four-second range. That’s faster than Raptor and about evenly matched with the supercharged 702-hp Ram TRX which Ram says has a zero to 60 time of 4.5 seconds (reporters at MotorTrend and Car and Driver have reported better numbers).

Quick acceleration is a thrill.

“It hauls ass and it tows like a beast,” Farley said.

President Joe Biden was also impressed with the pickup’s performance during a surprise test drive this week at Ford’s Rouge plant in Dearborn, Mich.

“This sucker’s quick,” Biden told reporters.

Farley praised the truck for its quiet but dominating power and noted that it handles better than a conventional truck.

“I was completely blown away. It’s like no pickup truck I’ve ever driven,” Farley said. “The driving experience is a complete thrill. We’re targeting 770 foot pounds of torque and just under 600 horsepower. The zero to 60 for this truck is in the mid four-second range. That’s quicker than the Raptor and it’s a lot quicker than the original SVT Lightning performance truck. But what makes it so unique is that it’s so quick yet super quiet inside and so smooth.”

The truck gets a new independent rear suspension and four wheel drive comes standard. A “very low center of gravity,” Farley explained, comes courtesy of the battery pack housed between the front and rear axles.

Self-driving is available through Ford Co-Pilot360’s BlueCruise, which allows for hands-free driving on more than miles of pre-qualified divided highways in the U.S. and Canada with more Hands-Free Blue Zones to come in the future.

Advanced digital experience in the cabA 15.5-inch monitor takes center stage in the F-150 Lightning.A 15.5-inch monitor takes center stage in the F-150 Lightning.Ford

Making its truck debut on F-150 Lightning in the Lariat and Platinum series is SYNC 4A which is supported by a 15.5-inch touch screen and designed to adapt to driver behavior.

SYNC 4A employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to various services like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, integrated Amazon Alexa and SYNC AppLink apps.

A 12-inch instrument cluster features a customizable interface designed to instill confidence by naturally surfacing key information. Animated graphics relay how the vehicle is performing in hands-free highway driving mode or how well you’re bringing power back to your vehicle through regenerative braking.

“It really is the smartest F-150 we’ve ever made,” said Darren Palmer, general manager, Battery Electric Vehicles, Ford Motor. “F-150 Lightning offers an immersive touch screen, giving our customers all the info they want in an instant – a real-time view of where they’re going, what they’re hauling or how much real-world range they’ve got banked. And with Ford Power-Up software updates, the experience is only going to get better.”Lightning Charging 60a67cfc499f4

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Cat’s Next Generation 255 and 265 Get More Power, Lift Height

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Caterpillar is bidding farewell to its 259D3, 279D3 and 289D3 compact track loaders with the introduction of its new, next-generation 255 and 266 models.

The completely redesigned models debuted at media and customer events at Caterpillar’s Edwards, Illinois, Demonstration and Learning Center last week. The 255 and 265 offer improved engine performance, more lift height, a roomier cab and more standard technology than their predecessors.

“We kept the DNA of the D3 series while reimagining the possibilities of loader performance using voice of customer feedback to lead the way,” says Trevor Chase, product application specialist for Caterpillar. “Both next-generation models leverage the many benefits offered by the vertical lift design. The new Cat 255 replaces the 259D3, while the 265 replaces both the 279D3 and 289D3 machines.”

The CTLs are the last of Cat’s building and construction products to get the next-generation treatment and simplified nomenclature. The first number (2) represents the skid steer loader and compact track loader machine family; the middle number (5 or 6) designates the machine size; and the ending number (5) is the compact track loader identifier. Skid steers will be identified by a 0 end number. Additional new models will roll out in the coming months, the company says.

Caterpillar 265 compact track loader carrying a blockCaterpillarMore power and torque

Cat equipped the 255 with a C2.8T engine and the 265 with a C2.8TA engine, both at 74 horsepower. This gives the new machines a significant boost in torque – 13% for the 255 and 43% for the 256 – over their D3-Series predecessors. The engine and cooling package are mounted lower in the frame for added visibility out the rear window and stability while lifting heavy loads.

Customers attest that the added lift height makes truck loading easier. The 255 offers 10 feet 4 inches of lift height, while the 265 can reach 11 feet high.

“The lift height has made a big difference when loading trucks,” said Derrick Roger, owner of Coast to Coast Lawnscapes, who spent several months testing the 255. “You can get on top of that truck now and empty the bucket; whereas, before you would have to shake the bucket to try to get the material to fall out.”

The 255 delivers 36% more tilt breakout, 26% higher lift breakout force and a 24% increase in rated operating capacity (ROC). The 265 also delivers 19% higher tilt breakout force and 22% higher lift breakout force.

Standard hydraulic pressure has been increased to 3,500 psi, allowing the 255 and 265 to operate all Cat Smart Attachments with the standard auxiliary hydraulics provided.

If demanding attachments require additional hydraulic flow, customers can have their Cat dealer activate the high flow functionality on the machine or remotely via software update. This makes it possible for the CTLs to hit 30 gallons per minute of flow at the standard system pressure.

A High Flow XPS factory option increases auxiliary hydraulic system pressure to 4,061 psi for both models, while also increasing the hydraulic flow to 30 gallons per minute for the 255 and 34 gallons per minute for the 265.

The torsion suspension undercarriage delivers better operator comfort, track wear and material retention, plus the stiffer design results in smoother graded surfaces, Cat says. A new 12.6-inch bar-tread narrow track option is available on the 255.

A more spacious cab

Cat says it has increased the cab width by 2.75 inches without making the machines wider and the footwell-to-ceiling height by 1.8 inches. The larger cab gives operators an additional 1.5 inches of hip room and 1.1 inches more width between the joysticks.

A range of new mechanical and air-ride suspension seat options are available, including a ventilated and heated seat. A new automatic temperature control allows operators to set a specific temperature. Relocated vents help cool or heat the machine quickly.

The standard package includes the same 5-inch LCD monitor as the D3 Series CTLs, which offers Bluetooth connectivity and functionality for the rearview camera feed, creep, job clock, and maintenance reminders.

Customers can upgrade to a new 8-inch advanced touchscreen monitor, like the display found in Cat’s next-generation mini excavators and small loaders. It delivers advanced radio control and supports the 270-degree multicamera option. The advanced monitor pairs with the advanced joysticks for integrated control of all machine functions and adjustments.

“You can adjust the movement – or the aggressiveness or the conservativeness – of how your tracks and lift arms work through your advanced touchscreen display,” Dante Thomas, skid steer and CTL marketing manager, said. “And you can control of all of your display functions from the advanced joysticks. There are buttons with enter and select functions on those joysticks that you’re able to change any functionality that is possible.”

Cat also redesigned the entry, making the 255 and 265 easier to enter and exit. The cab door can be opened even when the lift arms are not fully lowered to the frame stops. It can be removed without tools in less than one minute.

Advanced technologies

Calling the 255 and 265 “one of the most attachment-friendly machines on the market,” Thomas says both the standard and advanced monitors can run Cat Smart Attachments, such as the dozer and grader blades and backhoe.

“It has attachment recognition that when you plug the attachment into the machine, it recognizes which attachment is connected. It adjusts your joystick pattern, so it gives you intuitive and simple control,” says Thomas.

The available Cat Product Link Elite system tracks machine hours, location, asset utilization, provides fault code details and delivers advanced monitoring and machine health, that is remotely accessible via VisionLink. In addition, Product Link Elite provides remote flash and troubleshooting capabilities and quickly enables the remote activation of the SEA High Flow feature.

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Quick Data: 2023 Top-Selling Wheel Loaders and Auction Trends

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Quick Data is a snapshot of new and used wheel loader sales trends from Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data, TopBid auction price service and EquipmentWatch market trend reports.

Demand for wheel loaders has softened with new and used financed wheel loader sales down year-over-year from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023 according to Randall Reilly’s EDA equipment financing data.

Financed new wheel loader sales dropped 10%, while used financed wheel loader sales fell by 15% compared to the same period last year.

Cat (22.4%), Deere (21.0%) and Komatsu (12.4%) held their positions year-over-year as the top three sellers of new financed wheel loaders. Top models sold included the Deere 544 P-Tier (401), Deere 624 P-Tier (380) and the Komatsu WA270-8 (364).

[Watch: “A Really Solid Machine” – Test Run of Komatsu’s WA475-10 Wheel Loader]

Cat (28.5%) and Deere (22.9%) also snagged the No. 1 and 2 positions for the highest number of financed used units sold, with Case (14.7%) claiming the third spot. On the date we examined the data, the top-selling models were the Case 321F (340), Cat 926M (164) and the Case 621G (159). 

During this period, there were more buyers of new loaders in Florida (955) than in any other state. Buyers of new wheel loaders were also prevalent in Texas (893) and Illinois (665). Those states were also top buyers of used financed machines, with 712 units sold in Texas, 413 in Florida, and 412 in Illinois.

EDA data is compiled from state UCC-1 filings on financed construction equipment. EDA continually updates this data as information comes in from each state.

[Related Content: A Rundown of the Latest Wheel Loaders for 2023]

Used Wheel Loader Market

Used wheel loader prices rose 10.1% for the 12-month period from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023, according to Randall Reilly’s EquipmentWatch market trend data.

The average price for a used wheel loader was $137,465 in July 2022 compared to $151,367 in July 2023. The average age of used wheel loaders fell slightly during the period, dropping from 8.8 years to 8.3 years.

EquipmentWatch Used wheel loader price and age chartEquipmentWatchThe average age and price were calculated on 153,356 resale listings during the period in the EquipmentWatch database.

Over the last 12 months, prices for used wheel loaders have in general increased, with the largest gains in October 2022 (6.5%) and February 2023 (2.9%).

EquipmentWatch defines fair market value (FMV) as the monetary value of an asset that can be expected in a transaction with a single seller and single buyer, neither of whom is under any compulsion or time restriction to complete the transaction. FMV for heavy equipment is most closely associated with the private resale market, as opposed to the public auction market.

Wheel Loader Auction Prices

Caterpillar also dominated the auction charts, accounting for 18 of the top 20 wheel loaders sold in terms of price for the 12-month period of September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. Deere and Komatsu were the only other manufacturers to appear on the list.

The top auction price spot went to a 2021 Cat 966M with 2,188 hours. It sold for $400,000 at a Ritchie Bros. auction in Orlando, Fla., on September 21, 2022. The second-highest price paid was $315,000 for a 2019 Cat 980M with 7,836 hours at another Ritchie Bros. sale in Atlanta, on December 1, 2022. Rounding out the top three was a 2018 Deere 944K with 8,941 hours. It sold for $290,00 at a J.M. Wood Auction Co. sale in Montgomery, Ala., on March 21, 2023.

In total, there were 358 wheel loaders sold at auctions tracked by Top Bid during this time, with an average price of $99,747. (This does not include any units sold for less than $5,000.)

EDA, Top Bid and EquipmentWatch are owned by Randall Reilly, parent of Equipment World.

[Related Content: Heavy Equipment Auctions Set for Second Half of 2023

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Video: A closer look at Rokbak articulated dump trucks

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Volvo Construction Equipment bought Terex’s off-road truck line in 2014, and six years later, it rebranded its articulated haulers under the Rokbak name.

On this episode of The Dirt, we hear from Paul Douglas, Volvo vice president of rigid haulers, who explains the differences between the old Terex line and the Rokbak trucks. He also gives a hint at some of the new things coming from Rokbak, including redesigned cabs and replacing the current trucks with new models. There’s also the possibility of a new size truck to hit the market.

Rokbak, as with other construction equipment brands, is working toward a zero-emissions future. On this episode, he explains where the articulated dump truck market is heading in terms of alternative fuel. He adds that customers will see big changes in emissions and engines in the next five years, with the ultimate goal of reaching zero emissions within 10 years.

So to learn more about Rokbak and what the brand has in store for the future, check out this episode of The Dirt.  

Equipment World serves up weekly videos on the latest in construction equipment, work trucks and pickup trucks – everything contractors need to get their work done. Subscribe and visit us at equipmentworld.com!

In This Episode:

  • 00:00 – Rokbak Articulated Haulers
  • 00:30 – Is Rokbak More Reliable Than Terex?
  • 03:22 – Brand New Cab
  • 06:10 – More Changes to Upcoming Rokbak Trucks
  • 09:20 – What Will Rokbak Do in the Next 2-5 Years?
  • 11:24 – What Alternative Fuel Will Rokbak Haulers Use in the Future?
  • 14:53 – Final Thoughts

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