2022 Ford F-150 Lightning vs. Rivian R1T: The Closest Finish in MT History
Comparing the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning with the 2022 Rivian R1T makes little sense. Sure, both are electric pickups (the third and first to hit the market, respectively), but beyond that, these two pickups have about as much in common as we do with American Journal of Botany.
The Rivian R1T, our 2022 Truck of the Year, is an immensely capable pickup with a lifestyle-oriented bent. It's great to drive on-road and damn near unstoppable off-road, and it can tow and haul far more than something just bigger than a Toyota Tacoma has any right to. That's why it vanquished the 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup—a similarly lifestyle- and off-road-oriented EV—in our first-ever electric pickup truck comparison.
The Ford F-150 Lighting is, well, different. If the R1T is aimed at "electrifying the outdoors," the F-150 Lighting is aimed at electrifying the modern American full-size pickup truck—the bestselling one on the market at that. The F-150 Lightning is intended to work, with the definition of "work" left to the imagination of the owner—F-150s are just as likely to be found towing horses or exploring country two-tracks as they are hauling lumber or whisking families off on interstate road trips.
Although these pickups are built for different purposes, they're priced similarly, which means they're inevitably going to be cross-shopped. With that in mind, we got our hands on a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended Range—likely the most widely available Lightning for the foreseeable future—and snagged the keys to our long-term 2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition (effectively an R1T Adventure with unique paint) to pit them against each other.
F-150 Lightning vs R1T: Spec Showdown
To most pickup buyers, the F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended Range ought to feel quite familiar. Solely available in the popular crew-cab, short-bed (5.5-foot) configuration, the subtle tells that this F-150 is electric are minor sheetmetal changes, the full-width light bars front and rear, some badging, a faux grille, and that the engine bay is now a massive 14.1-cubic-foot frunk (complete with four 120-volt outlets, no less).
The Lightning isn't very different under the skin from gas-powered F-150s, either. It rides on a heavily modified version of the gas F-150's frame, with an optional 131-kWh battery pack stacked neatly between and on top of the frame rails. Power comes courtesy of two permanent-magnet motors mounted where you'd find differentials in conventional four-wheel-drive F-150s; the two motors combine here for a healthy 580 hp, 775 lb-ft of torque, and 320 miles of EPA-rated range. (Lightnings with the smaller 98-kWh battery pack have 426 hp and 230 miles of range). The switch to electric motors also allowed Ford to rethink the F-150's suspension, swapping the conventional F-150's rear live axle and leaf springs for coil springs.
The Rivian R1T will likely look out of this world to the typical pickup buyer, but as far as EVs go, it's fairly conventional. Rather than squeezing batteries around a frame, the Rivian's 133-kWh battery pack (currently the only one available) is the frame. Nestled around the big battery are four motors (a two-motor version is planned), two at either axle, good for a combined 835 hp, 908 lb-ft of torque, and 314 miles of range. Like the Ford, the R1T's four corners are independently sprung, though the Rivian uses air springs, active dampers, and novel cross-linked hydraulic anti-roll bars to help improve the truck's capability. The tidy dimensions of the R1T's mechanicals also allowed Rivian to think outside the box when it comes to the pickup's design. Like the Ford, the Rivian features a frunk and a stubby bed—4.5 feet in this case—but it also features additional storage spots, namely an in-bed trunk and the pass-through Gear Tunnel sited between the cab and bed.
Living with the Rivian R1T and F-150 Lightning
If you've ever spent any time driving an F-150 built within the past decade, the Lightning feels like home. "What I like from the get-go is the instant familiarity," senior editor Aaron Gold said. "This is like any one of the dozens of F-150s I have driven in my career, except it's quieter and a heck of a lot quicker." If you enjoy the conventional F-150's twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V-6s but find yourself wishing for a touch more meat to its powerband, you're really going to like the Lightning's twin motors. Despite a touch of torque steer under hard acceleration, the Ford pulls effortlessly, with a seemingly endless supply of power. The closest internal combustion analogue would be if Ford somehow engineered a Power Stroke diesel with a 15,000-rpm redline and squeezed it into an F-150.
The R1T's powertrain is that but more. With double the motors aboard, the R1T is both quicker and more sure-footed than the Lightning, never struggling for traction or grip, no matter the surface. Both trucks are so quick that it won't make a difference to the average buyer, but you can jump down to the chart below to see how they performed at the track. It's a shame electric vehicles have been politicized by those who clearly don't understand them—the truth is, Americans are really going to like experiences like this.
Both trucks feature pin-drop-precise one-pedal braking modes. Should you need to use the brake pedal itself, the Ford's feels more natural, though in panic-stop situations the Lightning's brakes could sometimes be prone to surging as the truck bounced between its regenerative and mechanical systems.
Where the two trucks most differentiate themselves on the road is in how they ride and steer. America's legions of full-size truck buyers will find familiar territory in the way the Ford goes down the road. Like the standard F-150, the Lightning's ride is somehow firm but floaty, shuddering slightly over harsher impacts like most body-on-frame trucks do. It's never punishing or harsh, but it couldn't feel more different than the Rivian. The R1T in its default All-Purpose drive mode is firm and well-controlled, almost like it's pushing back down into the road, attempting to flatten out the impacts it just encountered.
The same dynamic plays out in how the two trucks corner. The Ford steers far better than any conventional F-150 thanks to its lower center of gravity, but the steering itself is trucklike, with a slow ratio. But good weighting and feedback allow you to accurately place the Lightning on the road. The R1T's steering is springy and precise, which, coupled with the instant torque vectoring provided by its four motors, results in a pickup that'll likely surprise quite a few sports car drivers on a good back road. "I don't think there's any pickup truck that can match the entertainment value of the R1T in curves," Gold said.
Which Pickup Is Better Off-Road?
It's a similar story when the pavement ends.
Off-road, the Rivian is an order of magnitude more capable than the Ford. With five off-road modes (All-Purpose, Rock Crawl, Rally, Drift, and Sand—the last a recent over-the-air update addition), there's very little that can stop an R1T off the pavement. Its height-adjustable suspension gives it a tremendous amount of ground clearance, while the hydraulic dampers help the Rivian keep all four all-terrains on earth. Its quad-motor system is incredibly impressive, too, combining the gearing of a low range, the traction of locking differentials, and the precision of electric motors to conquer the types of obstacles that'd make a Toyota Land Cruiser owner blush.
The Ford isn't in its element off-road, but it's not necessarily out of place, either. The Lightning doesn't have the body control to move quickly when it's away from asphalt, but at slower speeds the truck comfortably ambles down hard-packed dirt and through loose sand. On more technical terrain, the F-150's rear diff-lock helps the truck maintain forward momentum, though it could use a locking front differential, too, as it tends to spin the driver-side front wheel quite a bit. Trying to keep pace with the R1T will result in nothing but frustration and body damage, but if you take things slow and choose your line carefully the Lightning will get you where you need to go.
Battle of the Beds
In the battle of the beds, the Ford scores some points back. With the Lightning rated for a 1,606-pound payload and the R1T a 1,760-pound load, both shrugged off our 1,500-pound standard payload test weight. The Rivian simply didn't notice it had anything out back, while the Ford saw some minor improvements in ride quality. Range was unaffected by hauling.
But when it comes to the beds themselves, the Lightning's is superior. Not only is it bigger than the R1T's, but it's also easier to work out of and access, with meatier tie-downs, an auto up and down tailgate, and a tailgate step and work surface. The Rivian makes up for its lack of real estate with its gear tunnel (the doors of which also double as steps), but the bed isn't as easy to access, and the composite flap that bridges the gap between the bed and tailgate tends to collect debris. The Ford also has more powerful rear power outlets, the better for running high-draw tools and other items.
Towing Showdown
While the Ford had the better bed area, the Rivian surprised us with how much more confidence-inspiring it was with a trailer hanging off its hitch. Our load—Sassy and Corazon, two friendly horses loaded up in a 22-foot warmblood trailer, totaling about 5,200 pounds—didn't come close to taxing either truck's towing capacity (the Rivian can yank 11,000 pounds, the Ford 10,000), but it was representative of what the average full-size pickup owner tows.
Sassy and Corazon aboard, the F-150 Lightning felt much like the conventional F-150 we towed with on this same loop. "The Lightning towed as we expect a half-ton pickup to, except for having much better acceleration," Gold said. "You can feel the trailer pushing the truck a bit on downhills, but it's nothing excessive—good stability."
Interestingly, engaging Tow/Haul mode in the Ford turns off one-pedal driving, which makes it more difficult to drive the truck smoothly— especially crucial when your load stands on four spindly legs. The lack of regenerative brakes when towing is also a negative, as regen provides an engine-braking-like effect that makes it easier to safely decelerate the trailer.
As we found when the R1T won Truck of the Year, the Rivian punches well above its weight with a trailer hitched. The R1T makes towing effortlessly smooth. Its buttery power delivery, heavy brake regen in Towing mode, long accelerator pedal travel, and well-sorted suspension give the Rivian the feeling of an understressed heavy-duty truck when pulling a load. "Better stability than the Ford, and a much better ride," Gold said. "Great motor control, too, especially for starting on steep inclines." Our biggest issue is that the R1T's trailer brake controller—operated via the thumbwheel on the right spoke of the steering wheel—doesn't allow for the same precise adjustments as the traditional trailer brake switch in the Ford.
Which Electric Truck Has the Better Driver Assist Systems?
It's worth a quick look at both trucks' advanced driver assist systems (ADAS), each of which allow for hands-free driving on highways and interstates. Rivian's setup, Driver+, is the less polished of the two. It currently works in fewer areas (though Rivian is constantly mapping and adding roadways) and often hugs lane lines and gets "bumped" by traffic either driving too close or sneaking in front of the truck. Taller drivers also reported difficulty seeing the Driver+ status icon around the steering wheel rim. Ford's system, dubbed Blue Cruise, is the better of the two. It drives as a human driver would, sends clear signals as to when it's safe to have your hands off the wheel, and lets you know when it needs you to take control with plenty of warning. Neither system is as good as GM's Super Cruise.
Charging the F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T
The biggest concern with an EV purchase is charging and range. Despite both trucks being comparable in battery size and range (130 kWh and 320 miles for the Ford, 133 kWh and 314 miles for the Rivian), we were initially apprehensive about the Lightning's peak charge rate of 150 kW against the Rivian's 220 kW. The slower your battery charges, the more time you spend tethered to a Level 3 DC fast charger while road-tripping.
Despite the Rivian's initial higher charge rate, it underperformed at a 207-kW peak; the Ford overperformed (holding 172 kW) and was able to hang on to that higher rate for longer. The end result is that it took the R1T 44 minutes to go from 5 percent to 80 percent indicated state of charge, and the F-150 Lightning 50 minutes to do the same. However, neither result is particularly impressive in the big picture compared to the 350-kW charge rate capability of the Hummer EV pickup and upcoming 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV. Here's hoping both truckmakers continue to improve their charge rates via over-the-air updates, as our long-term Rivian has already done once during its stay with us.
Of note: The Ford F-150 Lightning offers vehicle-to-load capability—the ability to run power to your home—via an included 80-amp charger. Although this is a neat feature, we're skeptical of its utility given it will likely require most people to spend thousands of dollars on electrical upgrades to their homes, and early reports from owners on Ford's installation partner, Sunrun, are largely unfavorable.
Software Sweets
The ways we interact with these two trucks is just as important as charging. In most internal combustion vehicles, it's fairly easy to ignore the automaker's included software suite and use your phone or apps via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for most tasks, but in electric vehicles, the embedded software plays an outsized role in how the vehicle functions and how we use it.
Digital natives will likely take to the Rivian's system. Operated via a large, Tesla-style 15.3-inch landscape display, the Rivian's system is snappy, responsive, intuitive, and feature-rich, with functions like a native Spotify app and a Pet Comfort mode. (Pet Comfort keeps cabin temps between 68 and 74 degrees while parked, provided at least 50 miles of range remain. It also displays a bold message indicating your critter is safe on the central screen.)
It's also tremendously easy to deal with recharging; the Rivian offers up a dedicated charging screen that allows you to set its charge limit (70 percent for daily use, 85 percent for extended range, and 100 percent for road-tripping), schedule charge times for off-peak hours, and see live and historical charging information, like the current peak charge rate or kWh of energy dispensed. With how finicky Electrify America (the nation's largest fast-charging network) can be, that information can be the difference between a quick charge and a long one.
Still, it's not perfect. The Rivian is overly reliant on soft buttons. Simple tasks in other vehicles, such as changing drive modes, are made complicated in the R1T as they require multiple taps and various menus to access and adjust. The most annoying are the fully digital HVAC vents, which turn something you can do in seconds with your eyes on the road in the Ford to a distracting, drawn-out affair.
The F-150 Lightning is better in some ways but worse in others. Featuring the 15.5-inch portrait display from the Mustang Mach E (lesser Lightnings trade screen real estate for more hard buttons), the Ford's display has a volume knob and large, relatively easy-to-hit soft buttons. It lacks a pet mode (a feature we hope to see added via an OTA update), but it does feature some basic games, truck-specific apps like onboard payload scales, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—the latter two unlikely to be added to the R1T.
Still, there's a lot of room for improvement with Ford's software. Ignoring the fact that the Ford's system is laggier to respond, we found there's far too much of its core functionality buried in menus—especially as it relates to charging information. It takes at least three swipes and taps to get to the Lightning's EV settings menu to view simple info such as the battery's current state of charge or to set a preferred departure time.
More annoying, the Lightning defaults to 90 percent charge after every single charge, requiring an owner to menu surf and reset the charge limit to 100 percent each time they want a little extra range. On one occasion, we had a charging session set for 100 percent charge. When it failed at 88 percent, we had to unplug and plug the truck back in to start a new session, only for the Ford to stop the session a few minutes later at 90 percent, forcing us to run through the dance again. In addition, there's no way to view the vehicle's current charge rate or the amount of kWh dispensed during a session, though you do get a very brief look at the kWh consumed after a session concludes via a pop up that quickly disappears. (Ford's phone app—also not quite as polished as Rivian's—does at least allow you to view information from your past charges, excepting peak rates.)
Which Truck Has the Better Interior?
Although the R1T has a distinct software advantage on the Ford, the Ford has an equally big hardware advantage on the Rivian. Ripped straight out of conventional F-150s, the Lightning's cabin is positively massive, besting the smaller Rivian in every conceivable metric when it comes to outright passenger volume. It also beats the R1T when it comes to storage, featuring about a dozen cupholders, big door pockets, fold-away underseat storage in back, a flat floor, and a massive center console cubby, the lid of which folds out into a worktable. Some material pieces are too plasticky and flimsy for the Ford's price tag, but the Lightning is nevertheless a great place to spend time and get work done.
Our feelings on the R1T's cabin are more nuanced. As far as vehicles go, it's attractively designed, built incredibly well, and features a lovely mix of colors and materials befitting the R1T's cost. It's not as roomy as the Fords's, but it's easily spacious enough for four adults and generally comfortable, though taller passengers complained of the rear seat-back shape. However, storage is lacking. There are but four cupholders in the entire truck, there's no glove box, the door pockets are small, and the deployable drawers in the front seats are really too narrow to be used for anything meaningful. That means the average-size center console and the wireless charging pad become the de facto places you pile all the stuff you accumulate while driving a pickup, like your phone, keys, wallet, gloves, or tools.
Value and Verdict: Which Truck Wins?
There's no dancing around the fact that both of these trucks are incredibly expensive for the average buyer. Technically speaking, our R1T Launch Edition long-termer is the cheaper of the two with its $76,875 as-tested price. Thing is, if you were to buy our exact same truck today, you'd be spending $96,250, as Rivian has increased prices of the R1T to make room for the upcoming dual-motor R1T variant, making it much less of a value than it once was.
Despite Ford touting the F-150 Lightning's affordable $41,669 starting price, our F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended Range isn't exactly cheap, either, stickering for $80,839. We think the Lightning XLT is the better buy due to its similar equipment and interior quality levels, but shoppers are still looking at a $74,309 outlay for the cheapest F-150 Lightning Extended Range, about the price of the promised dual-motor R1T.
We spent some time on both Ford and Rivian's configurators in an attempt to equalize our trucks' equipment levels and paint a clearer picture of the price differences between them. Losing just the optional all-terrains on our test F-150 but keeping the extended-range battery, spray-in bedliner, and Max Tow package would see the Ford's sticker fall slightly to $80,689. Using the R1T Adventure as our starting point (the cheaper R1T Explore doesn't have a premium audio system to match the Ford's Bang & Olufsen), we shed our R1T's all-terrain tires, off-road package, premium paint option, and power-operated tonneau cover but kept its optional full-size spare (standard on the Ford) and added the optional wall charger (standard with the big-battery F-150). That totaled up to $87,645, about $7,000 more than the Ford.
So which is the better truck?
Well, it's complicated, as they clearly target different buyers and there's not really a wrong answer here on an individual basis. In the Rivian's favor, it's the better tow rig, more engaging on pavement, and more capable off of it, and its software smooths the switch from gasoline to electricity. But the Ford drives nearly as well empty, tows almost as well, and has a far more functional bed and a roomier, more comfortable cabin. It also charges just about as quickly as the R1T while going slightly farther per charge. Ford's software team would benefit from a few months spent in the Rivian, but that's an easier fix than adding interior storage to the R1T.
Given the teeter-totter battle in every other area, we then look to value. Is the Rivian $7,000 better than the Ford? For many shoppers, the R1T's superior off-road capability, on-road dynamics, tow capacity, lifestyle elements, and software will rightly win them over. But after carefully considering both trucks, the Ford F-150 Lightning offers up 90 percent of the capability of the R1T, similar charging performance, a better bed, and a more practical cabin—for slightly less money. So the Lightning takes this round by the hair of its chinny-chin-chin, but given how quickly software is changing our cars and trucks, we're already planning on revisiting this comparison in 12 months or so to see if it's still worthy of the crown.
2nd Place: 2022 Rivian R1T Launch Edition
- Pros: Silly fun to drive on the road, unstoppable off of it, advanced software and a premium cabin.
- Cons: Revised pricing greatly diminished value, there isn't much interior storage, underperformed in charging tests.
- Verdict: Even with this result, the Rivian R1T remains one of the best EVs on the planet.
1st Place: 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended Range
- Pros: Quicker and better to drive than any F-150 in history, huge cabin with tons of storage, robust charging curve makes road-tripping feasible.
- Cons: Its software suite needs refinement and deeper data, not quite as polished as the Rivian, still expensive.
- Verdict: The F-150 Lightning wins by the tip of a whisker—but this battle will continue to turn on over-the-air updates.
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ford f-150-lightning Full OverviewYou no doubt keep hearing about how important the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck is to the automotive industry. The bestselling vehicle in America—one with a traditionally conservative ownership base—is taking a giant leap toward our inevitable future by electrifying. You may have also read our First Test of the range-topping 2022 F-150 Lightning Platinum and might be wondering (as we were) how a slightly more mainstream model would perform. Ford was kind enough to send the still-premium but slightly more affordable 2022 F-150 Lighting Lariat Extended Range to our Los Angeles office, and we took it to our test track to see what it could do.Why It's ImportantLike the metal it's named for, the F-150 Lightning Platinum will likely be among the rarest variants of the new electric pickup's lineup. It's also the heaviest variant, at 6,900 pounds, which makes it the most inefficient, too—netting just 300 miles of EP-rated range. The F-150 Lightning Lariat Extended Range (meaning it has the optional $10,000 130-kWh battery that comes standard on the Platinum) is bit leaner than the Platinum at 6,794 pounds, good for 320 miles of range, and more akin to the midgrade XLT Extended Range models, which are likely to make up the bulk of Ford's Lightning sales. It features dual permanent-magnet electric motors that combine for 580 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. The motors are mounted at the front and rear axles (in fact, if you peek underneath the Lightning, you can spot the rear motor hanging out where you'd expect a differential to be on gas models) giving them all-wheel drive.Pros: What We LikeThere's a lot to like about this "lesser" Lightning. For starters, the Lariat is quicker than the loaded Platinum. The F-150 Lightning Lariat zips from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and on through the quarter mile in 12.4 seconds at 106.9 mph, while the Platinum's bests were 4.0 seconds to 60 mph and 12.7 seconds at 105.9 mph. That makes the F-150 Lightning Lariat the quickest F-150 we've ever tested and the third-quickest pickup we've ever tested, just behind the 2022 Rivian R1T (3.1 seconds, 11.6 seconds at 110.8 mph) and 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup (3.0 seconds, 11.7 seconds at 105.4 mph).More than its performance, the F-150 Lightning Lariat is plain great to drive. Its powertrain is effortlessly smooth (except for occasional front-motor torque steer under hard acceleration in low-traction situations), and it has gobs of power, providing nearly endless acceleration no matter your starting speed. The Lightning handles surprisingly well, too. Despite its trucklike ride and steering feel, its low center of gravity helps it corner far better than gas F-150s. And we continue to value its huge frunk, which offers a ton of lockable storage while keeping the cabin available for four or five passengers.Cons: What We Don't LikeAs software becomes more prevalent in new vehicles, it's rapidly becoming more important in defining how we experience our cars, trucks, and SUVs. In the Ford's case there's some room for improvement there. For starters, the F-150 Lightning's peak charge rate (150 kW officially, 171 kW in our testing) is on the conservative end for a vehicle with such a massive battery pack. Effectively a measure of the maximum rate an EV can cram electrons into its battery pack while DC fast charging, the Ford's peak charge rate is slower than an R1T with a similarly sized battery pack (220 kW) and the Hummer EV, which sports 200 kWh of capacity and has a 350-kW peak charge rate. That means the Ford's electric pickup truck competitors will likely be spending less time at the fast charger while on a road trip or towing than the Lightning.We also found the massive 15.5-inch touchscreen to be a bit laggy at times and not as thoughtfully organized as it could be. For example, changing the F-150's drive mode requires a tap on the Lightning icon in the top left corner then another tap on your preferred mode. Locking the rear differential requires you navigate back to that screen then scroll down and tap the diff button. If you find yourself regularly hitching and unhitching trailers, you'll also need to access the towing menus often to "virtually" disconnect the trailer and restore your unladen driving range to the Ford's digital instrument cluster. The Lightning can also prove fussy when adjusting settings like maximum charge percent, which must be manually toggled each time you plug in, or the truck otherwise defaults to 90 percent maximum charge.Given Ford's embrace of software in its new "Model e" EV division, we're cautiously optimistic that the Lightning will be improved via over-the-air (OTA) updates, much in the same way its competitors are.The Bottom LineThe Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat is a seriously compelling electric pickup truck without the fuss (or some of the finesse) of the R1T or Hummer EV pickup.Looks good! More details?2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat (Ext Range) Specifications BASE PRICE $69,269 PRICE AS TESTED $80,839 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front- and rear-motor, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door truck MOTOR TYPE Permanent-magnet electric POWER (SAE NET) 580 hp TORQUE (SAE NET) 775 lb-ft TRANSMISSIONS 1-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 6,794 lb (50/50%) WHEELBASE 145.5 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 232.7 x 80.0 x 78.3 in 0-60 MPH 3.8 sec QUARTER MILE 12.4 sec @ 106.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 133 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.73 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 27.2 sec @ 0.63 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 78/63/70 mpg-e EPA RANGE, COMB 320 miles ON SALE Now Show All
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But in November 2019 we reported on a joint research effort by Lamborghini and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to triple the energy storage capacity of ultracapacitors, by replacing the porous activated carbon used in most capacitors with a new powder composed of metal-organic framework compounds comprising primarily of nickel, copper, and molecular carbon that effectively doubles the surface area inside the same volume/mass of powder, which is how it doubles the energy density. Research continues, and although ultracapacitors will likely never replace chemical batteries, this Lambo/MIT ultracapacitor could greatly reduce the mass of the energy-storage battery required, guaranteeing both nimble handling, ferocious acceleration, and track-worthy regenerative braking.Mine the SeafloorA perennial and legitimate argument against complete electrification is the question of ethical and environmentally sensitive sourcing of the various metals and other materials required. So in June 2020 we reported on the discovery of naturally occurring polymetallic nodules that line the Pacific Ocean's abyssal deep seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton zone (lying roughly between Mexico and Hawaii). These potato-sized blobs are typically composed of 29.2 percent manganese, 1.3 percent nickel, 1.1 percent copper, and 0.2 percent cobalt. They form naturally and sit in the silt, where they can be fairly easily scraped up using a drag bucket of sorts. This area is recognized as the planet's largest known source of battery metals and is thought to be capable of supporting production of 280 million EVs. But the metals supply and mining industries are awaiting a green light from various organizations studying environmental impact on fisheries, etc.The State of the Solid-State BatterySolid-state batteries promise to solve myriad nasty battery problems: Liquid or gel electrolytes are flammable and can freeze, so they need costly warming, cooling, and safety monitoring. Additionally, fast charging can result in the formation of lithium metal spikes that can pierce the battery's permeable "separator," short-circuiting the cell. One downside of solid-state is that lithium formation on the anode causes the cell to physically expand, which must be accounted for in the pack design. In December 2020 we reported on California-based QuantumScape's promising new solid-state battery, which claimed to boost range by 80 percent and to function at temperatures ranging from -20 to 80 degrees C, all of which attracted a huge investment from the Volkswagen Group. In the months since, we've reported on Toyota's in-house solid-state battery program, which is likely to see production in hybrid vehicles first, and on Factorial Energy of Massachusetts inking a development deal with Hyundai-Kia, claiming its battery can boost range by 20-50 percent.Gallium-Nitride Semiconductor Chips to Speed ChargingIf the long Chipocalypse, currently still crippling auto sales as we write this, has any silver lining, it might be that as the industry tools up to produce more chips, some of that new production can be dedicated to gallium-nitride, rather than silicon-based chips. This semiconductor material, which enabled the first white LED lights and powered Blu-ray disc readers, is able to simultaneously withstand higher voltages and present a smaller resistance to electric current flow relative to either the silicon (Si) or silicon carbide (SiC) materials. Lower resistance means less heat buildup, which can allow smaller devices to deliver greater power flow and faster switching, which in the case of an EV's onboard power inverter can equate to faster charging and/or greater range. Our July 2021 coverage of Texas Instruments and Odyssey Semiconductors GaN chips noted that engineering samples were to be available in late 2021, which should mean production might commence after a few years of development."Cylinder-Deactivation" for Electric MotorsIt's hard to believe, but the same concept that boosts fuel economy of a piston engine by shutting several cylinders down and making the functioning cylinders work harder can be applied to electric motors, as well. Tula Technologies, the folks who pioneered the Dynamic Fuel Management system in use on more than a million GM trucks and SUVs, has introduced Dynamic Motor Drive. During certain high-speed light-load conditions, where electric motors are not quite as efficient, DMD pulses brief bursts of higher torque to meet the steady-state need, which conserves energy by reducing heat buildup in the rotor core and the power inverter. The power savings are minimal on mainstream permanent-magnet and AC-induction type motors, but they're significant on the cheapest synchronous reluctance motors, which are only used in industrial applications today. The technology promises to eliminate some of the noise and "torque-ripple" vibration that currently disqualifies these motors from EV use. It could also make them more efficient than AC induction and sidestep supply-chain worries inherent in permanent-magnet motors.Lower Cost Via Simplified ManufacturingThis tech story ran in conjunction with our 2022 Lucid Air Car of the Year coverage, describing the nascent Tesla Model S fighter's many innovations aimed at efficient, lower-cost manufacturing. The battery pack, for example, consists of two injection moldings. One incorporates the sides, top, and all power-delivery busbars, and the other includes the cooling plate. Because this only needs to contact the ends of each cylindrical cell, dramatically less heat-conducting glue is needed than in the radially cooled Tesla packs. The Lucid packs can be robotically assembled in a dark plant. The motor's hairpin-style square-section winding consists of just 24 individual wires that are woven for ease of assembly into the stator and the need for only 24 solder connections. And extreme downsizing of the power inverter, final drive units, and more yield impressive weight savings that pay off in cost and range improvements.Lithium-Sulfur Triple ThreatSilicon Valley battery-tech company Lyten came out of stealth in September and revealed a battery chemistry boasting triple the traditional lithium-ion batteries' energy storage per pound. That's because a sulfur atom can host two lithium ions, while a typical NMC-oxide cathode can only manage 0.5-0.7 ions. But during charging, those lithium ions sometimes bring sulfur atoms along with them when they migrate to the other electrode, and this depletes the battery. Lyten's secret is to cage each sulfur atom in one of the millions of tiny boxes afforded by their proprietary 3-D graphene sheets. And because carbon is more conductive than sulfur, power flows better than in previous lithium-sulfur batteries. The company says it has demonstrated 1,400 charge/discharge cycles (sufficient for EV use) and that it plans to select a factory site in Q1 of 2022 to support incorporation of LytCells for use in vehicles by the 2025 or 2026 model year. Most experts we spoke with find that timing to be overly optimistic, but perhaps looming local content requirements the USMCA trade agreement calls for in 2023 will inspire overtime development, as all LytCell materials are abundantly available in North America."Massless" Structural BatteriesOne way to get weight out of battery electric vehicles is to force the batteries to "multitask," by serving as part of the vehicle's structure. Raw, uncoated carbon-fiber strands are great electrical conductors, and because they typically include tiny voids that can easily accept lithium ions, they function well as a battery's negative electrode. Apply a lithium-iron-phosphate/graphene-oxide coating to said fibers, and you've got a structural cathode. Now researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden think they've found a suitable polymer electrolyte with a cross-linking monomer that enhances the material's structural rigidity while still conducting lithium ions. The team is targeting an energy density about one-third that of mono-tasking dead-weight lithium-ion. Still, studies indicate that replacing roughly 70 percent of the interior and exterior panels and 60 percent of the body structure of a Tesla Model S (85 kWh) or BMW i3 with SBC, should lower mass by 26 and 19 percent with range dropping by 36 and 17 percent, respectively. Alternatively, doubling the thickness and mass of these SBC panels to bring the cars back to mass parity should boost range by 20 percent in the Tesla and 70 percent in the BMW (while adding foot room). Cost estimates for this brand-new technology are not yet available.Lead image: Mina De La O/Getty Images
ferrari 296-gtb Full OverviewYes, it's a plug-in hybrid with a turbocharged V-6 engine. But the only people who are going to hate on the 20232 Ferrari 296 GTB, who will loudly proclaim it a betrayal of all that's holy at the house of the Prancing Horse, are those who will never get the chance to drive one. Because if they did drive one, they'd know: The 296 GTB is one of the greatest mid-engine Ferrari sports cars ever built.It certainly looks the part, being beautifully proportioned and surfaced, with subtle homages to the mid-engine 250LM from the 1960s, including the voluptuous rear haunches and a vertical rear screen shrouded by flying buttresses extending from the B-pillar "bridge" that arcs over the rear of the roof. All in all, the 296 GTB is one of the most compact and athletic sports cars from Maranello in some time.As on the front-engine Roma, the 296 GTB's rear lights eschew Ferrari's traditional round format—a move that took a lot of selling from the in-house design team, says exterior designer Carlo Palazzini. The large central exhaust outlet adds visual—and aural—drama. The only active piece of aerodynamic hardware, a vertical spoiler that deploys at speed or under braking, has been ingeniously packaged to slide out from between the lights.But, but … a turbocharged six-cylinder hybrid powertrain? Seriously? That's quite a step down the charisma index from the yowling, naturally aspirated V-8s and V-12s that made Ferrari famous. But let's be clear: Although the 296 GTB might be the first six-cylinder Ferrari road car in history—the gorgeous little Dino 206s and 246s built between 1967 and 1974 don't count, says Maranello, because they were never sold as Ferraris—it doesn't sound like a six-cylinder car.And it certainly doesn't go like a six-cylinder car.About That EngineCodenamed F163, the compact twin-turbo 2.9-liter V-6 at the heart of the 296 GTB's powertrain features a wide-angle 120-degree vee, with the fast-responding counter-rotating turbochargers mounted in the vee and the intakes on the outside of the cylinder heads. The wide-angle vee not only lowers the center of gravity by reducing the height between the tops of the cylinder heads and the forged crankshaft, but it also gives the engine a symmetrical firing order.As a result, the F163 spins smoothly to the 8,500-rpm rev limiter while generating similar third-order harmonics to that of a V-12, which Ferrari engineers have amplified into the cockpit via its patented "hot-tube" system, which takes sound from the exhaust before the hot gases hit the catalytic converters. And it really does sound like a V-12. One full-throttle run is all you need to understand why Ferrari engineers took to calling the F163 the "piccolo V-12" during its development.The 296 GTB is also Ferrari's first rear-drive-only PHEV, with an electric motor/generator, dubbed the MGU-K by Ferrari in a nod to its F1 hybrid technology, sandwiched between the V-6's block and the compact new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. An evolution of the e-motor used in the SF90, the 296 GTB's MGU-K develops 165 horsepower and maximum torque of 232 lb-ft, a 20 percent improvement.The MGU-K can drive the 296 GTB up to 15 miles on pure electric power, drawing from a 7.45-kWh battery pack that stretches across the car between the cockpit and the engine. But its main job is to provide torque fill at low revs and to boost power at higher revs. On its own, the F163 makes 654 horsepower, a specific output of 219 hp per liter that is a new record for a production-car internal combustion engine. With the MGU-K lending a helping hand, the 296 GTB's powertrain punches out a mighty 818 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 546 lb-ft of torque at 6,250 rpm.The interaction between the internal combustion engine and the MGU-K has been carefully tuned to ensure the powertrain delivers the soaring surge of acceleration, right to the redline, that is the hallmark of the finest naturally aspirated 12-cylinder Ferrari engines. The e-motor's instant-on torque output is adjusted for each gear to keep the delivery as linear as possible. "We are not using all the powertrain at the lower end yet," confirms Ferrari test and development driver Raffaele de Simone. "The car can do more."What This Ferrari Can Do NowFerrari says the 296 GTB will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds, and to 124 mph in 7.3 seconds on the way to a top speed of more than 205 mph. But those numbers don't even begin to describe the extraordinary strength and flexibility of its powertrain. So, chew on this: In sixth gear, the 296 GTB pulls cleanly and strongly from 1,400 rpm—about 30 mph—to … well, we don't exactly know because we ran out of road at 146 mph, the revs still rising.A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests the Ferrari had another 25 mph to go before the engine reached its 8,000-rpm power peak. That's a working speed range of more than 140 mph. In a single gear.Such flexibility means, although the eight-speed transmission's ratios are beautifully spaced, you don't have to be in precisely the right gear to get the 296 GTB to punch hard out of corners. There's torque and there's power, whenever you need it. But it's not just the powertrain that will leave you gasping. The 296 GTB's chassis is every bit as accomplished, too.The 296 GTB's 102.4-inch wheelbase is the shortest in the current Ferrari lineup, and the compact dimensions were deliberately chosen to deliver maximum agility. The new EPS system—the first used on a rear-drive Ferrari—has half the compliance of the previously used hydraulic systems, improving steering response, and learnings from the EPS-equipped SF90 have enabled Ferrari to carefully tune it to filter unwanted road shock while retaining maximum feel and feedback.Supremely FocusedHelping the rear axle support the fast-reacting front end are specially developed 305/35 ZR20 Michelin tires—Pilot Sport 4S in standard spec, or the Pilot Sport Cup 2R, which comes with the optional, track-focused Assetto Fiorano package. Whereas most recent mid-engine Ferraris have had a 30 percent aspect ratio rear tire, the taller sidewall of the 296 GTB's tires help smoothly ramp the initial load response into the rear suspension, says de Simone.It's not just geometry that makes this Ferrari feel preternaturally alert yet supremely composed, however; Maranello has delved deep into the electronic dark arts to give the chassis the dynamic range to exploit that extraordinary powertrain.Underpinning the chassis hardware is the latest version of Ferrari's superb Side Slip Control (SSC) system. Unlike most stability control systems, SSC is not interventionist but expansionist, using its vast array of sensors and actuators not to tell the driver off when they make a mistake, but to help them achieve what they're trying to do. Each iteration of SSC, which made its debut on the 458 Speciale in 2013, has been better, more seamless than the last. The 296 GTB's version helps you brake like one of Ferrari's F1 aces.The 296 GTB's 15.7-inch front and 14.2-inch rear carbon-ceramic rotors are modulated by a sophisticated brake-by-wire system and next-generation ABS that allows precise control of the braking efforts at each individual wheel; so precise, in fact, it will allow you to keep your foot hard on the brake pedal all the way into the apex of the corner while it works with all the other systems to ensure the car stays on the line you want.Think of it as a trail-braking aid. It doesn't rewrite the laws of physics, but it'll have ol' Isaac Newton scratching his head as the Ferrari barrels deep into corners with your foot hard on the brake pedal, tracking true right to the apex. It's at this point where you may have to adjust your driving style slightly to make the most of the 296 GTB: Get too ambitious with the throttle before you've begun to open the steering, and the front end will push slightly, such is the enormous traction from the rear.It's so fast, so agile, this Ferrari. And yet everything happens with such sublime control and communication, precision and predictability, it creates time for the driver to analyze and adjust its every move. Old-school purists might be wringing their hands over the fact it's a plug-in hybrid with a six-cylinder engine, but the Ferrari 296 GTB makes you feel like a driving god. It's utterly brilliant.The familiar manettino switch on the right side of the steering wheel controls the 296 GTB's dynamic systems. On the left is a touch-panel e-manettino that controls the powertrain modes.There is an eDrive mode that allows pure EV driving at speeds up to 84 mph. Performance mode ensures the V-6 is always kept running to make sure the battery is always fully charged. Qualifying mode—yes, that's what it's called—cuts the amount of time spent recharging the battery to always ensure the maximum powertrain output.Default start mode is Hybrid, in which the car rolls on pure electric power as far as possible before the engine fires up with—at least for the first time—a disconcerting bellow that lasts until the catalytic converters have warmed up. The system then mixes and matches ICE and e-power to achieve the best combination of efficiency and performance, though whenever the V-6 is running, the powertrain is ready to produce maximum power and torque on demand.The Home Stretch The transitions between e-motor and ICE are smooth and seamless. This is a Ferrari you could happily drive every day, even if you're just mooching through slow-moving traffic. The digital cockpit offers all the graphic pizzazz and high-tech connectivity you expect in a modern luxury automobile, and the "bumpy road" function, accessed by pressing the switch on the analog manettino, smooths the ride when the tarmac gets rough. The 296 GTB is available with Ferrari's seven-year maintenance package, and service intervals are set at yearly intervals or every 12,500 miles.Those who want a 296 GTB with a little more edge can order the Assetto Fiorano package, which includes Multimatic shocks optimized for track use, a revised aero setup that adds 22 pounds of downforce on the front axle, and lightweight components that reduce the car's overall weight by 33 pounds. Those seeking the ultimate weight saving can order the optional carbon-fiber wheels, which trim a further 70 (unsprung and rotational-inertia-inducing) pounds from the car.The 296 GTB is the product of a coolly confident Ferrari at the top of its game; a Ferrari that's not afraid to embrace cutting edge, even controversial, technologies to create the best-performing, best-handling, best-driving sports cars it knows how to build; a Ferrari that fully understands the potent market power of its traditions, its myths, and its legends but is at last refusing to have its cars trapped by them.The first cars are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. in the third quarter of this year, with an MSRP of $317,986.Looks good! More details?2022 FERRARI 296GTB Specifications PRICE $317,986 LAYOUT Mid-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door coupe ENGINE 2.9L/654-hp/546-lb-ft twin-turbo direct-injected V-6 plus 165-hp/232-lb-ft permanent-magnet electric motor, 818-hp/546-lb-ft (comb) TRANSMISSION 8-speed twin-clutch auto CURB WEIGHT 3,500lb (est) WHEELBASE 102.4 in L x W x H 179.7 x 77.1 x 46.7 in 0-62 MPH 2.9 sec (mfr est) EPA FUEL ECON, CITY/HWY/COMB Not yet rated EPA RANGE, COMB Not yet rated ON SALE Fall 2022 Show All
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