An F-150 Lightning driven 1,000 miles per month could cost approximately $70 to charge at home. A gas-powered F-150 could cost approximately $200 to travel the same distance.
That is a potential difference of $130 per month—or more than $1,500 per year.
Several members of the Go Electric Chargers team drive an F-150 Lightning, so our experience with the truck extends beyond installing its home charger. One of its biggest advantages is the ability to pull into the driveway, plug in overnight and wake up ready to drive.
F-150 Lightning charging cost for 1,000 miles
For this example, we will use 1,000 monthly miles, an average efficiency of approximately 2 miles per kilowatt-hour, electricity priced at 14 cents per kilowatt-hour and charging completed primarily at home.
Multiplying 500 kilowatt-hours by an electricity rate of $0.14 gives an estimated home-charging cost of $70.
F-150 Lightning versus a gas F-150
Now consider a gas-powered F-150 averaging approximately 20 miles per gallon. To travel the same 1,000 miles, it would need 50 gallons of gasoline.
About $70 per month
Approximately 7 cents per mile when the Lightning is charged at home under these assumptions.
About $200 per month
Approximately 20 cents per mile at 20 MPG and $4 per gallon.
The estimated difference is $130 per month, or approximately $1,560 per year. In this example, charging the Lightning at home reduces fueling costs by about 65%.
Why home charging makes a difference
This comparison assumes the F-150 Lightning is charged primarily at home. Public fast charging is valuable for road trips and situations where extra range is needed away from home, but its price per kilowatt-hour can be considerably higher than residential electricity.
For drivers with dependable home charging, the routine can be simple: pull into the driveway, plug in and wake up ready to drive. Charging happens while the truck is already parked, eliminating routine trips to a gas station.
The U.S. Department of Energy notes that actual home-charging costs depend on local electricity prices, the charging equipment and when charging occurs.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center.
What about other electric trucks?
The same calculation can estimate home-charging costs for other electric pickup trucks, including:
- Tesla Cybertruck
- Chevrolet Silverado EV
- GMC Sierra EV
- Rivian R1T
- GMC Hummer EV Pickup
These trucks will not have identical charging costs. Their battery sizes, vehicle weights and real-world efficiencies vary. Use the efficiency of the specific truck rather than assuming every electric pickup costs $70 per 1,000 miles.
Will every F-150 Lightning cost $70 per month?
No. The $70 figure is based on a specific set of assumptions and is not a guaranteed monthly cost. Your result will depend on monthly mileage, real-world efficiency, local electricity rates, towing, payload, driving conditions, weather, charging losses and public fast-charging use.
Someone driving fewer than 1,000 miles may spend less. Someone who drives farther, tows regularly or pays a higher electricity rate may spend more.
The bottom line
Using the assumptions in this example, an F-150 Lightning costs approximately $70 to travel 1,000 miles, while a gas F-150 costs approximately $200.
Individual results will vary, but the takeaway is clear: when an electric truck can be charged at home, its fueling costs may be less than half those of a comparable gas-powered truck.
Run the numbers for your vehicle.
Choose a popular EV and enter how much you drive—or what you currently spend on gas—to estimate your monthly and annual savings.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an F-150 Lightning at home?+
At an efficiency of 2 miles per kilowatt-hour and an electricity rate of 14 cents per kilowatt-hour, driving 1,000 miles would use approximately $70 in electricity before accounting for charging losses.
How much electricity does an F-150 Lightning use in 1,000 miles?+
At an average efficiency of 2 miles per kilowatt-hour, the truck would use approximately 500 kilowatt-hours to travel 1,000 miles.
Is an F-150 Lightning cheaper to fuel than a gas F-150?+
In this example, the Lightning costs approximately $70 in electricity while a 20-MPG gas F-150 costs $200 in gasoline. Actual savings depend on electricity prices, gasoline prices and real-world efficiency.
Can this calculation be used for a Cybertruck or Silverado EV?+
Yes. The same formula works for the Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Rivian R1T and GMC Hummer EV Pickup. Use the specific efficiency of the vehicle for a more accurate estimate.
Is public fast charging more expensive than home charging?+
It often is. Public charging prices vary by network and location, but drivers generally receive the most predictable charging costs when they charge primarily at home.