Michigan’s First Lightning Owner Still Driving Ford’s Discontinued Electric Truck
Nearly four years after becoming the world’s first F-150 Lightning owner, Nick Schmidt of Standish still drives Ford’s discontinued electric truck and says it’s been trouble-free.
STANDISH, MICHIGAN — Nick Schmidt made automotive history in 2022 when he became the first person in the world to take delivery of Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. Nearly four years later, he remains committed to the vehicle that Ford has since discontinued.
Schmidt, who lives in this Northeast Michigan town about 35 miles south of Bay City, continues to drive and enjoy his Lightning even as the Dearborn automaker has shifted back toward producing more gas-powered vehicles. His decision is looking increasingly smart as gas prices have reached $4 per gallon due to the ongoing U.S. war against Iran.
“It’s been a great truck,” Schmidt said in a telephone interview.
Early Adoption Pays Off
Schmidt’s purchase garnered national publicity when the Lightning was introduced with much fanfare, representing a shift away from gas-powered vehicles by the Detroit automakers. The story resonated beyond typical automotive coverage because Schmidt lived in small-town Michigan, demonstrating electric vehicle adoption in rural areas.
While the Lightning is not his daily driver—Schmidt primarily uses a Tesla Model 3—he has put about 40,000 miles on the pickup truck. Many of those miles came from pulling a large Airstream trailer on camping trips throughout Michigan.
Superior Towing Performance
Schmidt noted the Lightning provides advantages over his previous gas-powered F-150, particularly when towing through hilly terrain. His old truck’s transmission often struggled to find the right gear, but electric vehicles don’t have transmissions.
“The power is always on,” Schmidt explained. “Towing is a dream other than range constraints. It was touch and go for the first year or two when going camping. But the charging infrastructure has gotten a lot better in the past 12 to 18 months.”
The improved charging network has addressed one of Schmidt’s initial concerns about long-distance travel with the electric pickup, making camping trips more feasible and less stressful.
Reliability Despite Industry Issues
Ford has faced significant quality challenges recently, with one study finding the company had more recalls during the past 12 months than the rest of the U.S. automotive industry combined. However, Schmidt’s Lightning has proven remarkably reliable.
Other than a balky driver’s side power window, Schmidt said his electric vehicle has had “no issues.” This reliability stands in contrast to the broader quality concerns affecting Ford’s vehicle lineup.
Schmidt’s experience with the discontinued Lightning demonstrates how early electric vehicle adopters can benefit from their investment, particularly as fuel costs continue climbing. His truck represents a time when Ford was aggressively pursuing electric vehicle development before the recent industry retreat from EVs.
The Lightning’s discontinuation reflects the broader challenges facing electric vehicles in the current market, but for Schmidt, the decision to be first in line has provided years of reliable, cost-effective transportation that looks increasingly valuable in today’s economic climate.
