Ford's Electric Truck Fiasco: A $35 Billion Wake-Up Call for Pennsylvania

Ford Motor Company just pulled the plug on its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck, shifting to a hybrid version after hemorrhaging an eye-watering $35 billion on electric vehicles since 2022. That's right—$35 billion down the drain. Why? Simple: EVs are insanely expensive to build, demand is weak without massive government handouts, and now with federal support drying up under the new administration, the math just doesn't add up.

Let's break it down. Manufacturing an EV costs a fortune, mainly because of the batteries. Lithium-ion packs require rare minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, driving up prices due to complex supply chains and raw material shortages. We're talking 30-40% more than a comparable gas truck, with batteries alone adding thousands to the sticker price. And that's just dollars. Environmentally, mining these minerals is a disaster—polluting rivers, destroying habitats, and guzzling water in drought-prone areas like South America and Africa. One ton of lithium can emit 15 tons of CO2 before it even hits the assembly line. So much for "green" energy.

Here's the bigger question: If electric cars were truly successful and better for everyone, why do we have to bribe people to buy them? Federal tax credits up to $7,500 per vehicle—subsidies that mostly benefit the wealthy—prop up sales. Without them, EV registrations could plummet 27%. That's not a free market triumph; it's corporate welfare on steroids.

Now, look at Governor Shapiro's "Lightning Plan." He's pushing Pennsylvania toward more renewables, EVs, and "clean" energy with tax incentives and faster permitting for solar, wind, and battery projects. His administration is even opening federally funded EV charging stations across the state. But this ignores the real costs—like the environmental havoc from mineral mining, or the grid strain from unreliable wind and solar. Ford's pivot shows the industry is waking up to these failures, yet Shapiro doubles down, wasting taxpayer dollars on boondoggles that jack up electricity rates and harm the environment they're supposed to save.

Pennsylvania's energy future should build on our strengths: abundant natural gas and oil that provide reliable, affordable power without the hidden costs. Governor, it's time to learn from Ford's mistake. Stop subsidizing failures and let the market—and common sense—guide us. Blackouts and billion-dollar losses aren't "progress."

This Blog is published by Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Coalition, PGCC. Click here to learn more.