Ford's F-150 Lightning loses a quarter of its range when hauling at max capacity — highlighting one of the biggest drawbacks of electric trucks

• AAA set out to test the effects of a heavy load on the F-150 Lightning's range.
• The electric truck could go significantly less far when loaded with sandbags.
• The truck's range fell about 25% when loaded to its maximum cargo rating. 

A little lost gas mileage is no sweat when filling up your tank only takes a few minutes. But batteries can complicate the trade-off when charging up isn't nearly as quick. 

AAA tested the F-150 Lightning's towing capacity and found a significant impact on the electric pickup's range when it was fully loaded. 

AAA said the truck's range fell from 278 miles to 210 miles, a 24.5% difference, when hauling sandbags weighing 1,400 pounds — which is close to the truck's maximum towing capacity. (The truck's EPA-rated range is 300 miles.) 

"Our testing revealed a significant range reduction, but it's important to note that the Lightning was loaded to near its maximum capacity," Greg Brannon, director of AAA's Automotive Engineering unit, said in a press release. "Most buyers will likely use their Lightning with a lighter load, resulting in a much smaller range reduction."

Importantly, Ford's "intelligent range" feature can update range predictions using onboard sensors and driver-supplied trailer details. A Ford spokesperson said the truck's software can automatically consider those factors to  suggest charging stops along a route. 

"Just like gas-powered vehicles, the heavier the load or pull, the more energy needed to move it," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "There are many factors that affect range when towing and hauling including the size and weight of the load or trailer, the weather, HVAC use, driver habits, and route topography."

AAA's findings confirm what some at-home testers have had to discover on their own. 

Tyler Hoover, a YouTuber, put his Lightning to the test last year and found a 64-mile journey hauling a trailer zapped 150 miles of estimated range. 

"The truck towing 3,500 pounds can't even go 100 miles," he said of the test. "That is ridiculously stupid. This truck can't do normal truck things."

For people who need to schlep heavy loads long-distance, a gas-powered truck might still be the best option. Luckily, charging times are improving — and creative technologies are slowly finding ways to avoid waiting for juice altogether.