Automakers are all about conservation these days, and efforts to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly are all the rage. But while the focus typically revolves around fuel efficiency and emissions, there are other, smaller ways automakers can help do their part to save the planet. One of which is apparently reinventing the old fashioned owner’s manual everyone has stuffed in their glovebox.
We rarely even think about the humble owner’s manual until it’s time to look up our vehicle’s scheduled maintenance or need to figure out how to use some built-in feature. So it makes perfect sense to digitize them, which would make finding information much easier than sifting through physical pages. Ford has already done that to an extent with its FordPass app, as owners can access their manual that way.
But now, the automaker is taking things a step further with the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. Every new Ford F-150 comes with a standard center console touchscreen with a new digital owner’s manual built right in. The digitized manual also features search capability and streaming videos, making the process of finding information and the communication of that information better than ever before.
Ford will still include a thin, supplemental guide with the new F-150 for those that prefer paper, though we imagine most will quickly realize how much easier the digitized manual is to use and navigate through. And at the same time, this change will save an incredible amount of paper – a whopping 290 tons per year, according to Ford, which weighs as much as 122 2021 F-150 pickups.
Stack that paper on top of each other, and it would reach 18,000 feet – which is quite literally tall enough to classify as a mountain. We’re not sure how many trees that saves, but it has to be a lot. Throw in the fact that this change also makes truck owners’ lives easier, and we’d call this change a definite win-win for everyone involved.
We’ll have much more on the 2021 F-150 very soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford F-Series news, Ford F-150 news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
A supplymental thin manual comes with it I guess it covers the basics if it does then haveing the rest inside the informant screen is not that bad idea at all as it saves tree’s being cut down
It’s a great idea until my battery is dead and I can’t pull up the manual.
What happens when my battery goes dead It seems like Ford could at least let owners print there own owners manual $65000 and no manual it SUCKS
I completely agree with you Vern! The paper manual is much more convenient when you are trying to reset something, look at a diagram or read fine print. Phones and tablets are fine as long as you don’t get grease, oil or fluid on them, or drop them! Then you have the whole screen size issue, let alone the issue of signal or lack thereof. For 65K you should get a paperback version, a hardback coffee table version and a digital pdf version. Of course once the battery replaces the ICE all of this is mute because we won’t be able to do much work ourselves except brakes, tires and suspension work. That manual will require knowledge of electric systems and your HVAC and local electrical guys will become your best buds. I am doing my best to channel my inner Rush and my Red Barchetta…
And it is VERY hard to do stuff on the screen if you have to view the manual ON THE SCREEN for directions!!! If I print the thing I am printing on 8 1/2 x11 paper while the manual is on like 4×5 so wasting that much more paper.
Just bought a 2022 F150. Really disappointing to discover the absence of a complete, convenient and practical paper manual. Agree with several of you. Not providing a paper copy has nothing to do with natural resource conservation. It has everything to do with money savings that is not passed on to the consumers. It is evidence of a disconnect between the company and consumers.
Ironically, not providing a manual is behind the facade of “convenience” and “saving the planet” that so many fall prey to.
Eco. 101: The pulp used to produce paper comes from tree farms that are renewable resources. In turn that industry is reliant on other types of manufacturing and services. Collectively, these industries feed families. Instead of being concerned with saving a tree, how about saving a family? The tree can be replanted.
One other rant – there’s no CD player either. I know all the opposing arguments. It doesn’t change the fact that I miss the CD player.
This sucks so bad. An electronic manual is great right up until your battery dies or you are following a procedure that requires you to turn the vehicle on and off several times like putting your truck into neutral tow mode . This is fun because each time you restart the truck your infotainment center goes back to the start screen. Really irritating situation