Automotive

All-electric Ford F-150 Lightning hits earth for as little as $32,500

All-electric Ford F-150 Lightning hits earth for as little as $32,500
The Lightning shares its dimensions with ICE F-150s specced with SuperCrew cab and 5.5-foot bed
The Lightning shares its dimensions with ICE F-150s specced with SuperCrew cab and 5.5-foot bed
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Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, Lariat, XLT pre-production models
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Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum, Lariat, XLT pre-production models
The max 300-mile range might be limited for some off-road adventures, but the F-150 Lightning wasn't built to shy away from rugged terrain
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The max 300-mile range might be limited for some off-road adventures, but the F-150 Lightning wasn't built to shy away from rugged terrain
Three new grille options and an LED bar headlight and taillight design help distinguish the Lightning from gas F-150s
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Three new grille options and an LED bar headlight and taillight design help distinguish the Lightning from gas F-150s
The 10,000-lb max towing will be available on XLT and Lariat models with available extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package
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The 10,000-lb max towing will be available on XLT and Lariat models with available extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package
The Lightning shares its dimensions with ICE F-150s specced with SuperCrew cab and 5.5-foot bed
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The Lightning shares its dimensions with ICE F-150s specced with SuperCrew cab and 5.5-foot bed
Not only can the F-150 Lightning tow the Airstream to camp, it can power equ
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Not only can the F-150 Lightning tow the Airstream to camp, it can power electric equipment once there
During the workweek, the F-150 Lightning earns its keep by powering tools ... without any tailpipe emissions
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During the workweek, the F-150 Lightning earns its keep by powering tools ... without any tailpipe emissions
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat pre-production model
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2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat pre-production model
The Ford F-150 Lightning will launch in Spring 2022
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The Ford F-150 Lightning will launch in Spring 2022
The F-150 Lightning packs all-electric advantages for both work and play
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The F-150 Lightning packs all-electric advantages for both work and play
Ford adds 120-V outlets to both the front trunk and tailgate for easy plug in
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Ford adds 120-V outlets to both the front trunk and tailgate for easy plug in
The Onboard Scales feature helps drivers identify how much weight they're carrying and how it will affect range
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The Onboard Scales feature helps drivers identify how much weight they're carrying and how it will affect range
Ford F-150 Lightning drivers won't have difficulty seeing the massive touchscreen infotainment
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Ford F-150 Lightning drivers won't have difficulty seeing the massive touchscreen infotainment screen
The Ford F-150 Lightning will help power worksites of the future
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The Ford F-150 Lightning will help power worksites of the future
During power outages, the Ford F-150 Lightning will be able to run the average home for up to three days, longer when rationing usage
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During power outages, the Ford F-150 Lightning will be able to run the average home for up to three days, longer when rationing usage
The F-150 Lightning has a frame-mounted lithium-ion battery pack and front and rear inboard motors
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The F-150 Lightning has a frame-mounted lithium-ion battery pack and front and rear inboard motors
F-150 Lightning owners will have access to the nationwide FordPass charging network
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F-150 Lightning owners will have access to the nationwide FordPass charging network
Cloud-connected navigation on SYNC 4 also identifies public charging locations and prompts owners to charge at convenient points on each drive. Pre-production model with available features shown. Available starting spring 2022.
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Cloud-connected navigation on SYNC 4 also identifies public charging locations and prompts owners to charge at convenient points on each drive. Pre-production model with available features shown. Available starting spring 2022.
Digital cockpit
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Digital cockpit
The Ford F-150 Lightning will come loaded with standard and available tech
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The Ford F-150 Lightning will come loaded with standard and available tech
A prototype Ford F-150 Lightning drives through a river crossing to test the truck’s ability to drive over different types of terrain
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A prototype Ford F-150 Lightning drives through a river crossing to test the truck’s ability to drive over different types of terrain
Ford F-150 Lightning suspension testing
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Ford F-150 Lightning suspension testing
A prototype Ford F-150 Lightning trailer tow testing up a dynamic hill route to test max towing on a variety of grades
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A prototype Ford F-150 Lightning trailer tow testing up a dynamic hill route to test max towing on a variety of grades
View gallery - 23 images

It's an all-electric version of America's best-selling vehicle, and it's engineered and priced to lift that best seller into a new era. It's the all-electric F-150 Lightning, which debuts after years in the making. The fully electrified workhorse and mobile power station arrives with more quickness than a Raptor, two battery options for up to 300 miles of range, loads of handy tech, and enough trims and options to masterfully take on everything from grimy, sweaty workaday duties to camper-hauling open-road adventure. Oh, and the price isn't nearly the gut punch we thought it'd be.

The Lightning drops the traditional Ford engine options in favor of front and rear transverse-mounted fixed-magnet AC electric motors with sights on up to 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque — the most torque ever offered on an F-150, available the second your right foot twitches.

The F-150 Lightning has a frame-mounted lithium-ion battery pack and front and rear inboard motors
The F-150 Lightning has a frame-mounted lithium-ion battery pack and front and rear inboard motors

F-150 Lightning numbers remain preliminary estimates, but Ford looks forward to 0-60 mph acceleration in the mid-four seconds, teamed with up to 2,000 pounds (907 kg) of payload and up to 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg) of towing. Top acceleration and payload will require the extended-range battery, while max payload will rely on the smaller, lighter standard-range option. Those battery options have targets of 230 and 300 miles (370 and 483 km) of EPA-estimated range, respectively.

"F-150 Lightning delivers everything we’ve said electric vehicles can offer, plus the capability expected from a Built Ford Tough truck — not just near-instant torque but powerful towing and hauling customers can depend on," Kumar Galhotra, Ford president of Americas and International Markets Group, promised during Wednesday night's reveal.

The 10,000-lb max towing will be available on XLT and Lariat models with available extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package
The 10,000-lb max towing will be available on XLT and Lariat models with available extended-range battery and Max Trailer Tow Package

With those type of hard-nosed customers in mind, Ford plans to launch the commercial-oriented 2022 base model at $39,974, before federal or local tax incentives. Factor in a possible $7,500 US federal tax credit, and buyers drive away for as little as $32,474, not such a tall climb from the $28,940 base price of the 2021 F-150 XL. Ford plans to sell the mid-series 2022 F-150 Lightning XLT for a starting price of $52,974, before incentives. The 2021 F-150 XLT starts at $35,050 but is, of course, not eligible for EV incentives.

The Lightning's dual motors deliver standard 4x4 with four-selectable modes, and Ford speaks of the e-pickup as though it shouldn't miss a beat when off-roading. The new independent rear suspension teams with the natural low center of gravity of the electric packaging to improve isolation from rough road, enhance ride stability and cut down on body roll. The lithium battery gets sheathed in a waterproof casing cushioned by crash-absorption protection and further protected by metal skid plating that also protects the motors.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat pre-production model
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat pre-production model

Looks-wise, the 232.7-in (591-cm) Lightning doesn't present the level of variation we thought it might after seeing the shadowy teaser photo, but it distinguishes itself with full-width, crisp-cornered LED light bar front and rear lighting signatures, three distinct grille designs, and "Lightning" badges. It's laid out with a SuperCrew cab and a 5.5-foot (1.7-m) bed and stands atop a 145.5-in (370-cm) wheelbase, a military-grade aluminum alloy body planted on a high-strength steel frame reinforced for carrying the battery pack. Ford promises that the cab and bed dimensions remain identical to the standard F-150.

The real differentiation happens when you power-pop the snout-like hood with integrated grille and reveal the "Mega Power Frunk" that serves as something of a stowage counterpart to the pickup bed in back. Ford targets 400 liters of lockable volume and 400 pounds (181 kg) of payload, suggesting its frunk will capably carry a checked bag and two carry-ons to the airport or two sets of golf clubs to the links. The space includes four electrical outlets and two USB ports to tap into the battery and a floor drain plug to double up as a big, ol' cooler for tail/frunk-gating parties.

Not only can the F-150 Lightning tow the Airstream to camp, it can power equ
Not only can the F-150 Lightning tow the Airstream to camp, it can power electric equipment once there

When it comes to usable power, the F-150 Lightning works like a massive battery bank on wheels. Not only does it put out between 2.4 and 9.6 kilowatts, depending upon trim, for plugging in power tools, laptops, TVs, speakers, blenders, camping equipment and more out in the field, it also comes ready to power your home like a backup generator. The 80-A Ford Charge Station Pro that comes standard with the extended-range battery works with the included home management system to automatically power an entire house during outages, providing an average of between three and 10 days of power, depending on usage. Once the power comes back on, the truck immediately switches back to charging mode.

Ford will help with the installation of the 80-A charger and backup power hardware and plans to team up with solar company Sunrun so that customers can add solar power to their homes simultaneously. In the future, it will add intelligent power management that allows the Lightning to charge at off-peak hours and feed power into the home during high-cost, peak-energy hours to save money.

During power outages, the Ford F-150 Lightning will be able to run the average home for up to three days, longer when rationing usage
During power outages, the Ford F-150 Lightning will be able to run the average home for up to three days, longer when rationing usage

Using the 80-A charger, the extended-range Lightning can charge between 15 and 100 percent in roughly eight hours, adding 30 miles (48 km) of range per hour. Using 150-kW DC fast-charger, the extended-range pickup will add about 54 miles (87 km) in 10 minutes and charge between 15 and 80 percent in 41 minutes.

Electric power isn't the only high-tech component the Lightning brings to the dealership. Available BlueCruise driver assistance offers hands-free driving on 100,000 miles (161K km) and counting of US and Canadian highway. An Onboard Scales feature not only estimates onboard payload using the truck's sensor set but factors that load into the range estimate to provide a more accurate picture of how far the truck can travel. The Lightning tech suite will improve over time with standard OTA updates.

Inside the driver's door, the Lightning brings the Ford truck debut of the available SYNC 4A system with a 15.5-in touchscreen, natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to popular in-vehicle services like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa and SYNC AppLink apps. That center touchscreen is complemented by a 12-in digital instrument cluster.

The Onboard Scales feature helps drivers identify how much weight they're carrying and how it will affect range
The Onboard Scales feature helps drivers identify how much weight they're carrying and how it will affect range

Ford will build the F-150 Lightning at its all-new Rouge Electric Vehicle Complex in Dearborn, a planned zero-waste-to-landfill site. The e-pickup will begin rolling out to more than 2,300 EV-certified Ford dealerships across the US in Spring 2022, available in four series and the two battery options. Interested parties can reserve theirs with a $100 deposit today.

Source: Ford

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17 comments
17 comments
Daishi
Ford is kind of beating Tesla at their own game here. In terms of cost comparisons because the Lightning comes stock with SuperCrew cab I think you have to compare it to the F150 XL with SuperCrew cab which starts at $36,650 rather than the one without for $28,940. That means the Lightning F150 is pretty much at cost parity with the non-electric F150 and that's before including perks like driver assist, the big touchscreen, and massively more power and torque (265 vs 775 lb-ft of torque). This is the most signifiant EV since the Model 3 launch.
Ron
Very nice, now all we need is an electrical grid that will accommodate 80,000,000 vehicles all plugging in when the get home every night. I think the car companies would be better served to get large power storage facilities and expanded generation capabilities built before convincing the public that all electric is the way to go.
paul314
Now add a charging package that can attack to the bare meter at a construction site and you've got power for all your tools while you charge.
guzmanchinky
I just can't see anything wrong with this. Seems like a home run to me. I'm guessing the only hard part will be that the range will suffer enormously when towing but that's to be expected. Go Ford!
RobWoods
Can this truck be charged with only a regular 15 amp circuit, like a typical household plugin circuit? I know it would take longer but I only drive once a week or so.
Signguy
Ron; yup, one of the many problems with going "green" is not having any real infrastructure to accommodate all the electric vehicles. I have always preferred a van over a truck, & the design of a trunk in front reminds me of my VW Bugs.
DaveWesely
Ron, to answer your 110v charging question. Yes, it probably comes with a 110 volt (Category 1) charger. Most if not all EVs do. But will only charge at a ~4 mile per hour of charge rate. Still, that is enough for most local driving. Plus, a 4 mile/charge hour rate trickle charge is easy on the battery.
Smokey_Bear
Ford hit a homerun with this, demand will outstrip supply for awhile. Which means dealers will ignore the MSRP, and crank up the price. :(
Peter de Groot
In Aus that would not be a frunk. It would be a froot.
Robert Farmer
Anyone who has owned a a truck knows that the weight distribution -- engine and cab in front, bed in the back -- makes the truck unbalanced. Going down steep hills in particular, they drive like arrows. This makes them very hard to stop fast because the momentum is all in the front brakes, and the rear has weight shifted to the front, slightly lifting it.

The Lightning's battery addresses that. For that reason alone, it's a much better design.
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