The Ford F-150 Lightning is a battery electric full-size light duty truck unveiled by Ford in May 2021 as part of the fourteenth generation Ford F-Series. Four models have been announced, and all models initially will be dual-motor, four-wheel-drive, with EPA range estimates of 230–300 mi (370–480 km). The base price of the commercial-grade version all-wheel drive (AWD) truck in the United States was announced to be US$39,974, with higher-power/trim/range models priced all the way up to US$90,000.[5] The F-150 Lightning began production on 26 April 2022.[6]

This article is missing information about recent history since production began, including dealers selling at vastly higher prices, and Ford's announced intention to take all EV sales to direct sales, skipping the dealer intermediaries. (June 2022)

Ford F-150 Lightning
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford
Production	April 2022 – present[1]
Model years	2022–present[2]
Assembly	United States: Dearborn, Michigan (Ford River Rouge Complex)
Designer	Linda Zhang (chief engineer)[3] Raleigh Haire, Josh Henry (exterior)
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size pickup truck
Layout	Dual-motor, four-wheel-drive
Related	Ford F-Series (fourteenth generation)
Powertrain
Electric motor	Dual permanent magnet motors
Power output	452 hp (337 kW; 458 PS) (standard battery) 580 hp (433 kW; 588 PS) (extended battery)
Battery	98.0 or 131.0 kWh[2] pouch-style Li-ion battery packs
Electric range	230 mi (370 km) (standard range) 320 mi (510 km) (extended range) 300 mi (480 km) (Platinum trim)[4]

History

In January 2019, Ford announced the intention to produce a fully-electric light pickup at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.[7]

In July 2019, Ford tested prototype electric test mules on existing F-150 chassis. This culminated in a record-setting demonstration test tow of 1,250,000 pounds (570,000 kg) on rails.[8] Chief engineer for the F-150, Linda Zhang, emphasized at the time that Ford intended to take the "built Ford tough [characteristics of] durability, capability, and productivity and [extend that into] a whole new arena" of electric trucks.[8]

Ford unveiled the truck, and released the model name on 19 May 2021,[9] with production planned for spring of 2022.[5][10] Ford received 69,500 refundable-deposit orders in the first four days after the announcement.[11]

By late May 2021, Ford had begun discussing other electric trucks beyond the F-series, such as the Expedition and Navigator, which are intended to be underpinned by their full-size EV truck chassis, as well as a smaller chassis which will be used for the Bronco, Explorer, and Aviator.[12]

By June 11, 2021, over 100,000 reservations were made, and Ford announced that the company would offer digital services for subscription revenue that will change car sales from a single-time transaction process.[13]

Ford had received more than 200,000 Lightning reservations for a 3-year backlog by the end of 2021.[14][15]

The first pickup was manufactured on 18 April 2022, with first delivery on 26 May.[16]

In June 2022, Ford announced its intention to restructure its dealership model, including building an e-commerce platform where customers can buy EVs at non-negotiable prices in an effort to match Tesla’s profit margins.[17] Ford also stated that it would spend $3.7 billion to hire 6,200 union workers to staff several assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri in a bid to sell 2 million EVs a year by 2026.[17]

Since launching in May 2021, the 2023 Base Lightning Pro model jumped in price from $41,669 to $48,769 (including a $1,795 destination fee) whereas the top Platinum grades increased $6,100 to $98,669. [18]

Description

The base configuration has 452 hp (337 kW), 230 mi (370 km) range, and its smaller battery supports a 2,000 lb (910 kg) payload. The high-end configuration has 580 hp (430 kW), 300 mi (480 km) EPA range, 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) times in the mid-four-second range, and a towing capacity of 10,000 lb (4,500 kg). All models have 775 lb⋅ft (1,051 N⋅m) of torque, full-time 4wd, independent rear suspension, and will initially come in a crew-cab configuration only, with a 5.5 ft (1.7 m) bed.[5] The active suspension provides real-time load weighing function. Like Tesla, the Ford F-150 Lightning is announced to include over-the-air software updates, and a significant software driving aids which will allow limited hands-off highway driving, but fall short of full self-driving.[5] The F-150 Lightning in some trim packages, in concert with the "80A Ford Charge Station pro with Ford Intelligent Backup Power capability," can provide household-oriented V2G power, which can meet the electrical needs of a typical American home for three to ten days.[19] The truck can also supply up to 9.6 kW of power through up to eleven 120V and 240V electrical outlets distributed around the truck.[19]

This electric truck has a standard battery and can travel 230 mi (370 km) on a single charge. EPA range estimates of 230–300 mi (370–480 km)[5] produced by Ford in May 2021 were based on 1,000 lb (450 kg) of cargo carried in the truck. Electrek reported that the range with no load, just a driver and the truck, appeared to be closer to 400 mi (640 km).[20]

The Ford F-150 Lightning was also evaluated to reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds.[21] Maximum available payload is 2,235 pounds (1,014 kg), which includes the 400-pound (180 kg) payload of the front trunk (called a "frunk" by Ford). The new Lightning can tow up to 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg).[22]

Starting price is US$39,974 for the "commercial-grade Lightning Pro" fleet version while the "mid-series" XLT model starts at US$52,974. Higher priced Lariat and Platinum models are priced up to US$90,000.[5]

In MotorTrend testing of an F-150 Lightning Platinum without a trailer and only the driver, the Platinum attained a range of 255 miles (410 km). When towing a 7,218-pound (3,274 kg), 33 ft 11 in (10.34 m) camper, the F-150 Platinum was only able to reach 90 miles (140 km). The test was over a 80-mile (130 km) route with average highway speeds between 64 and 67 mph (103 and 108 km/h), and with the headlights and audio system on and the automatic climate control set to 72 °F (22 °C).[23]

The F-150 Lightning is produced at the new Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan,[9] and involves two other plants: the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan which will assemble the electric motors and the Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan will produce the batteries.[24]

Trim levels

This section does not cite any sources. (June 2022)

For the 2022 model year, the F-150 Lightning is available in four trim levels: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. The Pro trim will only be available with the smaller-capacity battery, and the Platinum will only offer the higher-capacity battery, although all other trims will include the smaller-capacity battery as standard equipment, but will also offer the higher-capacity battery as an option.

The base Pro trim is comparable to the XL trim of the regular F-150. Standard equipment includes a vinyl-trimmed interior, vinyl flooring, a 12-inch Ford SYNC 4A touchscreen infotainment system, eighteen-inch on/off-road all-terrain tires and machined-face aluminum-alloy wheels, a keyless entry keypad on the front driver's door, and full power equipment.

The mid-level XLT trim adds comfort and convenience features onto the base Pro trim, such as cloth seating surfaces, carpeted flooring with front and rear floor mats, a center LED light bar above the front "grille", and integrated side steps.

The luxury-oriented Lariat trim adds luxury amenities onto the mid-level XLT trim, such as twenty-inch on/off-road all-terrain tires and machined-face aluminum-alloy wheels, perforated luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces, a 15.5-inch tablet-style Ford SYNC 4A touchscreen infotainment system, a Bang and Olufsen eight-speaker audio system, dual heated and ventilated front bucket seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and color-keyed exterior door handles and side mirror caps.

The top-tier Platinum trim adds features onto the luxury-oriented Lariat trim, such as a higher-capacity battery, an upgraded front "grille", 22-inch all-season tires and machined-face aluminum-alloy wheels, the Tow Technology Package, the Max Trailer Tow Package, the Ford BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system, "Nirvana" perforated luxury leather-trimmed seating surfaces, a twin-panel panoramic moonroof, and a Bang and Olufsen Unleashed eighteen-speaker amplified surround sound audio system.

See also

• GMC Hummer EV
• Lordstown Endurance
• Plug-in electric vehicles in the United States
• Rivian R1T
• Tesla Cybertruck
• Chevrolet Silverado EV

External links

• Ford F-150 Lightning, official website

References