Everything you need to know about the Ford F-150 Lightning is here.
We’ve had a good look at Ford’s first all-electric pick-up truck, the F1-50 Lightning, since it was unveiled earlier this year. The F-series has long been the best-selling automobile in the United States, so the news that it is beginning to go electric is a huge thing.
Ford, on the other hand, is well aware of the enduring appeal of the F-series. With a starting price of $39,970, the F-150 Lightning nearly matches its gas and hybrid predecessors. In addition, Ford appears to be on the verge of releasing one of the best electric vehicles. Here’s all you need to know about the Ford F-150 Lightning, from release dates to range to features and everything else in between.
FORD F-150 LIGHTNING
- Release Date: Available Now
- Price: From $39,974
- Power: 2 motor, AWD
- Battery range: Up to 320 miles
- 0 to 60 mph: Mid-4 second range
- Smarts: BlueCruise autonomy, Android Auto, CarPlay, advanced voice control, Smart Hitch Assist, ‘Phone As A Key’ functionality
Tesla Cybertruck is a truck that’s on a par with the $110,000 GMC Hummer EV, rather than an overindulgent excess.
With that in mind, it’s clear that Ford isn’t aiming to alienate its current customer base by releasing an opulent version of the F-150. Everything you need to know about the Ford F-150 Lightning can be found here.
The price and release date of the Ford F-150 Lightning
The all-electric Ford F-150 will be offered in two versions when it debuts in early 2022. For the standard model, the price starts at $39,974, while the extended range variant (with roughly 300 miles of range) will cost somewhere in the middle of the $50,000s.
The gas-powered 2021 F-150, with a starting price of $29,940, is significantly less expensive than the F-150 Lighting. The Lariat and Platinum trims haven’t been priced, but Ford has stated that they’ll be in the $90,000 area.
Ford had reservations available with a $100 deposit on its website, but demand for the F-150 Lightning prompted the automaker to close it down. It was verified that this was due to Ford CEO Jim Farley confirming that 200,000 orders had been placed, although Ford’s full production capability is only between 70k and 80k units. In spite of this, Ford has stated that it intends to increase this statistic by a factor of two by 2015.
Ford has even taken steps to prevent after-market sales by scalpers, offering dealers the opportunity to have clients sign documentation preventing them from selling on the car during the first year, because the car is so well-liked.
For the first time, Ford CEO Jim Farley has shared a video of the trucks being loaded into car carriers for their initial deliveries. It may take a while for your truck to arrive, though, due to the vehicle’s popularity.
Lightening: Ford’s F-150 Lightning packs a powerful punch
Two electric motors provide all-wheel drive on the Ford F-150 Lighting. When Ford first unveiled the truck, they said it would be more powerful than it actually is. It now has 452 hp in the base model and 580 hp (up from 573) in the extended range model.
Both versions can now tow up to 2,235 lbs of freight, up from the original claims of 1,800 and 2,000 pounds, respectively. A 7,700-pound towing capacity is available on the standard-range F-150, while a 10,000-pound rating is available on the extended-range model.
Even after the F-150 Lightning has been being delivered, Ford has yet to release official 0-60 time data for the truck. According to Ford, the time will be somewhere between 3 and 4 seconds.
Ford F-150 Lightning: Battery life and maximum driving range
A 98 kWH battery will power the base F-150 Lighting model’s 230-mile-plus range, while the more expensive extended-range model’s 131 kWh battery will provide 320-mile-plus range, which is an increase of 20 miles above Ford’s original promise.
There are certain high-end electric automobiles that can charge at 350kW DC, while the F-150 Lighting can only charge at 150kW DC. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing because 350kW chargers are extremely rare.
Charges in a flash To restore 54 miles of range in 10 minutes, the model’s extended range battery can charge from 15% to 80% in 41 minutes. With 41 miles of range in 10 minutes, and 44 minutes to go from 15 percent to 80 percent, the standard range model takes longer.
It takes about eight hours to fully recharge the Ford F-150 using the 19.2kW AC charging system. Also included is a 32-amp mobile charger that can be used to charge the vehicle at a slower rate when a quicker charger is not available.
For those who prefer to charge at home, Ford will offer the ‘Charge Station Pro,’ which provides the 19.2kW charging speeds that the truck is capable of. However, in order for this to operate, you’ll need Ford’s ‘Home Integration System,’ which costs $3,895 before installation. For a total cost of $5,200 you’ll need the Charge Station Pro and $1,310 for the charger.
However, compared to the expense of installing a dedicated battery backup system in your home, it is an excellent value. It costs $8,500 for a 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall, without including installation or the fact that Tesla won’t sell you one without solar installation.
However, you can store electricity in your truck’s 98/131 kWH battery for $5,200. In the event of a power outage, or if your power provider allows it, you can utilise it as a backup power supply or sell it back to the grid. According to Ford, the vehicle is capable of delivering 9.6kW of power.
Additionally, Ford allows drivers to use their cars as “generators.” To put it another way, users can connect directly to the vehicle’s battery and draw electricity from it. Pro Power Onboard is the name of this system, which enables customers to make use of the truck’s 11 available outlets. A 240v outlet is also included in the bed, which has four 120v outlets and a 240v outlet in the trunk.
The interior and exterior of the Ford F-150 Lightning
As a fan of the existing Ford F-150, you’ll be right at home with the F-150 Lightning. Ford, on the other hand, has plainly chosen the philosophy that you shouldn’t fix something that isn’t broken. As a result, the F-150 Lighting resembles a gas-powered model quite closely.
Although there will be many electric pickups and many types of soda, “there’s only one Coke,” says Ford CEO Jim Farley on the Verge podcast Decoder.
Ford, on the other hand, is well aware of the legendary status of their vehicle and will not risk it. A “New Coke” scenario is probably not what it wants.
Of course, there are some adjustments. The front grill has been modified because it no longer needs to admit airflow. As an added feature not seen on either the gas or hybrid versions, this truck’s front end has a light bar that runs continuously across its whole length. However, if you don’t notice the lack of exhaust, you may not understand that this is an electric vehicle.
There’s 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space in the front trunk, and it can hold up to 400 pounds of gear. Hence the name “Mega Power Frunk” from Ford. If you’re planning on adding any further extras, the rear bed is the same size as other F-150s, which means it should work with them.
For the first time with the Mustang Mach-E, Ford has chosen a huge infotainment touchscreen rather than a traditional landscape display, as many other electric vehicles have done. It’s also a good design choice that the business hasn’t completely removed all of the tactile buttons.
A physical dial integrated into the display will allow you to operate many parts of the vehicle without having to take your eyes off the road, among other things. Although the larger screen on the Ford Mustang Mach-E Lariat is a luxury option, it’s a welcome addition nonetheless.
All of these features are expected to be included.
The centre console folds out into a workspace, and the two front seats may be folded flat. Also known as the “cabin in a box,” the Ford F-150 has been designed with the comfort and convenience of long trips in mind.
Self-driving technology and other unusual options make the Ford F-150 Lightning unique.
Also, don’t expect the F-150 Lightning to skimp on high-tech equipment and features. BlueCruise, a hands-free driving assistance system, will be included to compete with Tesla. On 2021 F-150s and Mustang Mach-E, it was scheduled to go into production this year, but has been pushed back to sometime in 2022. When driving on the highway, this feature allows you to put your hands on the wheel.
However, it isn’t a completely self-contained feature. In addition to steering and acceleration control, the BlueCruise system will have an infrared camera to monitor the driver’s eyes and ensure that they are focused on the road.
Additionally, the F-150 Lighting will be equipped with Ford’s new smart hitch assist, which will make hooking up a trailer a breeze. With the “Phone as a Key” feature, you can start the truck without your regular key fob by connecting your smartphone to the FordPass app.
The Future of the Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford is clearly targeting a specific demographic with the F-150 Lighting. Customers who have bought the gas-powered F150 for 44 years won’t be swayed by the company’s decision to move to electric.
As a result, we should expect a vehicle that is identical to existing F-150 versions in terms of appearance and performance. To be sure, it’ll have all the amenities you’d expect from an electric vehicle, which will benefit Ford. It’s also surprisingly affordable for an electric car.
One to keep an eye on in the future is the F-150 Lightning.