The Ford F-150 Lightning EV is coming this spring and has all the required elements to become a best-selling model. It's no secret that the Ford F-series has been the top-selling truck in the U.S. for decades. The F-150 is popular with city, suburban, and rural drivers, alike.
The F-150's historical strengths have always been performance, price, endurance, and a strong representation of the classic American big-car culture. Pickups and big trucks are slowly moving into the EV market, and Ford has capitalized on the trend. Even cars like the Hummer which once embodied fossil fuel mobility accomplished a green shift, albeit at a cost. The Ford F-150 doesn't have that problem.
The F-150 Lightning will start at $39,974 after tax exemptions. In a press release, Ford announced that the Platinum version of the new all-electric will offer a range of 300 miles, while the Pro ER, XLT ER, and Lariat ER trims will get about 320 miles. The 300-plus mile range is welcome news for F-150 drivers who are known for covering long miles every day. The range will also appeal to the industrial, rural, and off-road sectors. For those who want to save a few thousand dollars and don't need the extra miles, Ford has standard range models with 230 miles. Ford says the extended range models are for those who need the extra juice for long trips or heavy hauling.
Speed Meets Function
The F-150 Lightning is also faster than any F-150 ever made. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour within 4 seconds. Considering the size of this beast, the speed, power, and range are quite impressive, going head to head with top-performing EVs like Tesla. All models come with 2 inboard motors that power a standard 4x4 system. To make sure the F-150 doesn't disappoint fans, Ford even put it through all the standard torture-tests the F-150 gas goes through, and the EV aced them all.
The brain of the truck is packed in a 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen mounted at hand distance away from the driver and comes with voice recognition on the LARIAT and Platinum models. The F-150 can also power a house during a blackout by acting like an 11-outlet generator, allowing power for the full home for up to three days, or up to 10 days if rationed. Over-the-air updates keep the BlueCruise hands-free driving and other autonomous tech updated. Ford has even introduced a new feature called Intelligent Range which can calculate range depending on the remaining charge, traffic, weather, payload, and other factors. With its smart features, impressive range, and affordable price tag, it looks like Ford has set the F-150 Lightning up for success.
Source: Ford, Ford Media Center