Ever since President Biden visited the ford motor company electric plant in Michigan, the all new electric Ford F-150 has gotten a lot of attention. The Ford Motor Company is calling it the F-150 Lightning.
Last week after President Biden took the electric pickup truck for a test drive, Ford released the specs of the vehicle. The starting MSRP is $39,974. with this price point it is a more affordable option in comparison to the F-150 XL. The standard F-150 lightning can go an estimated 230 miles before needing a charge. Along with this, it has a payload capacity of 2,200 and a towing capacity of an estimated 7,400 pounds.
The Ford Motor Company said that just because it is an electric truck does not mean it wasn’t put through tough testing. The Ford Motor company says it was put through the same testing as the diesel F-series.
The F-150 Lightning will be offered in four trim levels, an as-yet-unnamed commercial-oriented base model that will also be offered to regular customers, mainstream XLT, Lariat, and ritzy Platinum. Keeping things simple, just one body style will be offered, at least at launch. You’ll be able to get a Lightning with a four-door SuperCrew cab and a 5.5 foot bed. If you are wondering why so little choice, well this combo represents the overwhelming majority of internal gas engine F-150 models sold. With that statistic it has led to believe that Ford is going right for the heart of the market.
The interior of the Lightning looks pretty much like any other F-150, though there is one thing that’s sure to grab attention on premium trims. Higher-end models can come with a massive 15.5-inch touchscreen running Ford’s Sync 4A infotainment system, just like the setup in the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover SUV. This type of Sync supports wireless, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, as well as Amazon Alexa voice commands and over the air software updates that can be completed in two minutes or less.
When it comes to innovation the F-150 Lightning is loaded with clever features. Since it has no engine the space between the front fenders is wide open, so engineers turned it into a lockable weather tight storage space with loads of power points. This front trunk can support 400 pounds with a size of about 14 cubic feet. This trunk is also washable and has a range of power outlets, including four 120-volt plugs and two USB ports.
Intelligent Backup Power is another smart new feature available on the F-150 Lightning. Basically, it allows the truck to power your home during blackouts, all without extension cords or noisy and noxious generators. When plugged into the wall charger, this F-150 can automatically send up to 9.6 kW of juice directly to your home’s electrical system. Ford says the Lightning’s battery has enough juice to run things for three whole days, though if you’re careful about what you’re powering, you can make it last for up to 10. The only item it will not power in your home is AC. If you want the F-150 Lightning to power the AC you need to buy a special adaptor for it.
One more thing, Phone As A Key is a nifty new feature that’s been available in Lincolns and the Mach-E for some time, but now it’s coming to the Lightning. As its name suggests, this feature allows you to access the all electric truck using only your mobile device. Phone As A Key enables you to remotely lock or unlock the Lightning, start it and even drive without having to carry the fob around in your pocket or purse.
The big question when buying an electric vehicle is how am I going to charge it? The Lightning can be replenished in several ways. The truck comes standard with a mobile charger that can be plugged into either a 120 volt 12-amp household outlet or a more serious 240 volt, 32-amp socket. Hooked to the former, the Lightning can absorb about 3 miles of range every hour. Plugged into the latter, the truck nets about 21 miles every 60 minutes.
Neither of those options are particularly quick, but Ford is generous enough to include an 80 amp at home charging station as standard equipment. This allows the truck to gain about 30 miles of range per hour or go from a 15% state of charge to full in about eight hours, all while safely sheltered in your garage or carport.
The all new Ford F-150 Lightning will come with tax incentives just like other electric vehicles on the market, both through the federal government as well as through some states. You currently can’t go purchase the F-150 Lightning, but you can reserve one on Ford’s website with a 100 dollar deposit. The F-150 Lightning will be available at dealers in 2022.
