Ford has just released their first-ever electric pickup truck, and it does not disappoint. The electric F-150 has been expected for months and months now, with Ford hinting at its release last year. The F-150 Lightning looks pretty much like any normal F-150 just with a smoothened front end and obviously no exhaust pipes anywhere on the vehicle. The top model has a lot more power than most F-150 models. In fact, it’s more powerful than a Raptor with horsepower figures of 563 and torque figures of 775 lb-ft. The least powerful model still has 426hp though and the same 775 torque figures.
Ford has made some wild claims here on what the F-150 Lightning can do, and though some do sound quite realistic, others need to be tested out in the real world. The most outlandish claim is that the F-150 can power your house in case of emergency. This will come in handy in southern states, whereby this year many witnessed long power cuts, especially in Houston. Now, this could be true but it also could be just a gimmick. What sort of house could it power up? A normal family-sized home? We will have to see about that!
Ford also says on DC charging that the F150 lighting can get from 15% to 80% in just 45 minutes which is pretty impressive considering the size of the truck. Furthermore, if you opt for the extended-range battery pack, Ford will send you for free a Ford Chargin Station Pro. This is a robust charging solution which you can install within your home to charge the car. Of course, you will have to install it yourself, but hey it’s a nice perk to get?
It’s a good-looking truck, and it’s had 70,000 pre-orders already. It’s bound to be a best-seller however, it does face some very stiff competition. You have the GMC Hummer EV from GM, The Rivian R1 T, and of course the Tesla Cybertruck. These three competitors are all gunning for that best-selling truck spot in North America. The F150 has the most credibility of the three since currently, it is the best selling truck but nevertheless, Ford still has to pull its socks up with this one if they want the Lightning to be successful. The other four competitors each offer their own USP which disadvantages Ford.
So is it the best out of the bunch? Or has the F-150 lost its crown?
picture via: theverge.com
There Has Been an F-150 Lightning In The Past.
The F-150 Lightning is not a new car. The nameplate has been used in the past for a performance version of the F-150 pickup truck. It was technically called the SVT Lightning, but the same thing really. That truck was a big gas guzzler with a big 5.4 liter V8 under the hood. Defiantly not environmentally friendly at all. That truck was one of Ford’s greatest though, and production ran across two generations between the years 1993 and 2004.
So why has the Lightning name resurrected again? Well, it’s pretty simple. Lightning is electricity. This truck is electric so the name makes sense, and it is pretty cool. It’s also very fast with the top model doing a 0-60 time of just over 4 seconds. The TRX Ram better watch out then, as it could be struck by lightning! Very cringe indeed.
The Workman’s Best Friend
Ford is marketing the new lightning more towards the workman. It features a trunk at the front, normal sockets inside, a large towing capacity on the extended-range battery packs of 10,000 pounds. That is quite a lot indeed. The front trunk or the “frunk” can fit two sets of golf clubs quite easily. It’s a very practical truck and Ford says that it can run on a single charge for about 3 days, however, the actual range has not been properly tested in the real world yet.
The tailgate also can act as a workbench. It has small compartments for pencils and other tools which is pretty cool. You can attach a vice on to there too. it’s a pretty tough truck, but we don’t think it will be as tough as the cold-rolled steel Tesla Cybertruck.
Inside, the F150 Lightning features the same 15.5-inch vertical touchscreen as seen on the new Mustang Mach-E. It’s a very nice screen that is pretty simple to use. It looks very clean and very elegant and the middle knob at the bottom really suits it well. The dull silver trim around it makes it look so much sturdier and tougher. A very nice interior indeed, and something far better in comparison to the older F150 models from a few years ago.
Will It Be As Successful As It’s Internal Combustion Engined (ICE) Counterparts?
This is a very big question indeed. We all know that the internal combustion-engined F150 models are huge sellers. In fact, they are the most popular trucks out there. They’re reliable, easy to live with, and pretty good to drive. They’re also pretty cheap too with a base F-150 starting at just over $28,000.
The Lightning starts at almost $40,000 but you do get a $7000 grant from the government. Nevertheless, more than a base F150. However, the base Loghtnining model looks better inside and out so that does justify the higher price tag. The base price of a Lightning F150 isn’t too bad for a big electric vehicle, though some will complain about it. Luckily, these things can be had quite easily on a business lease.
I think it will be pretty successful. The US is switching to electric vehicles, and the Lightning is a huge stepping stone. It looks and feels like a normal truck which is what a lot of people want. It may not be as cool as the Cybertruck but who cares?
So then, will the current ICE F-150 be struck by Lightning and turn electric? I think so. The electric F-150 offers just so much more in comparison that it truly is a no-brainer. The future is electric, and Ford knows it. For most people, this is the truck they need.