The new Ford F-150 Lightning pickup is the most significant electric vehicle ever built. There, we said it. A 100% electric version of the USA’s bestselling vehicle for the past several decades, it offers an enormous amount of capability, a surprisingly affordable entry price, and is certain to shape the future of both commercial vehicles and passenger cars.
If you’re at all familiar with the Ford F-150, you won’t be surprised to learn that a Ford spokesperson has confirmed it’s ‘very unlikely’ we’ll ever see the Lightning in the UK – this pickup dwarfs the Ranger and has always been deemed too big for our roads.
But this is still a hugely important electric pickup.
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What makes the electric F-150 Lightning so significant?
While Tesla fundamentally changed the automotive world when it made a success of the Model S and proved that electric vehicles could be fast and desirable, the F-150 Lightning is the vehicle that could well bring that experience to the masses – in America, at least.
In part this is due to the price – which starts at just $39,974 in its most basic guise, before any electric vehicle incentives. That’s just over £28,000 at current exchange rates.
More than this, Ford has taken America’s most popular vehicle – by its nature a hard-working and exceptionally versatile machine – and not only avoided creating any major compromises by going electric but usefully expanded on the kinds of things it can do.
For not only does it drive on electric power, the F-150 Lightning can use its batteries to power other things – from tools and TVs to an entire house. For up to three days, if necessary.
Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck technical specifications
Starting with the basics, the F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup truck power by dual ‘in-board’ electric motors. This means they’re mounted within the chassis frame rather than in the wheels, as some rival electric pickup makers are planning – giving them greater protection and better suitability for off-road work.
>> Find out more about rival electric pickups
The two motors make the electric F-150 extremely powerful. The ‘targeted’ output (as Ford puts it at this stage) is 563hp and 1,051Nm of torque (775lb ft).
That’s more torque than any previous F-150, and with what Ford descibes as ‘near-instant’ delivery, the expectation is 0-60mph in around 4.4 seconds – which is faster than any previous F-150 as well, including the high-performance Raptor model (which uses the same engine as the Ford GT supercar).
Thanks to the dual motors, all models are four-wheel drive (4x4), with a choice of four driving modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road and Tow / Haul.
The Lightning has all-round independent suspension, uses ‘military grade’ aluminium, and has the strongest steel ever used in an F-150 chassis frame. It’s also been tested to the exact same standards as any other F-150.
Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck driving range, battery size and charging time
The electric Lightning will be available with a choice of two lithium ion battery pack sizes: standard-range and extended-range.
Ford hasn’t revealed the exact capacity of these yet, but says it’s targeting a driving range of 230 miles from the standard version and 300 miles from the extended version – both figures according to the slightly more pessimistic American ‘EPA’ estimates rather than WLTP.
This will vary with the type of body and trim level.
A waterproof, skid-plate protected casing is designed to ensure that no damage is done to the battery, even during the most arduous off-road driving, while further ‘crash-absorbing protection’ surrounds the battery should you have a serious shunt.
The batteries are mounted low in the vehicle, improving the centre of gravity and enhancing the handling – something that’s said to be particularly noticeable on slippery surfaces such as wet roads and sand.
As for charging time, you get a an ‘80-amp charging station’ as standard, which can deliver ‘30 miles of charge per hour’ – taking an extended-range model from 15% to 100% in ‘about eight hours’.
The Lightning is also compatible with public rapid chargers with up to 150kW or power, which can add 54 miles in 10 minutes – or go 15-80% in around 41 minutes.
Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck payload and towing capacity
Ford says the F-150 electric’s maximum payload will be 2,000lb. That’s 907kg.
Compared with the 1,000kg+ payload capacity we’re used to seeing from the (much smaller) pickups sold in the UK, this might come as a surprise. But it’s not super-unusual in the USA, and no doubt partly reflects the heavy weight of the batteries here.
Assuming the payload isn’t a problem, it is still very practical, however, as in addition to the loadbed the space in the front where the engine used to be is also available for storage.
This ‘frunk’ (front trunk; we might call it a froot) is 400 litres big (0.4 cubic metres) and capable of carrying 400lbs (181kg). It’s also got loads of power supply options inside, and a drainage system that supports using it to transport food and drink. More on this below.
Meanwhile, the F-150 Lightning’s towing capacity is as much as 10,000lb – which is nearly 4,536kg, over 1,000kg more than the best UK pickups can manage (in part because of legal requirements).
Can the F-150 Lightning really power a house for three days?
Using the 80-amp ‘Ford Charge Station Pro’ the electric F-150 is able to offload 9.6kW of power from its batteries, enough, Ford says, to keep a house running in an emergency.
Based on an electricity consumption level of 30kWh of use per day, the extended-range model is indeed said to be able to keep everything up and running for three days – though Ford reckons you’ll get 10 days out of it if you ration yourself.
This might seem a bit of a gimmick, but with electricity grids taxed to the point of failure during temperature extremes in some parts of the USA, many buyers may find this an exceptionally useful feature.
What’s more, in the future the F-150 will be able to take over powering the house during peak times, reducing electricity costs. It would then charge back up during low cost, off-peak hours. This is called ‘Ford Intelligent Power’.
What else can the F-150 electric power?
Thanks to the Ford Pro Power Onboard system, the batteries can also be used to run power-tools on work sites – but that’s just the practical application.
Ford fully expects owners to take advantage of this capability for ‘tailgate’ parties, where the batteries could be used to run cooking equipment, drinks coolers and televisions. Turning the F-150 Lightning into a mobile party truck.
Again, up to 9.6kW of power is available for this – 2.4kW through the ‘power frunk’ where there are four (!) electrical outlets and two USB chargers, and 7.6kW through outlets in the cab and loadbed.
The truck is smart enough to automatically turn things off if you’re in danger of running the batteries down so low you won’t be able to drive anywhere. A notification is sent via FordPass if the remaining driving range drops below one third of the total, with switch off activated if you’re approaching the point at which you won’t reach the nearest charger.
Sounds super high-tech…
It really is. Other features include an enormous 15.5-inch touchscreen running the latest Ford Sync 4A infotainment system in the centre of the dashboard, bigger than any previously fitted to an F-150, plus a 12.0-inch digital instrument cluster.
Buyers can also use ‘Phone As A Key’ technology – which does exactly what it sounds like – and there is an OnBoard Scales option, which is a built-in way of measuring payload and helps make the Intelligent Range driving range prediction more accurate.
Turning to more practical features, there is a 360-degree exterior lighting system to make working in the dark easier; Pro Trailer Hitch Assist can automatically dock the truck with a trailer by controlling the steering, acceleration and brakes; and Ford BlueCruise offers ‘hands-free’ driving on the motorway.
Capping things off, the F-150 Lightning also has over-the-air software upgrade capability. Called Ford Power-Up, this is expected to improve the truck’s capability over time.
FordPass keeps owners up to date with everything via their smartphones, and includes a Power My Trip function to help plan longer journeys via the available charging network.
How much does the electric F-150 Lightning cost again?
Prices start at $39,974 (just over £28,000) for an entry-level model, with mid-range versions priced from $52,974 (£37,500).
Seems pretty affordable – though with all the bells and whistles it’s easily a $90k pickup – that’s well over £60,000.
While you won’t be able to buy one from a UK Ford dealer, we won’t be surprised if some specialist importers do start to offer them. Expect something of a mark-up, though, if they do.
You can find lots more Ford F-150 Lightning pictures in the gallery at the top of the page.
Also read:
>> Electric pickups coming soon
>> The best pickups on sale in the UK
>> The best electric vans in the UK
>> Everything you need to know about electric vans
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