Ford F-150 Lightning revealed: Large pickup goes electric

Ford has revealed the F-150 Lightning, the all-electric version of the popular F-150 pickup truck.

The EV version of the F-150 is the second Ford to transition a name synonymous with V8s into the electric ecosphere, following on from the Mustang Mach-e.

And it is the latest ute to head down the EV path. And with a long and successful history of building big trucks that can lift heavy things, the F-150 Lightning provides competition for the upcoming Tesla Cybertruck.

READ MORE: Every electric ute and pickup coming soon

To be built at Ford’s historic Rouge plant and go on-sale in the second quarter of 2022, Lightning was rolled out at the blue oval’s global Dearborn headquarters in Michigan in front of staff, customers, dealers and media on Wednesday night US time.

Other BEV pick-ups such as the Cybertruck and Rivian R1T have already been shown and many more are coming, but the Lightning is especially significant because it is an electric version of the world’s biggest selling truck that has relied on petrol and diesel motivation through 14 generations of production.

“The F-150 Lightning will be the smartest, cleanest F-150 ever,” promised Ford executive chairman Bill Ford.

“This is a historic day for our company and an important day for the future of our country.”

Powered by fixed magnet AC eMotors mounted on both axles, Ford says the Lightning powertrain will generate a as much as 420kW and 1050Nm, making it the torquiest and fastest accelerating F-150 in history.

Ford forecasts a 0-60mph (96km/h) time in the mid-four second range.

The Lightning is being offered with the choice of two lithium-ion pouch cell battery pack; standard range with 370km and extended range with 480km. Ford doesn’t state sizes, but US media is reporting them as likely being 115kWh and 150kWh.

Dual chargers allow quicker battery top-offs, Ford claims. The extended range battery can be fully recharged at home in as little as eight hours.

On a 150-kilowatt DC fast charger, an extended-range F-150 Lightning is targeted to get up to 86km of range in 10 minutes and charge from 15 per cent to 80 per cent in about 41 minutes.

Ford claims a payload up to 900kg for the Lightning and – more impressively – a 4535kg towing capability. It has the same cab and bed dimensions as its ICE counterparts.

The Lightning’s four-door aluminium body is bolted on an all-new steel frame claimed to be the “strongest ever”. That combines with a low centre of gravity and the first independent rear suspension fitted to an F-150 for improved ride and handling, Ford says.

The Lightning is the most aerodynamic F-150 yet, Ford says, thanks to features like reshaped running boards and a sculpted hood. It can be picked out from ICE F-150s via its signature LED light bars and choice of three new grilles.

The Lightning has the largest digital screen in any full-size truck at 15.5 inches and a 400 litre power frunk under the bonnet with four electrical outlets, two USB chargers and a drainable floor that can double as a food and beverage container.

The Lightning can also provide 9.6kW of backup power for a house for three days (up to 10 days if rationed) and has multiple onboard outlets to act as a work-site electricity source. The Lightning will also be updated over the air via a new service called Ford Power Up.

The Lightning also features BlueCruise autonomous driving that allows hands-free travel on 160,000km of divided road in the USA and Canada.

Pricing for the entry model Lightning starts at US$39,974 ($51,660), while mid-spec XLT starts at US$52,974 ($68,456).

“The F-150 Lightning is a massive moment for our Ford team. America’s number one auto brand is going zero emissions with America’s favourite vehicle. It’s quicker than a Raptor, with standard 4×4 and independent rear suspension; a power frunk, enough juice to run your house for three days or power an awesome tailgate; and it will forever improve with over-the-air updates,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. 

“It will be built at the Rouge factory, where Henry Ford changed the world and my grandfather punched in every day. F-150 Lightning represents all that our country can do when we push for progress.”

No word yet on whether the Lightning could make it to Australia, although there is nothing in the short term.

When contacted, Ford Australia product communications manager Ben Nightingale told EV Central “we have no news to share about any plans to bring F-150 Lightning to Australia”.

But Ford at least appears to be warming to EVs.

“Globally, Ford is investing at least US$22 billion (almost $AU29 billion) in electrified vehicles through 2025; we’ll share more about our local rollout plans soon,” said Nightingale in an email.

“We’re pleased to see a growing appetite for EVs in Australia, and we’re taking a considered approach to electrification to make sure we get our offering right for our customers. Ford owners are very clear that they expect toughness, performance and capability from our vehicles, and so our focus is on offering EVs to meet those expectations.

“Ford Australia’s EV line up will grow quickly, first with our Escape PHEV SUV and soon with other BEVs and electrified models. We’ll share details about these in due course.”

While Chevrolet and Ram each offer factory-approved right-hand drive Australian conversions of their ICE-powered pickup trucks, there are no such programs in place for the F-150. That said, various independent workshops sell locally-converted versions of the F-Series in Australia.

The Lightning is the latest pick-up truck – or ute – to go electric.

Arch rival Chevrolet has promised an electric version of the Silverado and General Motors is reviving the Hummer brand with the GMC Hummer SUT EV pickup truck.

They are some of more than a dozen electric utes either promised or currently under development.

EV range appears to be a big focus for manufacturers as they ready their electric trucks.

Chevrolet and Hummer have promised battery capacities as large as 200kWh – roughly double that of the batteries in the longest range EVs available today – with driving ranges of 600km or more.

But truck makers are also focusing on performance; the Hummer EV promises supercar acceleration from the three-motor version of its tech-infused ute.