Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 Lightning is a battery electric full-size light duty truck unveiled by Ford in May 2021 as part of the fourteenth generation Ford F-Series. Four models have been announced, and all models initially will be dual-motor, four-wheel-drive, with EPA range estimates of . The base price of the commercial-grade version all-wheel drive (AWD) truck in the United States was announced to be , with higher-power/trim/range models priced all the way up to . The F-150 Lightning began production on April 26, 2022. History. Ford announced the intention to  produce a fully-electric light pickup at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, in January 2019. In July 2019, Ford tested prototype electric test mules on existing F-150 chassis. This culminated in a record-setting demonstration test tow of on rails. Chief engineer for the F-150, Linda Zhang, emphasized at the time that Ford intended to take the "built Ford tough [characteristics of] durability, capability, and productivity and [extend that into] a whole new arena" of electric trucks. Ford unveiled the truck, and released the model name on 19 May 2021, with production planned for spring of 2022. Ford received 44,500  refundable-deposit orders in the first two days after the announcement, and a further 25,000 in the next two days after that. 100,000 $100 reservations were reached by 11 June 2021 and Ford announced that a more official order bank would open later in 2021, as well that the company would offer digital services for subscription revenue that will change car sales from a single-time transaction process. By late May 2021, Ford had begun discussing other electric trucks beyond the F-series, such as the Expedition and Navigator, which are intended to be underpinned by their full-size  EV truck chassis, as well as a smaller chassis which will be used for the Bronco, Explorer, and Aviator. Ford had received more than 120,000 refundable orders for the Lightning by the end of July, in December 200,000 for a 3–year backlog. Description. Starting price is for the "commercial-grade Lightning Pro" fleet version while the "mid-series" XLT model starts at . Higher priced Lariat and Platinum models are priced up to . The base configuration has , range, and its smaller battery supports a payload. The high-end configuration has , EPA range, times in the mid-four-second range, and  a towing capacity of . All models have of torque, full-time 4wd, independent rear suspension, and will initially come in a crew-cab configuration only, with a bed. The active suspension provides real-time load weighing function. Like Tesla, the Ford F-150 Lightning is announced to include over-the-air software updates, and a significant software driving aids which will allow limited hands-off highway driving, but fall short of full self-driving. The F-150 Lightning in some trim packages, in concert with the "80A Ford Charge Station pro with Ford Intelligent Backup Power capability," can provide household-oriented V2 G power, which can meet the electrical needs of a typical American home for three to ten days. The truck can also supply up to 9.6 kW of power through up to eleven 120V and 240V electrical outlets distributed around the truck. This electric truck has a standard battery and can travel on a single charge. The Ford F-150 Lightning was also evaluated to reach in 4.5 seconds. Maximum payload is , which includes the payload of the front trunk (called a "frunk" by Ford). The new Lighting can tow up to . EPA range estimates of produced by Ford in May  2021 were based on of cargo carried in the truck. Electrek reported that the range with no load, just a driver and the truck, appeared to be closer to . The F-150 Lightning will be produced at the new Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan. Lightning production will also involve two other plants: the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan which will assemble the electric motors and the Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan will produce the batteries.