Ford F-150 Lightning – 6 Best Features

On Wed 19th May 2021, the Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck is revealed. A monumental step in automotive history as America’s most popular truck for decades becomes fully electrified. As one of the first all-electric trucks you can buy, you may have a few questions. You might also be wondering what the best features are, so here we’ll cover a few of them.

What is the Ford F-150 Lightning Range?

Quite possibly the biggest question. With many truck owners and fans living in rural areas where there’s a large distance between gas stations, never mind charging stations, the range could be an issue. The maximum range on the Ford F-150 Lightning is up to 300-miles with an extended-range battery. The standard-range battery has a target range of 230-miles.

There are several factors that will affect the total range capabilities of the truck, such as electronic load, temperature, payload, towing, wind, terrain, and driving habits.

Charging

To get the full range out of the F-150 Lightning, it must be charged fully. There are several different ways to charge the truck either at home or at a public charging station. There are also various levels/speeds of charging available depending on the type of charger. “Extended-range battery is estimated to achieve 15-80% charge in approximately 41 minutes,” says Ford.

How fast is the F-150 Lightning?

0-60 mph is achieved by the all-electric F-150 in the mid-4-second range (that’s pretty quick!). A major advantage of having an electric-powered vehicle is the lower-end torque it produces. With 775 lb-ft of torque (almost as much as a heavy-duty diesel truck) and the equivalent of around 563 horsepower, this truck is faster than a Raptor.

What is the F-150 Lightning Towing Capacity?

Ford is aiming for a maximum towing capacity of up to 10,000 lbs on XLT and Lariat models when equipped with the Max Trailer Tow package and extended-range battery. Payload is expected to be around 2,000 lbs. Towing of course inherently reduces the range. No figures are published yet about towing range, however, the Intelligent Range meter is able to calculate range on the go based on what the vehicle is doing and how much load it has.

How much does the F-150 Lightning Cost?

Entry-level XL (commercial work truck trim) models start at $39,974 MSRP (before any federal or state tax credits). An XLT trim Ford says will be around $52,974 MSRP and the top-level Platinum trim around $90,474 MSRP.

What is a ‘Frunk’?

Ford invented the word Frunk which means front trunk. With no combustion engine taking up space under the hood, there’s extra cargo room available. Power activated, and lockable, the frunk offers 400-liters of volume (enough for 2 sets of golf clubs according to Ford).

Available in the Frunk is the ProPower Onboard feature. ProPower Onboard provides 2.4 kilowatts of power. Lariat and Platinum trims come standard with 9.6 kilowatts of power via 7.2 kilowatts through outlets in the cab and bed and another 2.4 kilowatts from the outlets in the frunk. Ford says this is enough energy to power your home for 3 days in an emergency (yes you can power your house from the truck).

Is it 4×4?

Yes. The F-150 Lightning is full-time 4×4. Available drive modes include; Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. Talking of off-road, in case you are wondering about the battery in relation to off-road, the truck equipped with underbody protection and skid plates to protect the electric motors and batteries. A waterproof casing surrounds the battery.

Where can I buy the all-electric Ford pickup truck?

Reserve a Ford F-150 Lightning online on the Ford website or through a Ford dealership near you, with a refundable $100 deposit. According to Autoblog, 20,000 orders have already been placed within the first 12 hours! Trucks are due to arrive in the spring of 2022.