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It’s no surprise that the world’s best-selling pickup truck needs to get in on the EV action. Considered by some to be the ‘iPhone’ of cars, the Ford The F-150 Lightning is a notable addition to a lineup of in-demand vehicles from Ford.
Aside from being a powerful battery pack on wheels, the Lightning does almost everything the regular F-150 does in an almost identical package. Inside and out, the Lightning resembles the rest of the F-150, though it’s completely different underneath.
All models include two electric motors that run on one of two battery packs. According to Ford, the powertrain makes 580 horsepower with a larger Extended-Range battery. When it comes to speed, the Lightning hits 60 mph in 4.0 seconds.
EPA-estimated driving range varies between 230 and 320 miles with the base battery, but towing a trailer drains the battery quickly and requires frequent stops to charge.
This is a common issue with EV pickup trucks, and competitors like the Electric RAM and the Electric Toyota Tundra aren’t much better. However, if you own a truck that only tows occasionally or for short distances, the F-150 Lightning will suffice.
The Lightning is a great, fully electrified F-150, and it appeals directly to current F-150 owners looking for a modern take on their favorite truck. The interior is more modern, and aside from the lack of an internal combustion engine, the F-150 Lightning feels, drives, and could be taken for any other F-150.
Ford’s Struggle with F-150 Lightning Orders Explained
Ford received about 200,000 reservations and had to stop accepting them because they represented more than three years of planned production, and that’s why the company couldn’t keep up with orders. Consumers weren’t happy with the news, but with the high demand fueled by the love of this electric truck and its good price, it’s not surprising. Ford said on their website that they will let customers know how and when they can receive their cars, even in waves.
Due to high demand, Ford was forced to take drastic measures to increase the number of Lightning trucks it could produce. Darren Palmer, the head of EV production at Ford, spoke to Insider, a news outlet, saying that Ford is building a factory roughly the same size as the current automaker to make room for to more output.
Despite Ford’s recent $50 billion commitment to its EV program over the next four years, the success of the electric F-150 is not guaranteed. But, the results are in, and the F-150 is an EV to rival the Rivian R1T with its high demand.
The move to include an all-electric truck helped the company win over customers who had never owned an EV and younger drivers who had never bought a Ford.
A Look At Ford F-150 Lightning Performance
The two motors in the F-150 Lightning produce 452 horsepower combined, but with the Extended-Range battery, the horsepower rating rises to a whooping 580 hp. Peak torque is an impressive 775 pound-feet in either configuration.
This translates into a massive towing machine with the production model’s official maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. However, only trucks equipped with the optional Extended-Range battery are capable of such tasks. Standard-Range battery models have a capacity of 7,700 pounds which is still a significant towing capacity.
Rear payload capacity ranges from 2,000 pounds for the Standard-Range model to 1,800 pounds for the Extended-Range model. This appeals to builders or contractors who may need heavy materials. However, one of the most impressive features is the frunk, which has a 400-pound capacity to carry everything from golf clubs to grocery shopping at once.
When it comes to power, Ford claims a driving range of 230 miles per charge using the smaller 98.0-kWh battery. If you upgrade to the larger 131.0-kWh pack, it increases the driving range to 320 miles.
The Ford F-150 Lightning Has Cool New Features
The cabin of the F-150 Lightning is similar to that of the gasoline-powered F-150, with some key differences, such as an oversized infotainment display, which also has physical controls such as a volume knob. Smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available with or without a cord connection.
The front seats provide ample support and have heating, ventilation, three-level lumbar adjustment, and even a massage function. The available Max Recline front seats recline to provide a nearly flat seat for relaxing or taking a nap between long drives.
The Lightning also has a fully independent rear suspension, which provides a smoother ride and significantly improves upon the standard F-150’s leaf springs. However, the Lightning can feel too wobbly when driving on bumpy pavement. Still, the Lightning is proving to be one of the best EVs around, and no rival has come along to challenge that.
Source: Ford, Insider
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