Ask our Experts, we're here to help!
The F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in America for almost four decades now, and Ford’s ongoing commitment to the evolution and improvement of their full-sized, light duty pickup deserves much of the credit for the truck’s success. Over its fourteen generations in production, the F-150’s skill set has expanded to include models like the tire-scorching F-150 Lightning of the 1990s/early 2000s and the Baja-blasting F-150 Raptor of more recent years. But beyond the versatility of the platform, it’s the Blue Oval’s willingness to embrace cutting-edge technologies that has consistently kept the F-150 a step ahead of its competitors.
A foreign feature to most truck buyers, the F-150 Lightning’s front trunk offers 14.1 cubic-feet of lockable, water-resistant storage space. It also features four electrical outlets and a pair of USB ports.
For many years EVs have existed largely on the fringes of the automotive world. First seen as a technological curiosity, over time vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 have helped EVs become a more widely accepted alternative to traditional internal combustion powertrains. But even with these tailwinds bringing the technology to a wider and wider audience every day, it’s hard to overstate what a significant milestone the 2022 F-150 Lightning is.
This isn’t just an all-electric truck; it’s an all-electric version of the most ubiquitous vehicle in the United States. More importantly, this isn’t some sort of low-volume marketing stunt with the price tag of a collector’s item – this is a truck made for the real world. And as such, it’s not only affordable (in certain trims), it’s also shockingly capable.
Yep, we went there.
The F-150 Lightning’s motors are mounted inboard rather than at the wheel hubs in order to provide more protection. The independent rear suspension setup is unique to the Lightning.
The new Lightning may look like a traditional F-150 from the outside, but it’s a whole different ballgame underneath the skin. Available exclusively in SuperCrew four-door configuration with a 5.5-foot bed (at least for now), the F-150 Lightning comes standard with a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup and a choice between standard and extended range battery packs. These packs affect not only the distance that the truck can travel on a charge, but also the horsepower that’s available to your right foot: The standard-range version offers 426 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque with 230 miles of range in normal driving situations, while the extended range battery offers 563hp and 775 lb-ft with 300 miles of range.
Ford’s Pro Power Onboard system comes in two flavors – 2.6kW and 9.6 kW. The latter option adds a few extra 120V outlets in the bed as well as one 240V outlet.
A 32-amp mobile charger comes standard with every F-150 Lightning that’s equipped with the standard-range battery pack; a 48-amp unit is optional. Lightnings that are outfitted with the extended-range battery pack will come with an 80-amp charger. These extended range trucks will have dual onboard chargers as well, effectively making Level 2 home charging through an AC power source a reality for would-be buyers and eliminating the need for an expensive DC power installation. Ford has partnered up with Sunrun for the in-home charger installations, and while out on the road, Lightning owners will be able to utilize EV America’s network of fast charging stations.
The Lightning rides on a unique frame with a fully independent rear suspension (rather than the solid rear axle design found throughout the rest of the F-150 lineup). Despite those substantial changes to the platform, the Lightning’s exterior dimensions are nearly identical to that of a garden-variety F-150: The 0.1-inch longer wheelbase, one inch longer overall length, 0.1 inch increase in width, and 1.7-inch taller cab height constitute the core differences. The Lightning also offers 8.9 inches of ground clearance, a half-inch less than the standard F-150 4x4.
Charging times will vary widely based on the type of system being used to refill the battery. While the 32-amp mobile charger takes 14 to 19 hours to go from 15% to full, a Level 3 fast charger will refill the same amount of energy in less than 45 minutes.
Before you get up in arms about Ford bringing back the Lightning name for an EV, you should be aware that this F-150 has some legitimate performance credentials.
Outfitted with the extended range battery pack, Ford estimates the new Lightning will sprint to 60 MPH from a standstill in 4.4 seconds, making it quicker in a straight line than the twin-turbocharged F-150 Raptor. Regardless of which battery pack the Lightning is equipped with, it produces more torque than any other factory-built F-150 in the truck’s lengthy history. And with those battery packs mounted low in the chassis, the Lightning should prove to be an impressive handler as well.
The standard-range model will offer a 2000-pound payload capacity and a maximum tow rating of 7000 pounds. Payload capacity takes a slight ding with the heavier extended-range battery at 1850 pounds, but it increases towing capacity to 10,000 pounds.
Curiously, Ford has made no mention of the F-150 Lightning’s maximum wading depth. While the F-150 Lightning isn’t designed to be a hardcore off-road truck, this metric is probably of substantial interest to buyers who live in areas where flooding is a regular occurrence, and it’s no coincidence that those folks also represent a significant portion of the truck-buying public.
This is where things get really interesting. We’ll start with the technology in the F-150 Lightning’s cabin. A 12-inch digital instrument cluster is standard across all trims, while a 12-inch touchscreen serves as the base-level Sync infotainment system. Higher trim models receive a portrait-oriented 15.5-inch display with Sync 4A, Ford’s latest operating system.
Ford will also offer BlueCruise as part of a Co-Pilot360 option package, a feature which allows for hands-free driving on more than 100,000 miles of pre-qualified divided highways in the U.S. and Canada. The company has also adapted its available Onboard Scales feature for use in the Lightning, which uses sensors to estimate the payload the truck is carrying and adjust the expected range based on that load.
The Ford Intelligent Backup Power feature turns the F-150 Lightning into an emergency power source for your home if there’s a power outage, providing several days’ worth of juice.
The Lightning also marks the debut of Ford’s new Phone As A Key feature which – you guessed it – allows you to use your smartphone to lock, unlock, and start the truck without the need for a key fob. Ford says that more features will be rolled out as time goes on with Power Ups, the automaker’s nomenclature for over-the-air updates.
Beyond the F-150 Lightning’s interior tech, the new truck also offers Ford Intelligent Backup Power. This feature allows the truck to serve as a gigantic battery to provide electricity to your home for several days in the case of a power outage. Enabled by the available 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro charger and its associated home management system, the F-150 Lightning will automatically send to power your house in the event of an outage, and once power is restored, the truck will automatically revert to charging its battery. The automaker says they’re also in the midst of developing a feature called Ford Intelligent Power that will allow the truck to power your home automatically during high-cost, peak-energy hours and then take advantage of low-cost overnight rates to charge the vehicle later in the day.
And since the F-150 Lightning doesn’t have a traditional internal combustion engine, the area under the hood serves as a sizable frunk (front-trunk, get it?) with 14.1 cubic-feet of storage and a 400-pound payload capacity. Water resistant and outfitted with four electrical outlets, two USB chargers, and a drainable floor, it not only can serve as a mobile hub on the job site, but also a pretty killer option for tailgating.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning are seen here from left to right in Platinum, Lariat, and XLT trims.
Pro – Aimed at commercial and fleet buyers but available to the general public, the F-150 Lightning Pro starts at $39,974 before taxes, title, and registration fees. That price also does not factor in the available federal tax credit of up $7500 – with that credit, the base-spec Lightning Pro is expected be one of the least expensive F-150 variants available.
While it’s designed to be a no-nonsense work truck, the Pro still comes with a quite a bit for a base-level vehicle. Along with 426 horsepower and 230 miles of range, the Pro will be outfitted with vinyl seating and the aforementioned 12-inch Sync touchscreen display. It also gets all the inherent benefits of the new platform, like the independent rear suspension and the big, water resistant front-trunk.
XLT – As the more mainstream, mid-range offering, the XLT offers a number of standard features above and beyond the Pro, but they do come at a significant increase in cost. A base XLT starts at $52,974 MSRP and includes 18-inch wheels, cloth seats, and the 2.4-kW ProPower Onboard system as standard. Larger wheels, a power tailgate, the 9.6-kW ProPower system, and several tow packages are optional, but the BlueCruise hands-free driving feature is not.
Lariat – Although pricing for the Lariat hasn’t been announced yet, it’s expected to come in at just under $60,000. That extra chunk of change gets you all of the XLT’s standard and optional safety and power features as well as a number of other significant upgrades, like 20-inch wheels, standard power tailgate, heated and cooled leather seats, and the 15.5-inch Sync infotainment system with an eight-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Features like retractable running boards, the BlueCruise hands-free driver assist system, and the tow packages are optional.
Ford’s massive 15.5-inch infotainment display is standard on F-150 Lightning models with Lariat or Platinum trim.
Platinum – Topping the range, the Platinum trim turns the F-150 Lightning into a legitimate luxury hauler and it comes with a substantial jump in price. Starting at $90,474, the extended battery and its 563 horsepower output come standard in Platinum trim, as do 22-inch machined aluminum wheels, massaging seats, an 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, and the hands-free BlueCruise system. Every safety, power, towing, and convenience feature available for the F-150 Lightning is outfitted as standard here, though the fully reclining front seat and the retractable running boards remain optional here as well.
Production of the F-150 Lightning is scheduled to get underway in spring of 2022 at Ford’s Rouge River facility. Folks who would like to reserve a Lightning of their own can do so right now with a $100 deposit right here.
