2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: Looking a lot like the best-selling full-size pickup upon which it is based, the F-150 Lightning is groundbreaking under the skin. It’s the first mass-market all-electric pickup from any full-line automaker and it will be available at Ford dealers in the spring of 2022. Offered as a crew cab with a 5.5-foot bed, the Lightning comes standard with all-wheel drive. In addition to being all-electric, the new truck has a 14 cubic foot “frunk”, offers Ford’s take on semi-autonomous driving and has the capability to provide electricity to power tools and even your home. There are no real competitors at this point, but expect rivals to pop up quickly as the industry races toward electrification.
Trim levels include XLT, Lariat and Platinum. Standard on XLT and Lariat will be front and rear electric motors with a combined output of 426 horsepower and a range of about 250 miles on a single charge. Standard on Platinum and optional on others is an extended range battery that provides a total output of 563 horsepower and 300 miles of range. Maximum towing is 10,000 pounds. Unlike the gas F-150, the Lightning has an independent rear suspension.
For the first time, Ford is touting its semi-autonomous driving system, dubbed BlueCruise. Like GM’s SuperCruise, it offers hands-free driving in certain conditions on more than 100,000 miles of divided highways across the US and Canada. The system monitors the driver’s attention level and prompts drivers to pay attention or take over if necessary.
As you would expect, Lightning comes chock full of the latest automotive technology including the ability to preform over-the-air software updates. A vertically-mounted 15.5-inch touchscreen runs Ford’s latest SYNC4A infotainment system that employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. Lightning also offers Ford Intelligent Backup Power. When properly equipped and connected to a home charger, Lightning automatically kicks in to power a house. Based on an average 30kWh of use per day, F-150 Lightning with extended-range battery provides full-home power for up to three days.
Ford is allowing interested buyers to reserve their place in line at Ford.com in exchange for a $100 refundable deposit. The commercial-oriented entry model starts at $39,974 before any federal or state tax credits, while the mid-series XLT model starts at $52,974 MSRP.