2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, The World's Most Popular Truck Becomes Electric

The much-anticipated battery-powered 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning pickup has finally made its debut, and it looks like it is going to change the US auto industry from here on out. Ford's decision to offer America's bestselling passenger vehicle as an electric vehicle sends just one big message, "The EV's moment is here." The F150 Lightning trades its namesake’s huge V8 for an all-electric powertrain that offers up to 300 miles of range, with a starting price of $39,974.The truck will come in a single body configuration: SuperCrew four-door with a 5.5-foot bed (the F-150's most popular configuration). The three Lightning trim levels are also from the heart of the lineup: XLT, Lariat, and Platinum — although there's also "a commercial-oriented entry model." Two lithium-ion battery packs are available, there is a Standard Range pack, which is targeting a 370 km EPA-estimated range, and an Extended Range battery that provides a claimed 482 km of range.The powertrain setup with the smaller pack is rated at 426 horsepower while opting for the bigger pack increases the electric motors' total output to 563 horses. Every F-150 Lightning has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Both configurations have 1,050 Nm of instant torque on the tap. Ford says the F-150 Lightning will reach 100 km/h in the mid-4.0-second range with the bigger pack making the Lightning the fastest F150 in history. Unlike the standard F-150, which uses a live rear axle, the Lightning employs an independent rear suspension setup. Thanks to this change combined with a lower center of gravity, the Lightning should be one of the best-handling pickups.Ford says that a 150-kilowatt DC fast charger can add 86 km of range in 10 minutes to the larger battery or charge from 15 to 80 percent in 41 minutes. When plugged into Ford’s standard 80-amp home charging station, the F-150 Lightning can supply up to 9.6 kilowatts to the home during power outages. Once the power is back on, the truck automatically switches back to charging. Ford says the truck can power homes for roughly three days if equipped with the larger battery pack.Exterior dimensions are not much different than the current truck, though. Apart from looking just as mean as the regular F-150, the Lightning comes with the usual bits we have seen in other EVs. It also comes with a wheelbase 0.1-inch longer, overall length greater by 1 inch, width up by 0.1 inches, and cab height taller by 1.7 inches. Interior space is unchanged. Ground clearance at 8.9 inches is half an inch less than the standard 4x4. The front trunk has a volume of 14 cubic feet and can hold 400 pounds of stuff, and there are four electrical outlets and two USB ports in there. It also has a basin on the floor that features a drain, and Ford says that it can be used to store food and drinks.The Lightning's interior features big screens, including a 12.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen that comes standard on the XLT. The higher trim levels have an even bigger 15.5-inch vertically oriented touchscreen that's powered by Ford's Sync 4A infotainment system and have a physical knob at the bottom like in the Mustang Mach-E. There are four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and a Towing mode. A fake propulsion sound can be pumped through the cabin.The F-150 Lightning will be on sale in the spring of next year with a base version starting around $42,000 and the XLT at $55,000 (the MSRPs are $39,974 and $52,974, plus a yet-to-be-announced mandatory delivery charge). Pricing for the other trims is still TBD, but the Lariat is expected to come in around $59,000 and the Platinum around $70,000. Ford says the price will approach $90,000 fully loaded. Reservations can be made now for $100. The Lightning will be built at Ford's new Rogue Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan.