2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: all-American icon plugs in
You know times are changing when Ford finally electrifies its all-time best-selling vehicle. Here’s how.
THE INNOVATIONS TRANSFORMING OUR DRIVING WORLD
First the Mustang, now the F-Series pick-up. Ford is in the process of transforming its legends for the electric age, with the new F-150 Lightning squaring up against the likes of the Hummer EV, Rivian’s R1T and the Tesla Cybertruck – all big electric pick-ups built in the USA.
And, while the Lightning may not have the crab-walking technology of the Hummer or Blade Runner looks of the Tesla, it manages to be just as competitive in terms of performance and even undercuts them on price in the North American market. Ford’s busy pumping $22 billion into electrification, so it was only natural for the Blue Oval to want to compete with Tesla and GMC as soon as it could.
‘It’s the backbone of work across the country, and a trusted icon for generations,’ says executive chairman Bill Ford of the F-Series. ‘Now we’re revolutionising it for a new generation.’
It starts with a reinforced platform and a high-capacity battery pack inserted into the frame. Packaging demands have meant Ford has moved to an independent rear-suspension set-up – the first time it’s ever done so on an F-150 – and every Lightning has a motor on each axle for electric all-wheel drive. The battery’s capacity figure hasn’t been released, but the Standard Range version claims around 230 miles according to the USA’s EPA tests, and produces 426bhp. Go for the Extended Range battery option and those figures jump to around 300 miles on a charge and 563bhp. Regardless of which battery size you go for, you’ll have an F-150 with ‘the most torque of any model, ever’ and a 0-60mph sprint time of around 4.5sec. ‘That’s quicker than a Raptor,’ says Ford CEO Jim Farley.
But Ford has done more than just cram some batteries into a pick-up. The Blue Oval is gearing up for Level 3 autonomous capabilities, with the Lightning having the option of ‘Blue- Cruise’ technology – Ford’s autonomous driving system that can activate when the car enters what’s called a ‘hands-free blue zone’. These zones are to be rolled out soon on US and Canadian highways using geofencing technology.
While it still looks like a massive pick-up with a huge frontal area, the lack of an engine has allowed Ford to make use of the space. A 400-litre ‘frunk’ adds more carrying capability to the circa-1500-litre rear bed, and each load area has electrical sockets that can power tools and other devices without the need for a noisy generator. The tailgate also includes hooks for workbench-style clamps to help while you’re measuring and cutting materials, and cubbies for pencils and tablets.
Ford’s creative thinking also means you can use the truck’s battery pack should your home’s power go out during a storm. If you go for the Extended Range battery, Ford claims you can keep your home powered for up to three days, or up to 10 if you’re rationing the power reserves. ‘It’s built for seamless transitions between charging and powering your house,’ says Ford EV manager Ryan O’Gorman. ‘We’re the first in the US to offer this capability.’
The Lightning’s towing capacities are mostly superior to the Cybertruck’s; a Standard Range is capable of pulling almost 3.5 tonnes, or more than 4.5 tonnes for the Extended Range version. True, the look-at-me Cybertruck and tech-heavy Hummer EV might steal some sales from Ford, but the Blue Oval has its working customers in mind just as much as its lifestylers. If the Mustang Mach-E is the thunder, this is the Lightning.
Packaging demands the move to independent rear suspension – an F-150 first.
816kg battery pack is built into the truck frame… ...freeing up space for a ‘frunk’ with power outlets. Taking a leaf out of the Mustang Mach-E’s book.
CABIN JOINS THE 21ST CENTURY TOO
WEIGH IT UP
Ford’s inserted the Mustang Mach-E’s 15.5-inch portrait-format screen on well-trimmed variants (the commercial-friendly Pro Lightning makes do with a more conventional landscape display) and includes bespoke features like an onboard scale that helps the truck gauge how much range you’ll have for the journey ahead.