2022 Ford F-150 Lightning: Price, Release Date, and Horsepower Revealed
By Edward A. Sanchez – May 19, 2021
This week was the official debut of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup, which may prove to be the most monumental EV model to date. That statement might sound hyperbolic to the Tesla Stans, but let’s examine the significance of the debut. The F-Series is the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. and has been for more than 40 years. Even a minor percentage of F-Series sales is tens of thousands of units.
In strictly EV terms, it may be a while before the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are dethroned as the sales leaders, as the two models sold a combined 442,511 units globally in 2020. The F-Series, which is a primarily North American proposition, sold 787,372 units in the U.S. and 128,650 in Canada in 2020.
But symbolically, it’s hard to over-state the significance of an all-electric F-150. The truck market is one of the most traditional and functionally focused of any market segment. If the truck doesn’t meet basic requirements of functionality, practicality, and ease-of-use, it won’t last long.
With this in mind, Ford made sure to pack the Lightning with plenty of features that will appeal to the core truck-buying customer, including eight electrical outlets, up to three days of household emergency power (up to 10 days if power is rationed, according to Ford), an 80-amp onboard dual charger, a 10,000 pound targeted towing capacity, 2,000 pound payload capacity, 563 hp, 775 ft-lb of torque, and a 14 cubic-foot (400 liter) “Mega Power Frunk,” which includes four 120V outlets and two USB outlets, and a 400 pound weight capacity. Purely for bragging rights, Ford is claiming a 0-60 time in the mid four-second range, a happy fringe benefit of the substantial electric torque.
Ford claims the Lightning is capable of charging from 15 to 80 percent in 41 minutes with DC fast charging. Ford is partnering with Sunrun, one of the nation’s largest residential solar installers, to assist buyers in installing a home 80-amp Level 2 charger, as well as offering the option of home solar.
Although the precise capacity of the battery was not announced, it’s widely believed to be substantially more than 100 kWh. The base model is rated at a “targeted” 230-mile range, and the Lariat and Platinum models are targeted to achieve a 300-mile range. The mid-range XLT model will presumably be offered in both configurations.
Also unknown as of this writing is if it will be offered in any other body style other than the four-door SuperCrew. All photos released at the time of its official reveal were of the SuperCrew configuration.
The center-mounted 15.5-inch touchscreen will be familiar to anyone who has been in a Mustang Mach-E.
Of particular interest to truck buyers, Ford claims the Lightning’s FordPass Power My Trip identifies charging points along the trip route, while Intelligent Range factors in payload and towing when estimating range.
Of course, all of these impressive features would be for naught if it were priced in the stratosphere, like the GMC Hummer EV. Ford is claiming an impressively attainable $39,974 starting price for the base, commercially-focused model, with the XLT model starting at $52,974, before credits and rebates. While far from “cheap,” those prices are about par for the course for comparably equipped conventional half-ton trucks.
While the Lightning doesn’t sport a solid rear axle, the body-on-frame design screams F-150.
Will the F-150 Lightning fit the needs or wants of all truck buyers? Absolutely not. Many buyers will need a longer range or higher towing capacity. For those buyers, Ford offers multiple powertrains for the F-150, as well as the Super Duty for those with more demanding applications. The nationwide charging infrastructure in the U.S. is still in its relatively infancy, and being stranded in rural America with a trailer in tow with no practical means of charging is nobody’s idea of a good time. But for a large percentage of half-ton truck buyers, the Lightning would fit the suburban routine of home improvement projects, recreational and light utility towing, and family hauler perfectly.
The F-150 Lightning will be available starting spring 2022, and is available for pre-order now with a $100 deposit.
(Images courtesy Ford)
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