Welcome to the ultimate guide for the all-new 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. This is an all-electric pickup truck from Ford. It only comes as a crew cab with a short bed and 4×4. In this guide, you will find all of the specifications for the new Lightning EV – including a very surprising starting price for the base commercial version of the truck. This is a very significant new debut because it’s a mass-produced electric pickup that can also be affordable. Let’s dig in!
Chassis
The Lightning largely shares the cab and basic dimensions with the current Ford F-150. That’s where the similarities end. Underneath, the electric F-150 has a unique frame that is designed specifically to house a battery pack, one electric motor in the front, one in the rear, and independent coil suspension at all four corners. All of the new Lightning trucks will be equipped with 4WD.
Design
The truck has a very traditional crew cab shape. The front has a distinct LED signature that runs all the way across. The large front grille is mostly filled in. It is part of the hood, and the two open up to reveal a cavernous front truck or “frunk” (more on this later). The rear red LED light goes all the way across the tailgate, but this is available only on the Lariat and Platinum models. Since the cab footprint is basically the same as any other current F-150, the layout and the optional equipment will be very familiar. The power max-recline seats and the flip center console work surface will be available. Naturally, the Lightning truck lineup will have its own color and material combination to make it stand out from any other F-150.
While the base trim levels of the Lightning will be equipped with a 12-inch infotainment system, the higher trim levels will utilize a 15.5-inch vertical display that is very similar to the one in the Mustang Mach-e electric crossover (more on this below).
Here is a look at the early design sketches of the F-150 Lightning EV truck.
Trim Levels
The 2022 Lightning will be available in four trims levels: Commercial, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. The truck will come with either a standard or extended-range battery pack. Depending on the size of the battery, the truck has two power ratings and two maximum driving ranges. Ford says that all four trim levels will be available for order and sale when the 2022 Lightning production starts in the Spring of 2022. This should give customers plenty of choices right off the bat. Now, let’s dig into the power levels and more.
Performance & Range
The two electric motors that the truck is equipped with are nearly identical. The front and rear motors have slightly different final drive ratios, and the rear motor has an e-Locker capability for additional traction. The two motors have approximately the same power output. Here are the power output ratings.
- standard battery: 423 hp combined & EPA estimated range of 230 miles.
- extended-range battery: 563 hp / 775 lb-ft of torque combined & EPA estimated range of 300 miles.
The battery design targets high energy density and low cobalt usage. The battery packs are liquid-cooled and have a protective composite shell. There are additional skid plates under the truck to further protect the critical components. The battery management and drive units use software controls that were created in-house at Ford. The Lightning trucks that are equipped with the ‘Max Tow’ package will have additional cooling for the batteries in order to support the maximum towing rating of 10,000 lbs.
Ford quotes “mid 4-second” 0-60 mph acceleration times for the highest performance version of the Lightning. When President Joe Biden test drove the Ford F-150 Lightning prototype – he quoted 0-60 mph acceleration times of 4.3 to 4.4 seconds, but he was not certain since there was no apparent performance measurement device while he was driving.
Payload & Towing
Ford rates the Lightning’s maximum payload at 2,000 lbs. This is for a base truck with a standard battery pack. Higher trim level trucks or trucks with an extended-range battery will have lower payload ratings of 1,800 lbs or less. The base model of the Lightning will be rated to tow 5,000 lbs, the trucks with the extended range battery are rated to tow 7,700 lbs, and the ‘max tow’ package will extend the towing rating all the way up to the 10,000 lbs mark.
The truck will offer four selectable driving modes: Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow/Haul. It’s interesting to note that a gas-powered 2021 Ford F-150 may have up to seven drive modes, including Slippery, Mud/Ruts, Eco, and Rock Crawl.
Charging
240 volt / 30 amp provides an estimated 21 miles per charging hour. 120 volt / 12 amp connector will provide 3 miles per charging hour. Unique 48 amp home station will allow 19 miles per charging hour and 15-100% charge in about 10 hours. 150 kW DC charger (for extended range) 54 miles in 10 minutes or 15-80% in 41 minutes. “Power My Trip” navigation to help plan chargers along the way.
Here are many more details in the infographics below.
Power Export / Generator
If your Lightning is plugged in at home, you have the Intelligent Backup Power station at home, and a power outage occurs – the truck can provide power back to the house seamlessly. 9.6 kW power export is available. If truck’s stored battery power falls below 1/3 of capacity – you can get a notification.
Frunk!
The frunk is a large lockable and water-tight storage compartment in the front – where the internal combustion engine used to be. This space has about 400 liters or 14.2 cu-ft of volume and 400 pounds of payload capacity. A drain hole is available. Push the button or Ford Pass app button to open the frunk. Four electrical outlets and USB ports with 2.4 kW power export.
Price
The Commercial base truck is said to have a $39,974 starting price. The Lightning XLT will start at $52,974. A fully-options Platinum EV truck will likely reach into the $90,474 range. Ford says all trim levels: commercial, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum trucks will be available when production starts in the Spring of 2022.
