2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV revealed

The original Ford F-150 SVT Lightning was a “sports truck” last since almost 2 decades ago, bowing out as a legend that was never replaced as the Raptor took over the mantle of top dog. So it was a smart marketing move by Ford to rebirth the F-150 Lightning as a speedy all-electric truck that is going to shake up the segment.

Teased just yesterday at U.S. President Biden’s press conference at a Ford facility just a couple of days ago, the 2022 Lightning that just debuted maintains the same basic styling of the F-150, but with a blocked-out grille and more truck-width LED lighting.

There are two different floor-mounted battery packs. A standard-range battery (SR) goes 370 km between charges, while the extended-range unit (ER) reaches 480 km. In both cases, the batteries send power to electric motors front and rear, putting out a combined 426 hp in the SR, with the ER getting 563 hp. Both configurations make 1,051 Nm of torque. Apparently the Lightning ER can hit 0-100 kph in just over 4.5 seconds and power a house in a blackout for three days.

All Lightnings will be all-wheel drive, with an independent rear suspension for the first time on an F-150. All models will be SuperCrew 4-door versions.

Models with the SR battery tow 2250 kg in standard form or 3500 kg with an optional package, with a payload rating of 900 kg. The ER can pull up to 4500 kg, although its payload is a bit lower at 840 kg.

A liquid cooling system keeps battery temperatures optimised. A metal exoskeleton houses the battery cells, which are mounted within the F-150’s frame rails for strength and protection from deformation. A steel underbody plate further improves safety and cleans up the aerodynamics. Meanwhile, the inboard-mounted electric motors and aluminium suspension components reduce unsprung mass and provide greater protection underneath than individual wheel-mounted motors would. That said, Ford is apparently evaluating other powertrains, possibly including tri-motor or quad-motor designs.

Recharging the F-150 Lightning will be the work of a standard mobile charger, the SR getting a 120-volt, 12-amp version that can add 5 km of range per charging hour and the ER getting a 240V, 32-amp version that adds 34 km per charging hour. A 48-amp home charging station for the SR can restore charge from 15 to 100 percent in 10 hours, while the ER’s 19.2-kilowatt home charging station does the deed in eight hours. As for fast charging, the F-150 Lightning will top out at 150 kW using a DC fast charging station, which gets you from 15 to 80 percent charge in 41 minutes.

Like the Mustang Mach-E, the Lightning uses the FordPass charging network, which Ford says is the largest in North America. A phone app also allows the driver to precondition the battery or schedule charging for off-peak times, and a real-time payload monitor within the infotainment system or phone app helps optimize the charging route based on vehicle load, trailer weight, weather conditions, terrain, and other variables.

Lariat and Platinum trims of the 2022 Lightning will receive the same 15.5-inch touchscreen and Sync 4A infotainment as the Mustang Mach-E. The 2022 F-150 will also get a modem that can provide in-car Wi-Fi as well as perform over-the-air software updates to keep the infotainment and vehicle systems current and free of any bugs or glitches. The forthcoming BlueCruise hands-free highway driving assistant will be available on the Lightning, with the truck taking over steering, braking and acceleration on limited-access highways.

The Lightning will also get the new F-150’s Pro Power Onboard system that offers a single 240V and four 120V outlets in the bed, and the so-called Mega Power front boot (there is no engine up front) will include four 120V outlets and two USB chargers.

The Ford F-150 Lightning goes on sale about a year from now, but reservations are open in the United States. Pricing there starts at the equivalent of Dhs 150,000 up to Dhs 330,000. It is unknown if the EV truck will be offered in the UAE and GCC, and if so, at what prices.