The flagship model of automotive history in the United States, the Ford F-150 pickup goes electric while retaining the strengths that make it the most popular utility across the Atlantic.
For a builder automobile, tackling a flagship model is never easy. Even more so when it comes to the Ford F-150 pickup, the best-selling vehicle in the United States for 44 years. This truly legendary model had to evolve towards an electric motorization, not only to respond to the ecological transition, but also to not fall from its pedestal in the face of potentially threatening competition in the electric pick-up market. We think in particular of Tesla with the Cybertruck, at Rivian with the R1T and Hummer EV which have made a remarkable entry in this segment.
To design the F-150 Lightning, Ford had to play the balancing act. He absolutely had to keep the fundamentals that made the incredible supremacy of his pickup while innovating so as not to be satisfied with simply electrifying the F-150. The first impressions following the presentation of the F-150 Lightning suggest that Ford has found the right formula. If it is aesthetically very close to the thermal engine model, the Lightning skillfully exploits the possibilities offered by electricity.
A huge and ingenious front trunk
Thus, the engine, gives way to an impressive front trunk of 400 liters of capacity capable of supporting 181 kg load capacity and in which there are four electrical outlets delivering 2.4 kW, two USB ports and a drain plug. Enough to accommodate and supply a lot of equipment and tools for professionals or campers. In total, the Ford F-150 Lightning can carry up to 907 kg of payload. Another key point for a pickup is the towing capacity of up to 4.5 tonnes. What to tow a trailer or a caravan.
To propel this mastodon, two electric motors located on the axles developing 318 kW / 426 hp for the base model and 420 kW / 563 hp for the top-of-the-range F-150 Lightning. All versions are four-wheel drive. Ford announces 1050 Nm of torque for the most efficient version. Autonomy side, it is between 370 and 480 km depending on the model. The electric pick-up is equipped with scales which estimate the weight of the on-board load and adjust the foreseeable range accordingly. For recharging, it will take between 14 and 19 hours on a 240w domestic terminal and between 44 and 41 minutes on a 150 kW fast terminal. Ford has found a way to distinguish itself from the competition by integrating a system of bidirectional charging which can deliver 9.6 kW to provide up to three days of electricity to an average-sized house.
In the United States, the Ford F-150 Lightning will be available in four versions and two battery options. Its price starts at 39,974 dollars (around 32,700 euros at the current rate). Deliveries will begin in spring 2022. Availability in Europe is currently not relevant.
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