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Words by Perry Mack Photos Courtesy Ford
Before we get into the what how and why of this new truck, we’d like to point out the huge difference between the F-150 Lightning and the contenders. It is actually going to be built by a company that understands pick-up trucks and pick-up truck owners, and it will be built – soon. Let’s look at what Ford will deliver and then look at the contenders. If you’re considering a new truck, is this the model of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) to buy. Not a hybrid, but a fully electric vehicle.
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Here’s the top things that set it apart from other trucks.
It has monster specs. 563 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque, more torque than any F-150 in history and a battery power plant with enough juice in it to power your house in the event of an emergency.
There’s a 400 litre ‘frunk’ – a front trunk where the combustion engine would normally take up space. And it has 2.4 kW of Pro Power Onboard. Right away I pictured an electric cooler in there.
The dual in-board electric motors are new to F-150 as is the move to an independent rear suspension like the Raptor.
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It is a new truck but it is designed using the knowledge and experience that has satisfied pick-up truck owners with the top selling pick-up for 44 years. Literally millions of trucks sold. The foundation is a 4x4 that goes through rugged testing to handle rough terrain, a high strength aluminum alloy body and a useful max 2000 lb payload and 10,000 lb towing capability. It also has the same cab and bed dimensions as the gas version so it can use the same accessories that are already available. This is not a Prius.
It’s as though Ford has chosen the best features of every pick-up and put them into one truck. Like the Raptor, it has independent rear suspension and it’s quick at 0-60 mph in the mid four seconds, which is faster than the Raptor. 775 lb ft of nearly instantaneous torque like a diesel engine with solid payload and towing numbers but now with no emissions. Like other trucks you do have to pay for the upgrades to get these max specs by taking the extended range battery and the Max Trailer Tow package.
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In many ways Ford has been building up to this truck releasing digital features that are now familiar like over the air updates, hands-free driving, Pro Power Onboard and the Ford Co-Pilot360 technology. But there also new features like Phone as a Key so you can lock/unlock and start your truck with your phone.
And while Phone as a Key is cool, it’s not as groundbreaking as Intelligent Backup Power, which is a massive step up from Pro Power Onboard. The Pro Power Onboard feature that lets you tap into your truck battery to run tools and tailgating accessories. For buyers who opt for the 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro, Intelligent Backup Power automatically reverses from charging the truck, to delivering power into the home in the event of a power outage. Keeping food safe in the fridge and freezer, the air conditioning on during a heat wave, or the heat on during an ice storm. Ford says there’s enough power in the extended range battery to power a home for three days using 30 kWh per day. Or up to 10 days if you ration your use.
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BEV’s are really all about the batteries. In this case, the Lightnings lithium-ion power cells. First let’s talk warranty. Ford warranties all uniquely electric vehicle components for 8 years or 160,000 km. For the batteries that means a minimum of 70% of their original capacity. What happens after that – we don’t know yet.
There are two battery configurations available, the standard with a range of 370 km’s and the extended providing an estimated 483 km’s. They are estimates and like a combustion engine, range mostly depends on how heavy your foot is, what you’re towing, and the weight of your payload. The difference with a BEV is you can’t just pull into one of a million gas stations and go from empty to full in five minutes.
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Ford understands this is a major concern for truck buyers considering a BEV. Where can we charge and how long will it take? The best speed for home charging is by using the 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro, with the dual onboard charging system available in the extended range battery. This will add 48 km of range per hour, taking the battery from 15 to 100 percent in about eight hours - great for overnight charges.
On the road, when you find a public access 150-kilowatt DC fast charger, you can add 87 km of range in ten minutes and go from 15 to 80 percent in 41 minutes. There are over 63,000 charging plugs with more constantly being added but not all are DC fast chargers and you can find them using the FordPass app. The FordPass Power my Trip feature allows you to plan your route by identifying the charge locations, and Intelligent Range calculates the range while factoring the payload, towing, weather and traffic.
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Aside from the extra time it takes to “fill up” compared to gas, the biggest challenge we see is that most charging stations are designed for cars and some have room for trucks, but we’ve never seen a charge station designed with enough space for a truck with a trailer. As more electric trucks and RVs take to the road, we expect to see charge sites large enough to accommodate them at rest stops and truck stops for instance, and naturally app updates to help you find them.
At first glance it still looks like an F-150, then you notice the signature LED that run across the front and rear and the lack of holes in the grilles. The unholy grilles, sculpted hood and running boards make the look unique and make it the most aerodynamic F-150 to date.
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You should be to put one in your driveway in the spring of 2022 at a starting price in Canada for the XLT of $68,000 Canadian. To add to the confusion the Canadian XLT will come with more standard features than the US version.
Are the unique features like a powered frunk and home battery back-up enough for you to go BEV? Or are the longer ‘fill’ times, which extend trip times too large a deterrent. Voice your opinion in the comments below.