The Spirit of Invention: How the 2022 Lightning Is Transforming the EV Truck Market

Henry Ford didn’t invent the automobile or the assembly line, but he managed to take an idea and make it profoundly better, ultimately transforming the American landscape. This spirit of innovation and invention is at the heart of the all-new 2022 F-150 Lightning, which is Ford’s first all-electric truck. As a brand, Ford can’t take credit for inventing the electric vehicle, but, as your Ford Lightning dealer, we expect the new EV truck to vastly impact the American automotive industry in all the right ways, just like Henry Ford himself.

#1 Retail and Commercial Availability

The first way that the Lightning will change the EV truck market for the better is its availability beyond the retail segment. Why wouldn’t you offer an EV truck like the Lightning as a commercial or fleet vehicle? Businesses both small and large will finally be able to save on transportation costs by purchasing the Lightning, which eliminates the cost of fuel as well as routine maintenance like oil and filter changes. This adds up to thousands of dollars in savings each year.

#2 Affordability Within Reach

Remember when early EVs were a luxury, and that meant a sky-high sticker price that only the wealthiest people could afford? Over the last decade, this trend has shifted as automakers like Ford prove that buying an EV is an affordable and sustainable option. We see this in the Lightning’s starting MSRP of $39,974, which is a great value considering everything the truck offers as well as the available tax credit to eligible customers.^[a]

#3 EV Customization

Ford recognizes that EVs aren’t one-size-fits-all, and that will truly change the segment for the better. American drivers have a variety of needs when it comes to trucks, their power, and their capability. This is why the Lightning is available with either a standard-range or extended-range battery.

The standard-range battery delivers an estimated 426 horsepower, 775 lb-ft of torque, and a 230-mile range. This power makes the truck quick to respond and nimble to handle even when you’re taking advantage of the Lightning’s maximum 2,000-pound payload or 7,700-pound trailering capability. The extended-range battery makes the Lightning even faster to accelerate by delivering an estimated 563 horsepower and a longer range of 300 miles. This increase in power also means you can tow a heavier load, with the Lightning offering a 10,000-pound towing maximum.

One of the biggest questions surrounding an all-electric truck like the Lightning is how towing a heavy load will impact the truck’s range. Ford answers this concern with two unique tools – Onboard Scales and Intelligent Range. The Onboard Scales tool monitors your payload to accurately calculate the truck’s payload and, in conjunction with Intelligent Range, estimates the battery range accordingly. This reduces anxiety around battery range and towing heavy loads, which is truly a game-changer in the electric truck segment.

#4 Powering More Than the Truck Itself

The 2022 Lightning will also dramatically impact the EV market with its capability beyond the road itself. Ford maximizes the Lightning’s practicality by offering available tools like Intelligent Backup Power. When a storm hits your area, the power goes out, and you don’t have a generator; what do you do? Instead of sitting in the dark, you can use the Lightning as a power source to power your entire home for up to three days or up to ten days if you ration power. This will transform lives around the country as individuals face power outages in winter weather, severe weather, and beyond.

#5 Intuitive, Hands-Free Driving Technology

Driving doesn’t have to always be stressful or laden with anxiety or fatigue when you’re behind the wheel of a truck like the Lightning. Ford’s new BlueCruise technology is designed to give you a break from driving while keeping you safe on the road. The feature uses a driver-facing camera and radar technology that works with over 100,000 miles of compatible roadways throughout North America. With your eyes on the road, you can take your hands off the wheel, and the Lightning will steer itself so that you can sit back and relax.

#6 Form Follows Function

Ford trucks are known for their spacious cabins that are versatile and comfortable. This is true on the Lightning, but we see the “form follows function” theme extends to what’s known as the “frunk.” With the Lightning running on battery power, there’s no engine under the hood. Instead of ignoring the space, Ford adds more versatility by designing the Mega Power Frunk to serve as a high-tech cargo area that can hold up to 400 pounds and is equipped with four 120-volt electric outlets, interior lighting, and an interior drain to make cleaning the frunk hassle-free.

#7 A Digital Cockpit

Your life doesn’t stop when you’re behind the wheel, and that’s why Ford outfits the Lightning with all the tools you need to stay connected at every turn. Ford’s industry-leading SYNC 4 infotainment system is truly phenomenal and offers enhanced voice recognition software, which means better responsiveness when you issue a voice command. You’ll find the system on a 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen display that gives you access to your smartphone as well as tools like Intelligent Range and Power My Trip, the latter of which customizes your driving experience based on the Lightning’s battery level, projected range, towing, and payload to put you on the most efficient route and in proximity to charging stations.

#8 Charging Made Easy

The Lightning’s starting MSRP proves that owning an EV is an affordable option, but what about charging and maintaining an all-electric truck? The Lightning is improving the electric truck segment by offering the industry’s first 80-amp charging station as standard equipment with an extended-range battery. This means you can easily charge the truck at home using the industry’s only dual-onboard charging system that reduces charging time to 8 hours. This is huge and means that you can fully charge the 300-mile extended-range battery overnight and be ready for work, school, or your next adventure the following morning.

#9 Intelligent Technology Behind the Scenes

The Lighting’s technology is easy to spot when you’re inside the cabin staring at the 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen, but there’s an entire suite of technology working behind the scenes. Ford’s Telematics and EV Telematics are EV-specific technology that ensures your safety behind the wheel and tells you more about how the truck performs. In the event of a collision, the system can alert emergency personnel to your location, which can mean the difference in life or death in tragic accidents. Your day-to-day driving is also affected by in-cab driver coaching and access to an array of data such as charge speed and distance-to-empty, both of which tell you more about the Lightning’s performance and ways you can improve range and running costs.

A Welcome Lightning Strike

Do you think Henry Ford would be proud of a truck like the 2022 F-150 Lightning? We like to think so. Just like Ford, the Lightning is poised to revolutionize the automobile industry with its all-electric platform that proves electric power and capability aren’t mutually exclusive in the truck segment. There’s no doubt that the Lightning will vastly impact the truck market for the better with the versatility and innovation that extends across the truck from its design and power to its agility and beyond. This is what would earn the Lightning Henry Ford’s seal of approval.

^[a]MSRP may change without notice. See dealer for complete details.