Ford unveiled its long-awaited electric F-150, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, last night. The battery-powered version of America’s best-selling vehicle is impressive on paper (no one in the press has driven it yet). It offers up to 563 horsepower, a range of up to 300 miles, and a targeted towing capacity of 10,000 pounds.
“Up to.” “Targeted.” There’s some marketing speak going on here. Let’s try to cut through as much of it as we can.
Ford will offer the F-150 Lightning in four trim levels. Ford has revealed a few things, but not everything, about each of them. Here’s what we know so far about each:
Base
Price: $39,974
The base version of the Ford F-150 Lightning will probably have a name other than “base model.” But, so far, that name hasn’t been revealed. Ford describes it as “commercial-oriented,” which likely means this is a version built for fleets.
Not long ago, fleet models could be bare bones. But in recent years, fleet models have come to include many of the features buyers look for. After all, a particular stereo or touchscreen gets cheaper for manufacturers as they build more of them. So we wouldn’t be surprised to see the “commercial-oriented” Lightning be a fairly well-equipped daily driver for private buyers, too. But, for now, Ford has said nothing about what features it includes.
Ford has said that the base model includes “built-in electrical outlets to directly power a variety of tools, electronics, and appliances away from home. Standard on base trims is 2.4 kilowatts of power with the option for more.”
XLT
Price: $52,974 MSRP
Ford calls this the “mid-series,” meaning it’s the one targeted at the average family truck buyer. The XLT will come standard with a battery pack offering 230 miles of range and a pair of electric motors making 426 horsepower. A 300-mile battery and an upgrade to 563 horses will be optional.
It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, with a 20-inch set optional. LED headlights and taillights are standard, and bed lighting will also be optional. Side running boards, a power hood (covering a front trunk, since all the moving parts are underneath the floor), and a lift-assist tailgate are standard.
The XLT’s upholstery will be cloth. Eight-way power-adjustable seats are standard. The cabin includes both a 12-inch display for the driver and a 12-inch central touchscreen. Apple Carplay and Android Auto connect to drivers’ phones.
Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, and lane-centering will be available.
A tow package adds steering assist, a trailer-brake controller, and onboard scales.
Lariat
Price: To Be Announced
The gas-powered F-150 can be optioned into a luxury truck starting with the Lariat trim level. The F-150 Lightning will be no different, and the Lariat is where that starts to become apparent. It offers the same powertrain options as the XLT but adds interior conveniences and exterior tweaks to set it apart.
Outside, that means 20-inch alloy wheels and a different LED treatment on the liftgate. Both trunk and tailgate are powered.
Inside, it means a larger, 15-inch touchscreen and 8-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium audio system. Standard leather upholstery covers 10-way power-adjustable seats. Rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, and lane-centering are standard, rather than optional, on the Lariat.
The bi-directional charging system used to power tools off the truck is 9.6 kilowatts at the Lariat level. Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving will be an option at this level.
Platinum
Price: “Around $90,474.”
Ford offers the Platinum trim for luxury buyers. We don’t know its exact price because Ford’s press materials say the Lightning is priced from “$39,974 up to around $90,474,” so there may be a few options available on this top trim.
It features only the upgraded 300-mile battery and 563-horsepower powertrain. The Platinum rolls on larger, 22-inch alloy wheels.
The Platinum includes every feature found on the Lariat, and then some. A softer cut of leather lines the seats, which include a massage function. The Bang & Olufsen audio system in this model includes 18 speakers.
Tax Incentives Available
A last note on pricing: All of Ford’s EVs qualify for the full $7,500 federal electric vehicle tax incentive. Under the current government model, the incentive disappears once an automaker has sold more than 200,000 vehicles. So, while it is a factor if you buy early enough, it will disappear.
Ford has already released one successful electric car this year – the Mustang Mach-E. Since the F-150 is America’s best-selling vehicle, it seems reasonable to expect a lot of buyers will opt for an electric version of it as well.
