The first mainstream electric pickup truck from Ford will bear a classic name.
The new F-150 Lightning electric pickup won’t have much in common with the honkin’ V8-powered Lightning trucks of the 1990s and early 2000s, though. Those trucks were developed by Ford’s now-defunct Special Vehicle Teams (SVT), while the upcoming F-150 Lightning electric truck will be more about versatility than sportiness.
For now, Ford isn’t saying much about what to expect from the new F-150 Lightning, though the automaker’s expectations are very high. Ford CEO Jim Farley compared the F-150 Lightning’s arrival with that of other “game-changers,” including the Model T and Mustang, plus the Toyota Prius and Tesla Model 3. To say that it’s uncommon for an executive to praise cars produced by rivals is an understatement.
The F-150 Lightning is expected to make use of a dual-motor setup, which would provide it with all-wheel drive. Ford has previously stated that it will be the fastest and most powerful version of the F-150 truck. That means at least the electric equivalent of 450 horsepower from underhood.
The F-150 Lightning is expected to be the first modern electric pickup from a Detroit automaker, though upstart Rivian is expected to be first when it starts building its R1T this summer. A spate of electric pickups is due to arrive in the next year or two, including trucks from General Motors’ revived Hummer brand and the Tesla Cybertruck. Find a Ford F-150 for sale
