Tim Stevens started writing professionally while still in school in the mid-’90s and has since covered topics ranging from business process management to video game development.Currently, he pursues interesting stories and interesting conversations in the technology and automotive fields.
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The F-Series is the perennial favorite car on the planet.Last year, Ford sold more than 725,000 vehicles despite supply chain issues and everything going on in the world.That fact — the truck’s success has absolute implications for Ford’s bottom line — makes the company’s announcement last May that it would build an electric F-150 all the more important.The F-150 Lightning has the potential to be a true mass market game changer.Now, less than a year later, the F-150 Lightning is in full production, and it truly is a game-changer.
Ford invited me to San Antonio, Texas, to drive its electric F-150, and it’s a fitting place to support what the company hopes to strengthen with Lightning: It’s just a truck.A very good, very useful, very fast truck that is also electric.Specifically, all-electric, powered by a 98- or 131-kilowatt-hour battery pack, offering a range of 230 to 320 miles.With the smaller of the two battery packs, you’ll see 452 hp, and if you upgrade to the range-extender package, you’ll see 580 hp.Regardless of which battery you use, expect 775 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels.
From that standpoint, that’s more horsepower than anything but the F-150 Raptor, and more torque than any F-150 has ever made.In fact, you’ll need to step up to the 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel engine on the F-250 to get more torque than the Lightning, but the EV still delivers 100-plus horsepower — not to mention a significantly smaller carbon footprint.
While these numbers are important, more important is what you can do with them.Here, the F-150 Lightning is a bit more complicated compared to its combustion-engine sibling.The Lightning has a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 2,235.Those figures are significantly higher than the 3.3-liter V6 F-150′s 8,200 and 1,985-pound ratings, respectively, but far from the 3.5-liter EcoBoost F-150′s 14,000 and 3,250 pounds.The Lightning comes closest to the 2.7-liter EcoBoost F-150 configuration, with 10,000 pounds of towing and 2,480 pounds of towing.
In other words, it’s more or less in the middle of the F-150′s capabilities.To test this capability, Ford offers a number of towing and hauling experiences, ranging from enviable stacks of plywood to utility trailers loaded with water and wine.The combined weight of that trailer and cargo?9,500 lbs, just 500 lbs below the maximum rating.Still, the truck accelerates smoothly and brakes cleanly enough that even if I don’t have any big hills to climb, I have no doubt that the truck will tackle them without a problem.
Having said that, the question remains how many mountains the truck can cover with such a burden.Range when towed is one of the big question marks surrounding the F-150 Lightning.I could only use a short 15-mile drag test loop — and it was a low-speed test loop at the time — so I can’t really give any numbers with confidence.But I can tell you that on various trailer trucks, the estimated range I’ve seen is generally in the 150 mile area, which is about half the maximum range.In my own test cycles, I typically see a consumption rate of 1.2 miles per kWh.That would again point to a range of about 160 miles, down from the EPA’s estimated 320 miles of range with the expansion pack.
Now, a 50% reduction in range might seem extreme, but it’s more or less in line with the increased consumption you’d expect when towing with a regular truck.The difference, of course, is that you can recharge faster instead of charging.I’d prefer a more thorough towing test before drawing any formal conclusions, but the F-150 Lightning seems to be perfect for short distance towing.Still, you might want to stick with a gas-powered rig for longer hauls.
OK, so from a cargo standpoint, the F-150 Lightning might not be the most powerful F-series truck, but I’m just getting started.This truck brings many new features that no other truck on the planet can achieve.For example, it can haul up to 400 pounds of cargo in its weatherproof trunk.(Need to bring home five bags of concrete in the rain? Leave the tarps at home.) However, the F-150 Lightning’s signature trick is its vehicle-to-load feature.With V2L, you can use your truck to power…anything, even your entire house.Ford says the extended-range battery is enough to power the average home for three days, and for professionals, it could mean no more expensive, buzzing generator rentals on the job site.
If that’s not enough, the truck’s two-way charging feature is smart enough to keep your house off the grid, charge itself at night, and potentially disconnect your home from the utility system during the day when rates are at its highest.This only applies if you live in a metered place, but if you do, it could save you a lot on your utility bills.
So the Lightning is a truck of exceptionally well-rounded skills, but that still leaves the question of how it feels to drive.The answer is that it’s very good, really.Sure, it’s quick, with a 0 to 60 mph time in the four-second range.That’s only a few tenths slower than the Mustang GT.Off-road, it’s capable, too; instant torque and smooth throttle response let you move over rocks with ease.And with locking differentials on both ends, the truck can drive forward with no problem even when the opposite wheel is suspended in mid-air.
Ride quality is excellent, smooth and compliant, and easily the kind of thing I think I’d like to do on a long trip.Yes, I know it’s an electric car, and you might think it’s not suitable for road trips, but 320 miles of range is about four or five hours of driving.With the right charger, Lightning can restore an 80% charge in just over 40 minutes.The 150-kilowatt charge rate is much slower than what we’ve seen from the likes of the Porsche Taycan, but a 40-minute break after 5 hours in the saddle doesn’t sound all that bad to me.Plus, the truck’s navigation system is smart enough to guide you there and through those charging breaks.
If I have one complaint about the ride, it’s the poor body control.The truck is compliant, yes, but also floating.It’s not the end of the world, because depending on the configuration, this is a 6,500-pound truck.In other words, it’s not the kind of thing you want to squeeze into a corner.
That’s really my only complaint.The F-150 lightning strikes all markers.It does everything you could ask for in a truck, while also including a ton of exciting new features.It will revolutionize how a utility vehicle like this will fit into your life and, perhaps more importantly, your business.I’ve been saying for a year that Lightning has the potential to change the game.Now, I can confidently say that the game has changed.
Editor’s Note: The travel costs associated with this story are covered by the manufacturer, which is common in the automotive industry.The judgment and opinions of CNET staff are our own and we do not accept paid editorial content.
Post time: May-18-2022