The much anticipated Ford electric pickup truck is close to becoming a reality, as news sources suggest. The Ford Lightning pickup, an all electric version of the manufacturer’s F-150 pickup truck is scheduled to go on sale as early as next summer 2022. The new electric pickup promises impressive numbers as well as a relatively affordable price tag and will compliment Ford’s line of pickup trucks nicely. Expected starting prices will be somewhere around the $40k mark, and may climb to over $90k depending on options. The technology in the new Ford Lightning follows that of many electric vehicles, with a motor driving both sets of axles for combined all wheel drive. Since this pickup is based upon the regular F-150, aluminum body panels will be used to help keep the weight down, however the ladder frame in which the truck sits is reinforced and strengthened to help carry the extra weight of the electric Lightning. The Ford Lightning is expected to weigh close to three tons, thanks to the heavy duty battery that it carries. Unfortunately, the towing ratings for this truck will be mediocre at best, with a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 lbs for the top of the line truck and only 7,000 for the lower-end model. Payload is relatively good, at 2,000 lbs. One of the issues with electrifying pickup trucks is dealing with the vehicle’s weight versus the expected mileage range. Ford promises around 230 miles of range from the standard battery truck and as much as 300 miles for the large battery version. The range while towing is yet to be determined, however will likely be significantly less than the rated range. Nevertheless, fans of Ford and pickups will be closely paying attention to the release of this new truck, which promises good performance, moderate towing capability, and economical operating costs, all while eliminating the need for gasoline fuel to run.
-taken from www.sae.org