If you’ve owned an F-series truck, you’re not alone – it’s been the best-selling truck on the market since 1977. But from 1948, when the F-series was introduced until 2021, they all had something in common: a gas or diesel engine. That’s changed with the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. This is the first-ever F-series that is 100% electric.
The absence of a combustion engine means the addition of other absolutely amazing attributes. We think these are going to be huge reasons why the new Lightning will keep the F-series at the top of truck sales into 2022 and beyond.
#1 – Amped Up Electric
The F-150 Lightning is the leader in Ford’s electrification lineup. What’s the hype about here?
Zero Emissions
If you care about the environment, then you care about vehicle emissions. But the Lightning is 100% electric, so there are zero emissions to worry about. Drive down your beautiful country roads or bustling city streets and feel good that you’re making a positive impact on our planet.
Oh, by the way, you also don’t have to go to the gas station ever again.
Backup Power
This truck has next-generation lithium-ion batteries that will provide up to 300 miles of range. That means the Lightning will definitely get you where you’re going on a single charge, no worries.
In today’s world, there’s more to being electric than just getting you from point A to Z. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning exceeds expectations here as well. This truck can actually power your home for three days if there is a blackout! Yep, keep your lights on, your appliances running, and your internet-connected even when the power goes down. The F-150 Lightning is a modern generator!
On-Board Power
If you’ve ever been in your truck and your phone dies, you’ll love the fact that this truck has eleven power outlets so that no one will complain about that anymore. These outlets are strategically placed in the cab, the trunk, and the bed so you can even power your tools and be more productive at the job site.
Boost Your Charge
There are many ways to charge the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. One clever approach is the FordPass app, which will provide access to charging stations and tell you when power is running low. The Lightning also has an 80 amp charge station that comes standard with the truck. In fact, it will completely charge the extended range battery in around 8 hours. If you head into a 150 kW charging station instead, you can power up your Lightning in about 40 minutes.
#2 – Geeky Tech Gadgets
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is built at the famous Rouge factory in Dearborn, where tons of past innovation has happened. A lot of that Rouge magic rubbed off on this vehicle.
SYNC Up
This high-tech infotainment system performs many helpful functions. But one useful feature you won’t find in a normal F-150 is how it tells you where public charging stations are and reminds you to get a charge at one of them when it thinks you’re running low on power.
SYNC 4 also supports connectivity with your Apple and Android devices, displaying everything on an available 15.5″ touchscreen. It can even facilitate voice commands via an Amazon Alexa integration.
Analytics Access
While your gut instincts may be right sometimes, making decisions based on data is smart. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning does an amazing job of collecting, processing, analyzing, and reporting data. Since this truck is 100% electric, data on charge consumption is easy to understand and readily available. Driving behavior, warning codes, and power consumption data can be displayed on your phone to track how the truck is even if you’re not driving it at that time.
Onboard Scale
This feature will definitely come in handy if you use your truck for work. Sensors can tell you how much you’re hauling. Then the truck will tell you how much of a charge you need to haul it. You’ll never have to worry about losing a charge depending on the weight of the payload because the truck’s intelligence calculates this for you. Pretty neat.
#3 – Superhero Powerful
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning wouldn’t be part of the F-Series if it was not built Ford Tough. Its predecessors would be proud as this truck is well-equipped to be gritty and durable.
Inboard Motors
Two inboard electric motors provide standard 4×4 to navigate tough roads and conditions with confidence. The reduction in unsprung weight attributable to these motors results in a smoother ride. Because the motors are placed well inboard, they are also shielded from debris and obstacles.
Towing and Payload
The F-150 Lightning debuts an all-new independent rear suspension. While this leads to a more comfortable ride, the truck still has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a payload capacity of 2,000 pounds. So this truck can haul some serious gear for work or play.
Extended Range
This is an upgraded and powerful battery. F-150 Lightning owners opting for it will be able to drive farther and charge faster. At a range of 300 miles per charge (70 miles more than the standard battery), that is roughly ten times the typical driver’s daily commute.
Torque and Horsepower
Being all-electric doesn’t mean the Lightning lacks power. In fact, it is the opposite. The F-150 Lightning has 563 hp with the available extended range battery and 775 lb-ft of torque with either powertrain option. This makes it the most powerful F-150 ever. Get ready to go as this truck reaches 60 mph in just over 4 seconds.
#4 – More Crazy Cool Components
Certainly, the electric motors, advanced technology, and incredible performance make the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning special. Yet there are a few other little features that’ll bring a smile to your face.
Predicts Power
A super-smart feature of this truck is its ability to learn your driving habits and begin to tell you how much electric power you’ll need for a specific trip. It’ll even factor in the conditions, terrain, and payload. Too bad it won’t factor in the passenger that won’t stop talking on those long drives.
Effortless Updates
Everyone groans whenever a software update has to be made, right? Typically you have to take the vehicle to the dealer and sit around while they handle it. Not with the F-150 Lightning. A cool feature called Ford Power-Up will handle all software updates in real-time. New features or tech fixes will be made instantly without your lifting a finger.
Frunk
The “frunk” is the enclosed storage in the front of the truck. Remember, the Lightning has no gas engine, so the space under the hood is now available for creative compartments. The frunk is secure, can open and close automatically, and can store 400 pounds of whatever you want.
The frunk also has a drainable floor making it the perfect place to store dirty, wet, and muddy items. This space also works as a food and beverage container too so if you want to have a picnic or party, just pop the frunk and let the good times roll!
Definitely an F-150
If you think Ford went easy on the testing of this truck just because it was all-electric, you’d be mistaken. The 2022 Lightning went through the same rigorous testing as its gas and diesel-powered siblings.
The Lightning is different, no doubt about it. But, it is still an F-150. It purposefully looks like an F-150, albeit with a few grille design changes. To most F-series owners, this will come as a comforting sign because loyal Ford F-150 owners like their trucks the way they look. Keeping the Lightning looking like a member of its classic family tree signals to us all that while things change, it’s okay to keep some things just the way they are.
