Ford to Debut All-Electric F-150 Lightning May 19
“Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game … Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3. Now comes the F-150 Lightning.”
First came the all-electric Mustang SUV. And now Ford is set to unveil its first all-electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. The live-stream reveal will take place May 19 at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan with Ford hinting at the fastest and most capable F-150 of all time.
For those less familiar with Ford trucks, here’s a little history. The Lightning moniker is significant. Long before the Raptor ruled the F-150 roost, the F-150 Lightning was the most powerful sport-oriented truck. It existed over two generations, from 1993 to 1995, and from 1999 to 2004, with the latter second-gen iteration holding a special place for offering a supercharged V8. And ever since the truck’s demise, Ford fans have been calling for its return.
Unfortunately, the trucking world has moved away from street-performance trucks to off-road performance, a trend Ford both established and is following. (Thus, the Raptor with its Baja 1000 suspension setup.) So, instead of bringing back the Lightning as a Raptor or RAM TRX competitor, Ford is reviving the name for as an all-electric F-150.
And, in truth, we think it’s a fantastic choice.
Clearly, the electric F-150 Lightning will be a departure for the Blue Oval. But we think the timing is perfect. With EV and hybrid sales making big numbers, it is apparent that drivers are ready for a proper electric Ford pickup. And the 2021 Ford F-F150 hybrid PowerBoost proved that Ford could do electric without sacrificing its chops or heritage. In fact, as we write this, the PowerBoost is currently the fastest 0-60mph F-150 available to purchase. And while the 2021 third-generation Raptor will likely surpass this, we also expect the 2022 (or 2023) Lightning to be even faster.
To produce an electric truck that earns the Ford badge, the Lightning had to be something special. Ford says it has brought the innovation, technologies and capabilities to the merit the Lightning’s place in the F-Series. It will have the power, capability, and true-blue pickup DNA that is the hallmark of all Fords.
“Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game … Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3. Now comes the F-150 Lightning,” says Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “America’s favorite vehicle for nearly half a century is going digital and fully electric. F-150 Lightning can power your home during an outage; it’s even quicker than the original F-150 Lightning performance truck; and it will constantly improve through over-the-air updates.”
Topping the original F-150 Lightning’s performance is going to be a feat. “The truck of the future will be built with quality and a commitment to sustainability by Ford-UAW workers at the Ford Rouge Complex — the cathedral of American manufacturing and our most advanced plant,” adds Farley.
You can watch the F-150 Lightning reveal on May 19, at 9:30 p.m. EDT on Ford’s website, YouTube, Twitter, and more. Check out the spot below.
Photos: Ford