Ford unveils the F-150 Lightning, its all-electric pickup truck that will start under $40,000

Ford does point to two features meant to help drivers understand just how far they can travel before charging. The first is called “onboard scales,” which uses sensors on the truck to estimate payload so drivers know the weight of what they’re hauling. Now, payload — the weight a truck can carry — is different from towing capacity, which is the weight it can tow. But “onboard scales” work alongside yet another feature called “intelligent range,” which takes into consideration towing info, payload, weather and more, according to Ford.

Ford isn’t backing away from payload and towing capacity. Ford notes that the new frame on the truck uses the strongest steel ever put in an F-150 frame and supports a maximum 2,000-pound payload and up to 10,000-pound towing capacity.

Inside the Lightning

Just like the newly refreshed gas-powered F-150, the Lightning is filled with connected car tech and advanced driving assistance features. The higher level trims of the Lightning — the Lariat and Platinum versions — will come with Ford’s Sync 4A infotainment system that can support over-the-air software updates. That means the system rollout upgrades to the vehicle, such as adding or improving driver assistance features and keeping maps up to date. SYNC 4 will offer third-party apps through its AppLink system, including Waze and a version of Amazon’s Alexa called Ford+Alexa.

The Sync 4A system, which will feature natural voice control and real-time mapping, will be displayed on a 15.5-inch touchscreen that looks a lot like what is inside the new Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. In front of the driver is a 12-inch instrument cluster that can be customized. This digital cluster will also relay important information to the driver on how the battery is operating, the regenerative braking and the advanced driver assistance system functions.

“It really is the smartest F-150 we’ve ever made,” said Darren Palmer, general manager of battery electric vehicles at Ford Motor Company. “F-150 Lightning offers an immersive touch screen, giving our customers all the info they want in an instant — a real-time view of where they’re going, what they’re hauling or how much real-world range they’ve got banked. And with Ford Power-Up software updates, the experience is only going to get better.”

The F-150 Lightning will also offer Blue Cruise, the automaker’s new hands-free driving feature, which will also be available on the 2021 F-150 pickup truck and certain 2021 Mustang Mach-E models through a software update later this year. That hands-free capability — which uses cameras, radar sensors and software to provide a combination of adaptive cruise control, lane centering and speed-sign recognition — has undergone some 500,000 miles of development testing, Ford emphasized in an announcement in April. The system also has an in-cabin camera that monitors eye gaze and head position to help ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road.

The hands-free system will be available on vehicles equipped with Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Technology and will only work on certain sections of divided highways. The system, which will be rolled out via software updates later this year, will initially be available on more than 100,000 miles of highways in North America.

Charging and power

Charging is of course critical to driving any electric vehicle. But it isn’t just about having the ability to plug in. Communicating how, when and where is the crux. Ford said customers will receive a notification if their truck’s battery falls below one-third of its total range. The intelligent range, which as noted above takes into consideration towing info, payload and weather, is also communicated to the driver. The accompanying FordPass app also gives customers information on charging locations. Inside the vehicle, a driver can use the infotainment system to identify and navigate to charging stations.

The truck also has an onboard power source, which in the standard trim offers 2.4 kilowatts of power while Lariat and Platinum series come standard with 9.6 kilowatts of power — a combination of up to 2.4 kilowatts available through the truck’s so-called “mega power frunk” and up to 7.2 kilowatts through outlets in the cab and bed.

Ford also touted its 9.6 kW of back-up power, which it says can provide energy to a home during a blackout for three days and as many as 10 with rationing. 

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