The new F-150 Lightning is being launched with Platinum, Lariat, and XLT trims. (Image/Ford)

Ford is leaning into the electric vehicle game hard with an all-electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup truck.

Dubbed the F-150 Lightning, it appears that Ford was able to put together an electric pickup truck that boasts performance (and pricing!) that’s on-par or even better than its gas-engine equivalents.

So let’s dig into the numbers…

Here’s a cutaway that shows you where the F-150 Lightning’s battery pack and electric motors will live—tucked neatly in between the truck’s frame rails. (Image/Ford)

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Performance

For starters, Ford makes it clear that the 2022 F-150 Lightning models are still in pre-production phase, so these specs are (for now) merely engineering targets, but we’re inclined to believe that the Ford development team will get pretty darn close to these numbers once the Lightnings start hitting dealerships.

Thanks to dual inboard electric motors, Ford says the 2022 F-150 Lightning will make around 563 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft. of torque—which are pretty amazing figures and the most torque of any F-150, ever. Those power numbers also mean the F-150 Lightning can scoot from zero to sixty in under five seconds.

In another F-150 first, the Lightning will boast an independent rear suspension. Yet, it will also carry a 2,000 pound payload capacity and have (when properly configured) up to a 10,000 pound towing capability.

“It’s quicker than a Raptor, with standard 4×4 and independent rear suspension; a power frunk, enough juice to run your house for three days or power an awesome tailgate; and it will forever improve with over-the-air updates,” said Ford President and CEO Jim Farley.

The absence of a front-mounted engine means there’s room for a massive frunk now, which gives you some additional practical storage space. (Image/Ford)

The Lightning’s body will still be made from military-grade aluminum alloy, and the frame has been enhanced to support the extra weight from the battery.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Range & Features

Let’s talk about range. For this new truck, Ford is touting a powerful next-generation lithium-ion battery. According to the press release, you can get your F-150 Lightning with one of two battery options: a standard-range battery targeting 230 miles of EPA-estimated range and an extended-range battery targeting 300 miles of EPA-estimated range.

Ford says the F-150 Lightning is packed with handy alerts and real-time battery range calculators to ensure you’re never left without enough juice to make it home. And new F-150 Lightning owners can get an 80 amp charging station that, according to Ford, will add “an average range of 30 miles per charging hour, fully charging an extended-range truck from 15 to 100 percent in about eight hours.”

Ford wasn’t shy about highlighting the Lightning’s work credentials. (Image/Ford)

The 2022 F-150 Lightning also offers an available Ford Intelligent Backup Power setup with the ability to offload 9.6 kilowatts of power, which essentially turns the F-150 into a giant battery to supply power to your home, jobsite, or tailgate party. We’ve written about similar power generator setups from Ford before, but this is the first time we’ve seen it on an all-electric truck.

2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pricing & Availability

But perhaps the most important figure is price. Again, according to the press release, “the commercial-oriented entry model starts at $39,974 MSRP before any federal or state tax credits, while the mid-series XLT model starts at $52,974 MSRP, offering additional comfort and technology.” That puts the all-electric F-150 Lightning in the ballpark as other gas-powered trucks in the same class—and certainly a lot cheaper than GMC’s six-figure Hummer EV Supertruck.

Ford says the Ford F-150 Lightning will start appearing on showroom floors by the spring of 2022. With a $100 deposit, you can reserve yours online now.

For more details on the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, check out the official press release from Ford.

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