Every Ford dealer in the country has been sitting on pins and needles, waiting for Ford’s electric pickup truck to start going into production. Shoppers have been asking questions, making reservations, and wondering when this innovative machine will finally be ready. While the Lightning won’t be hitting your local Ford dealer just yet, the start of production takes us one step closer to the big day.
The Highly-Anticipated EV Pickup Truck
The Ford F-150 Lightning is the most ingenious vehicle in the Ford lineup. It’s not meant to be flashy like some of its competitors. It’s meant to be everything you expect from an F-150 but with a fully electric powertrain.
Not only is Ford looking to get a jump into the EV market, but it’s also finding a way to win over EV skeptics. Early electric vehicles lacked the power and capability to be taken seriously by truck enthusiasts. The F-150 Lightning is expanding the playing field of what’s possible from an EV.
The two electric motors work together to provide 426 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. These numbers tower over other F-150s. The standard battery is good for 230 miles of driving range, while the extended battery should provide 300 miles on a full charge. Needless to say, this pickup truck is practically a smart power plan on wheels.
Redefining Popularity
When Ford dealers started taking reservations and pre-orders for the Lightning, things got pretty crazy. This truck hadn’t even started production, and the initial reservation list had sold out. Ford had to make some logistical changes to help meet the never-ending demand.
What’s especially interesting is that this EV truck is bringing people over to Ford. In fact, three out of four reservation holders are actually new to Ford. Not only is Ford redefining what’s possible with an electric vehicle, but it’s also expanding the idea of “popularity.”
Let Production Begin
Every Lightning that ends up at your local Ford dealer will begin at the high-tech Rogue Electric Vehicle Center in Ford’s historic Rogue Complex in Dearborn, Michigan. This pickup truck has been in pre-production for the better part of a year. Pre-production is the last stage when new vehicles go through their final tests and allow workers to correct any snags in the process.
With production finally starting, it won’t be long before you see Lightning trucks on every major highway and surface street in the country. Ford knows how to get vehicles out on the roads. In fact, Ford is the top automaker in America. In 2001, for example, Ford topped the charts in production, sales, and employment of hourly autoworkers.
If you have a reservation for a Ford Lightning, you should be getting an update about when it will be available anytime now. If you don’t have a reservation, stop by your local Ford dealer to get your name on the waiting list.
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