Ford reveals F-150 Lightning trim levels, EV charging option

The Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the most hotly-anticipated EVs yet—and not only by EV journalists, but by truck buyers. Ford has revised its planned production numbers upward several times now. CEO Jim Farley recently told Automotive News that demand for its new EVs has turned out to be two to three times what the company expected, adding that it has logged almost 200,000 reservations for the F-150 Lightning.

Ford will begin taking firm orders in January, and deliveries are expected to begin in mid-2022. The company has now announced that its e-pickup will be available with two battery sizes and four trim levels.

The entry level Pro, which is aimed at contractors and fleet operators, will come with a 98 kWh (usable capacity) battery pack and an estimated EPA range of 230 miles. It will be equipped with the 2.4 kW version of Ford’s ProPower Onboard system, which allows the truck’s battery to power tools and other electrical equipment. A 9.6 kW system is available as an option. A 12-inch touchscreen is standard. The price, including destination charges, is expected to start around $42,000.

The XLT trim will have the option of upgrading to a 131 kWh pack, which will deliver an estimated range of 300 miles.

The Lariat is available with either size battery pack, and features the 9.6 kW ProPower system and a 15.5-inch touchscreen.

The top-of-the-line Platinum trim has the 131 kWh pack, 15.5-inch touchscreen, and 9.6 kW ProPower Onboard system. It has larger 22-inch wheels, which reduce range to 280 miles. A fully loaded Platinum F-150 Lightning packs a price tag a little under $80,000.

But wait, there’s more! Ford’s General Manager of Battery Electric Vehicles, Darren Palmer, recently revealed a new feature—the ProPower Onboard feature can not only power tools or camping gear, but can provide a Level 2 charging output of up to 7.6 kW (32 A at 240 V). This means the F-150 Lightning can be used to charge another EV. Ford estimates that it can add around 20 miles per charging hour to a Mustang Mach-E, or 13 miles of charge per hour to another F-150 Lightning.

“There are hundreds of benefits to Ford ProPower Onboard, and we’ve added one more,” said Ford E-Powertrain Systems Engineer Patrick Soderborg. “Taking power on the road or having extra energy at home brings a lot of convenience and security, and using the F-150 Lightning or F-150 hybrid to top off a friend’s electric vehicle or help them during an outage is one of the many new benefits our customers gain from our Built Ford Tough electrified trucks.”

Sources: Ford, CleanTechnica, InsideEVs, Electrek

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