Like a bolt from the blue, the Ford F-150 Lightning has taken the trucking world by storm. One of the first pickup trucks to be a battery electric vehicle (BEV), the Lightning delivers all the benefits of a high-tech electric vehicle without compromising the strengths of a pickup truck. The folks at Ford have taken everything that makes the F-150 the most popular pickup truck on the market and added the ingenuity of BEVs that Ford has developed as part of its up-and-coming BlueOval program. If you're in the market for a Ford F-150 Lightning for sale at Steve Marsh Ford, here are some benefits you stand to gain by making your next truck a Lightning.
No More Service Station Sticker Shock
One of the most obvious benefits of any electric vehicle is not having to worry about shifting gas prices. As a BEV, contrasting something like a hybrid, the Lightning runs solely on electricity. You can charge it at home with a convenient home charging station, cutting travel time or rerouting to a nearby gas station, or when you are on the road at any Ford BlueOval or Tesla Supercharger station. A Consumer Reports study from 2020 found that, on average, EV drivers spend about 60 percent less each year on fuel costs than drivers of gas-powered vehicles.
The Lightning has two available batteries installed on a robust dual-motor setup. The standard range model features a 98-kWh lithium-ion battery pack located safely in the lower frame of the Lightning, which clocks in at 452 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, giving you a maximum range of 240 miles on a fully charged battery. If you opt for the extended-range Lightning, you will get a 131-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, providing a range of up to 320 miles and an impressive 580 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. When talking gas, even the most fuel-efficient full-size pickup truck will not give you the fuel economy of a compact SUV, making it more costly to use a truck as a daily driver. With the Lightning, you won't have to worry about this any longer. Still, for comparison's sake, the extended-range Lightning gets an estimated 66 MPGe.
Shockingly Powerful Towing and Hauling
If you are like most drivers who choose a pickup, one of the main reasons for your choice is the ability to tow trailers and haul heavy loads in its payload bed, but some folks might be concerned about the towing and hauling capabilities of the Lightning. Fortunately, those in the know are aware that BEVs are incredibly strong, using electricity to drive a vehicle fast, powerfully, and efficiently. This is undoubtedly the case with the 2024 Lightning.
If you choose a Lightning with a standard-range battery pack, you'll be able to tow up to 7,700 lbs and haul up to 2,235 lbs, already comparable to most full-size pickup trucks. Opting for the extended-range battery increases the maximum trailering capability to an impressive and staggering 10,000 lbs, maintaining intense power even with that BEV efficiency.
Ford has done a great job of making hauling cargo easy on your 2024 F-150 Lightning. The standard payload bed on all trims is a very sizable 5.6', providing 52.8 cu.ft. of space to work with. In addition, since the Lightning does not have a conventional gas engine, Ford's design team has used the space under the Lightning's hood to provide an additional 14.1 cu.ft. of space in the form of a Mega Power Frunk. This frunk carries up to 400 lbs and is lockable and waterproof, making it a great place to store tools, equipment, luggage, and personal items.
Lightning Fast
While most pickup trucks are powerful, they aren't always the fastest. Getting some full-size trucks up to speed may take time, and this lack of acceleration can cause a headache when trying to merge onto a busy highway during rush hour. Fortunately, the F-150 Lightning does a great job of earning its name. For example, with the extended-range battery, the Lightning can get you from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds! For reference, that is the acceleration you would expect from a Mustang, not a full-size pickup truck.
Standard All-Wheel Drive
With most pickup trucks, you are faced with choosing between rear-wheel drive (RWD) for improved trailering and fuel economy or the improved traction of all-wheel drive (AWD). Ford frees you from making this difficult decision by making AWD standard on all models of the 2024 Lightning. Both axles have a permanent magnet synchronous AC motor, so you will benefit from the added traction without affecting your towing and hauling capabilities. As for the fuel economy hit from AWD, you left that concern in the past when you chose to drive an F-150 Lightning.
Get a Charge From Your Truck
One of the most surprising benefits of owning a Ford F-150 Lightning is the ability to turn your truck into a mobile generator. That massive lithium-ion battery pack in your truck's frame will not only power its electric motors; it can also be harnessed to provide you with power wherever you go. With the available Pro Power Onboard, you can get 9.6 kW of power through strategically placed outlets around your truck. For reference, a full charge can allow you to power an entire residential construction job site for three days straight. In all, there are 11 available power outlets, including one that provides 240 volts, making it strong enough for welders, wet saws, and air compressors.
The Lightning can also come in handy in a blackout. If you have added a Ford Charge Station Pro to your home to charge your truck, your Lightning can return the favor if you experience a power outage. With Intelligent Backup Power, the Lightning will determine that your home is experiencing a power outage and will use the lithium-ion battery pack to provide your home with electricity for up to three days, so you don't have to stay in the dark waiting for the power to be restored.
No Hands with Ford BlueCruise
Driver fatigue can be a major problem, especially on long drives. All that concentration while driving can begin to wear down even the most seasoned driver. If you are not careful, this can lead to highway accidents. This is why Ford developed BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system.
With the available BlueCruise system on the F-150 Lightning, you can drive without keeping your hands on the steering wheel. Ford has mapped thousands of miles of highway throughout North America, making them BlueCruise capable. If you have opted for this feature, once you have entered one of these BlueCruise compatible highways, you can engage the system and let your truck take over. Using the mapping functions, GPS, sensors, and cameras, the BlueCruise system will control your truck. All you have to do is remain focused on the road to override the system if you see an imminent collision or are about to exit a BlueCruise-capable road. Aside from reducing fatigue, it will also improve safety, as the BlueCruise system works with all of your truck's Ford Co-Pilot360 safety features, keeping the truck centered in the lane, tracing the roadway, adjusting the speed, and braking if necessary.
Power Up for the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
All in all, the F-150 Lightning is a balanced marvel of engineering. Choosing a Lightning will free you from dependency on gasoline while giving you all the things you love about a truck, its ruggedness and capability. It gives you the speed you cannot imagine in a pickup truck, hands-free driving through the available BlueCruise, and the ability to act as a generator for your home, job site, or campsite. Come into our dealership today, and let us help you experience the thrill of driving a 2024 Lightning.