View all newsletters
Latest in Luxury - Sign up to our newsletter

Ford F-150 Lightning: A Colossal Shift for Electric Vehicles

The 2023 F-150 Lightning signifies a colossal shift in the arrival of electric vehicles.

By Alexandra Cheney

There’s a secret handshake afoot, unfamiliar to valets and charging stations alike. Surprisingly and stupendously, it belongs to the best-selling family of vehicles in the US for the last 46 years, Ford’s F-Series. The F-150 Lightning, the EV model of America’s most popular truck, signifies a colossal shift in the continued arrival of electric vehicles.

This is not a low-volume manufacturer experimenting with burgeoning technology in a sedan or SUV, but a high-stakes statement from a company that sells around 2,500 combustion engine F-150s daily.

While the exterior of the Lightning looks decidedly familiar, under the hood there’s a frunk (front trunk). In Ford parlance, it’s a Mega Power Frunk, a 400-pound-capacity space large enough to haul anything from farm equipment to athletic gear.

[See also: Beyond Electric: Big Car Brands Get Creative with Green Goals]

2023 F-150 Lightning
This all-electric F-150 is a high-stakes statement from a company that sells around 2,500 combustion engine versions every day / ©Ford

What powers the pickup runs underneath it. A front/rear transverse mounted, four-wheel drive dual eMotor with an extended-range battery will clock up to 320 miles via 580 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. With optional trailer and towing packages, the Lightning can haul 1,952 lbs and tow 8,500 lbs.

Ford’s flex comes in its Pro Power Onboard system: The Lightning can supply 9.6kW of power to 11 outlets, including a 240V in the truck bed. That’s enough to (silently) power laptops, flood lighting, televisions, refrigerators and sound systems, and more. From tailgating to camping, consider outdoor truck-centric activities redefined and refined.

[See also: The Best Luxury Cars of the Year]

[See also: Rolls-Royce Unveils Its First Fully Electric Car]

Content from our partners
Chartering a Private Jet with Flygreen
Cincoro Launches Tequila in Collaboration with Joshua Vides
Raffles Istanbul: A Destination Within a Destination

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Lightning supports vehicle-to-load charging — meaning if the power goes out, when paired with the Charge Station Pro, the available 131-kWh battery could keep the average house running for three days at its usual rate.

Ford has included some customer-friendly pragmatic touches. The driver seat folds completely flat, should the motorist want to nap while charging en route. The tailgate integrates a ruler and clamps for, say, sawing wood or assembling skis, plus there’s a bottle opener, pen holder, and a deployable step and handle.

2023 Ford F-150
With optional trailer and towing packages, the Lightning can haul 1,952 lbs and tow 8,500 lbs / ©Ford

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum from $96,874, shop.ford.com

This article appears in the 06 Mar 2023 issue of the New Statesman, Spring 2023

Select and enter your email address Be the first to know about the latest in luxury lifestyle news and travel.
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thank you for subscribing to Elite Traveler.

Websites in our network