When the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup was unveiled last week, the most surprising specification was the price – it starts under $40,000. At the time, Ford gave few details on what the lowest-cost version would have to offer. Now, we know its name and its equipment.
The least expensive of the four Lightning trims will be called the Lightning Pro. As the name suggests, commercial customers who buy trucks in fleets will be most interested. But this isn’t a bare-bones model only a fleet manager could love. It’s workable as a daily driver. The Pro starts at $39,974, but federal tax incentives can cut that by $7,500. Some states offer their own enticements on top of the federal rebate.
Powerful For a Basic Truck
The Lightning Pro uses two electric motors, one per axle, for all-wheel-drive, with a total output of 426 horsepower. That alone may be the reason some buyers sign up — the Tesla Cybertruck also has a sub-$40k starting price, but only in rear-wheel-drive. Ford predicts this model will travel 230 miles on a charge (the EPA has not yet tested it).
An upgrade to 563 horsepower and 300 miles of range pushes the price to $49,974.
The Lightning Pro can carry 2,000 pounds of payload (quite competitive with gas-powered trucks) and can tow about 5,000 pounds (a bit low). A tow package can raise that total to 7,700 pounds.
Seating for Five
It comes only in a 4-door, 5-passenger SuperCrew configuration. It’s upholstered in coffee-stain-repelling vinyl. But you do get a few creature comforts despite its work truck marketing. They include a 12-inch touchscreen with Ford’s SYNC 4 infotainment system and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Standard driver aids include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot information system, lane-keeping system, rear backup camera, and auto high-beam lighting.
The Lightning Pro includes four 120-volt AC outlets and two USB ports in the front trunk, with two more outlets in the cab and two in the 5.5-foot rear cargo bed. They output 2.4 kilowatts in the basic configuration but can be upgraded to a 9.6 kW system for a price Ford didn’t specify.
For Fleets, But Maybe Families, Too
For fleet managers, making the move to electric trucks is a complex decision. It could require upgrading electrical infrastructure to enable a business to charge many trucks and calculating the effects of range limits on dozens of drivers.
But for a family in need of a truck, the math is simpler. The F-150 Lightning Pro forgoes a few creature comforts, but its starting price makes it a serious consideration.
The next step up in the Lightning lineup, the XLT, adds niceties like 8-way power-adjustable cloth seats and a power hood for that front trunk. But it starts at $52,974.
