Like a strike of lightning, the Ford F-150 Lightning changed the automotive landscape overnight and ushered in a new era for Ford. They aren’t the only manufacturer to try this, as the likes of the Chevy Silverado EV are imminent; however, between Ford and Chevy—two of America’s crowned automakers—only the former has had continued success with electric powertrains, while the latter’s hopes and dreams of market share a few years back went up in flames.
That’s right, the Bolt EV and EUV debacle was anything but a positive look for Chevy, and with the likes of an electric pickup truck around the corner, people are skeptical—and understandably so. However, in the here and now, we have the F-150 Lightning, so if you were looking for a Ford F-150 for sale, you might want to at least take a moment and see what Ford’s electric pickup truck can offer.
The F-150 Lightning is an achievement in more ways than one, and since we can’t spend a whole day reviewing it in-depth, let’s take a look at just the top five features…
#1) Power Outlets
The 2023 F-150 Lightning is an EV looking to replace the gas-powered truck in your life both at home and at work. Ford is positioning the F-150 Lightning to be a versatility powerhouse, and bringing the Lightning to the work site isn’t dissimilar from some of the best gas-powered trucks on the market. Several features call for an easier work day, but the available power outlets change everything; having these in the bed of a truck has revolutionized job sites that require generators to operate tools, and the F-150 Lightning has you covered with 9.6-kW plugs.
As the F-150 Lightning is electric, there’s no engine under the hood—only more cargo space. Also here is another power outlet featuring four plugs along with USB-C and USB-A ports, which makes charging your phone or other devices easy as pie. There are a total eleven power outlets, which should be plenty for yourself and perhaps a colleague if they need to charge up tools, too.
#2) Intelligent Backup Power
Something you can never do on a gasoline-powered truck is supply a steady stream of power to your home if the lights go out. Because the F-150 Lightning uses such a strong battery, it can act as a generator to keep the lights on while you wait for power to come back on in your home. Connecting your F-150 Lightning to the Ford Charge Station Pro and the Home Integration System means you have direct access to your home’s power cables—and by using the mobile app, you can turn the power back on with the press of a button.
Was your phone not charged when the power went out? No problem—charge it in the F-150 Lightning using those USB-C and USB-A ports or regular plugs. These power outlets, in tandem with Intelligent Backup Power, make the F-150 Lightning more than a vehicle but part of the home.
#3) Powertrain Options
The powertrains of the F-150 Lightning encapsulate the heart and soul of why this truck was initially invented. These, like any plug-in EV, are batteries and motors, and there are two powertrains available to the F-150 Lightning; these both have two batteries and come standard with AWD. However, also like any other plug-in EV, the F-150 Lightning uses a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT), which isn’t the first time Ford has used a CVT in a truck (the F-150 Lightning follows the Ford Maverick), but it’s a necessary change for an electric powertrain as there are no tangible gears under the hood.
The base powertrain uses a 98-kWh battery in what Ford calls the Standard Range configuration; this outputs an ambitious 452 hp and an impressive 775 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain can also tow cargo of many sizes and weights up to 7,700 lbs, along with 2,235 lbs of payload. On a full charge, this battery will drive you around for up to 240 miles, and you can charge either at home or via a public outlet, thanks to the BlueOval Charge Network.
There’s a large leap in battery sizes from the Standard Range powertrain to the Extended Range, going from 98-kWh to 131-kWh. A bigger battery allows the F-150 Lightning to go above what the base model can do, being more powerful and able to travel considerably longer lengths. With the 131-kWh battery, the F-150 Lightning gets 580 hp and the same 775 lb-ft of torque. The towing capacity with the Extended Range powertrain jumps from 7,700 lbs to 10,000 lbs, and a full battery can travel 320 miles uninterrupted. Overall, the Extended Range battery offers a 28%, 30%, and 33% increase in horsepower, towing capacity, and range, respectively.
#4) Foldable Work Surface
Ford knows a pickup truck is a mobile base of operations for hard-working folk, and these trucks have become proof that Ford understands how the real world works and how to cater to real-world workers. Life isn’t some television commercial with a hearty voice saying ‘Built Ford Tough;’ real life is complicated, and we need features that can improve our workflow.
A feature that represents this well is the foldable work surface, which isn’t visible at first glance; there’s a button you can press near your vehicle’s shifter, and it will automatically lay itself down, thus giving you a flat foundation to fold out, which is located by your right elbow when you’re driving. The foldable surface is large enough for clipboards, laptops, tablets, and even eating lunch.
#5) SYNC 4A Infotainment
The infotainment center inside the F-150 Lightning is robust, and if you opt for the SYNC 4A infotainment center, you get Ford’s most impressive and intuitive interface. Like some of the best-looking infotainment centers coming out of the woodwork, the 15.5-inch screen of the F-150 Lightning’s SYNC 4A infotainment center is even larger than Apple’s biggest MacBook Air, which has a screen that measures out at 15.3 inches diagonally.
The SYNC 4A infotainment center has the distinction of a physical volume knob on the bottom of its screen, which doesn’t get in the way because not only is the screen 15.5 inches, but it’s in a portrait orientation, so it’s taller and not wider, like you may be used to. This volume knob looks fantastic, complements the screen, and is an oddity as most other—not every—infotainment center nowadays uses touch-based volume controls.
This infotainment center also comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and—when combined with the available B&O audio system with up to 18 speakers—the F-150 Lightning is as capable as a multimedia machine as it is for everything else.
Far More Than Five Great Features…
The F-150 Lightning flips the record and changes the script, and it’s the current face of the electric pickup. It isn’t priced to be the layman’s first truck, so the chances are people looking to buy one are either experienced truckers or aspiring EV drivers with deep pockets and a need for automotive strength. While these five features are my favorite, they don’t scratch the surface of all that’s available in the mesmerizing 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning.
