Ford electric pickup adds 70.000 reservation requests in one week

Aimed at commercial use, the new pickup that begins to be sold in the USA, generates up to 570 hp, has a torque of 107 kgfm and a range that reaches 482 km

The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro, the first electric version of North America's best-selling pickup truck, received 70 reservation requests in one week – 20 of them registered in just 12 hours. The model aimed at commercial use hits the North American market next year and is considered an important test for the large-scale acceptance of electric vehicles in the United States.

Along with the F Series' renowned strength, efficiency and durability, the new electric pickup truck brings several features to improve productivity and reduce operating costs for fleet owners, including smart charging solutions.

“The F-150 Lightning Pro is much more than an electric utility vehicle. Built for commercial customers, it gets better over time and is connected to services that help business productivity,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “More and more companies are committing to becoming carbon neutral and expect electric products that can easily integrate into their operations. Ford is uniquely positioned to meet this demand because we have a zero-emissions pickup and van, and many of our customers want both vehicles in their fleet.”

Commercial use

The new F-150 Lightning Pro 4x4 has an aggressive starting price in the US, below US$40 before tax incentives, and an estimated range of 370 km (EPA standard) with a standard lithium-ion battery. This version, with 432 hp of power and 107 kgfm of torque, offers a payload capacity of 900 kg and a towing capacity of 2.268 kg, or 3.492 kg with the optional Max Trailer Tow package. Its 32A mobile charger makes it easy for small and medium-sized businesses to adopt.

There will also be a version with an extended range of 482 km (EPA) and a power of 570 hp, which maintains a torque of 107 kgfm. It will come with an 80A charging station that allows overnight Level 2 AC charging without the need for expensive DC installations. And towing capacity can reach 4.535 kg with an optional package.

“Telemetry data from more than 233 million kilometers shows that the average F-150 commercial customer in the US drives less than 280 km on 95% of their daily trips. And they closely control their costs – they buy what they need and not a penny more,” said Ted Cannis, general manager of Ford’s North American commercial business.

The F-150 Lightning Pro is expected to reduce fleet owners' scheduled maintenance costs by 40% over eight years. To help customers calculate these savings, Ford created a new digital tool that compares various costs, including purchasing or leasing, tax incentives and energy.

5 million km driven

The F-150 Lightning Pro undergoes the same rigorous durability tests as all F Series pickup trucks, with millions of kilometers driven on all types of terrain. This includes the battery and powertrain, which have been subjected to hundreds of charges and grueling tests in extreme conditions, from desert heat to temperatures of minus 40 degrees.

Built with a high-strength steel frame and military-grade aluminum alloy body, it is the first F Series with independent rear suspension. It has advanced cooling systems and a low center of gravity, which improves insulation and stability. Aluminum and steel floor coverings protect the battery and dual electric motors, integrated at the front and rear.

Innovative features

The F-150 Lightning Pro brings technologies and features never before offered by a commercial pickup truck. One of them is the Mega Power Frunk, a cargo compartment under the hood, where the combustion engine used to be. This sealed and illuminated space, with capacity for 180 kg of bagged cement, includes four 120 V electrical outlets and two USB ports.

“When we first showed this design to our commercial pickup customers, they were surprised. And they liked being able to quickly access tools and equipment in the front, saving space in the bed,” said Cannis.

The electric pickup comes standard with a 2,4 kW alternating current power source, accessed through four sockets on the hood, two in the cabin and two more in the bed. It also offers a 9,6 kW power supply as an option, which adds two more 120 V sockets and another 240 V socket in the bucket. Both automatically adjust battery life as energy is used.

Fleet administrators can set energy usage parameters. When the battery reaches the minimum level for the pickup to reach the recharging location, the source turns off automatically, or at the level predetermined by the user.

The F-150 Lightning Pro has a crew cab with room for five passengers, easy-to-clean vinyl seats, SYNC 4 multimedia with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 12-inch productivity screen and several driver assistance features.

Its intelligent autonomy system calculates the energy needed to complete the journey based on terrain, weather, load and distance. This data will be shared in the cloud with the “Ford Power My Trip” tool and SYNC 4, so the user can plan their route, monitor charging usage and find the nearest charging station.

The pickup also incorporates payload scales for a more accurate calculation of autonomy. Cabin climate control while the vehicle is recharged and acceleration and speed limiters are other features that help optimize range.

Recharge Solutions

The F-150 Lightning Pro has several smart charging accessories and software for managing cargo, the fleet and its costs. The basic version comes with a 32 A mobile charger for connection to 120/240 V alternating current. As an option, there are two 240 V stations, with 48 A or 80 A, which speed up the charging time using alternating current.

Ford is the only automaker to offer an 80-amp charging station in the extended-range pickup truck from the factory. Its integrated dual charging system – unique in the industry – reduces alternating current charging time to around eight hours for a range of 480 km (EPA).

It is also possible to charge quickly on the road, at the Ford Charging Network's 150 kW Level 3 direct current stations, which restore 15% to 80% of the charge in less than 45 minutes – the average time of a lunch stop.

Using the Ford EV Telematics dashboard, which accesses vehicle data in the cloud, fleet managers can monitor vehicle health and charge, pay for charging, reimburse employees for home charging, remotely climate the cabin and generate reports .

Management Tools

The pickup comes with a standard 4G LTE modem that offers a range of connectivity services to optimize efficiency and reduce fleet operating costs, including real-time data on kilowatt-hour consumption, charging speed and range.

The Ford Telematics system also includes a panel in the cabin that allows guidance to the driver, remotely air conditioning the vehicle and generating accident alerts when the airbag is activated.