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The all-electric version of Ford’s F-150 pickup truck finally faces mainstream competition from electric trucks such as the Rivian R1T or GMC Hummer EV truck, plus forthcoming electric versions of Ram, Chevy, and GMC full-size trucks.
It won our Best Car To Buy 2023, beating out dozens of other new or redesigned vehicles. Large price swings cooled our ardor, but the latest starting price of about $52,000 has stabilized that volatility. Though it might not satisfy long-distance towing needs, the 2024 Lightning drives like a faster and quieter version of a standard F-150, with as much capability on a single charge.
The 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck charges into the new year with a new mid-grade trim called Flash that replaces the XLT with the larger battery pack. A heat pump comes standard across the lineup to more efficiently warm the battery and the cabin in cold weather, as well as keep the battery pack at optimal temperatures while charging. Lightning owners can get an adapter to access more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers for a broader DC fast-charging network.
For the most part, the F-150 Lightning looks just like a regular F-150, which is part of the reason it beat Detroit rivals to market. Its three-box shape with only a crew-cab and 5-foot-6 bed configuration has been tweaked with a unique front end and strips of LED running lights front and back across the tailgate on most trims, as well as a charge port in the driver’s front fender.
The Lightning’s interior is largely identical to gas trucks down to its vertical touchscreen.
Underneath, the F-150 Lightning has its own independent rear suspension compared to the standard trucks’ leaf-sprung solid axle. Weighing in at a massive 6,600 pounds, the F-150 gallops over bumps with little interior disturbance.
Ford offers standard and extended-range versions that can lug up to 10,000 pounds when properly equipped. Base models with the standard range 98-kwh battery pack check in with around 240 miles of range. The extended range 131-kwh battery pack can cost up to $20,000 more for its 320-mile range; consider your real-world needs first.
Electric motors on the front and rear axles provide all that thrust, plus all-wheel-drive traction.
The F-150 has big battery packs that take a long time to charge. A standard-range truck depleted to 15% of remaining battery power will need around 13 hours of juicing up at a Level 2 home charger to be back to 100%. Level 3 DC fast-chargers are much faster, though, charging from 15 to 80% in 41 minutes.
The big crew cab means plenty of interior space. Vinyl, cloth, and leather options reveal your truck’s place in Ford’s hierarchy. The F-150 Lightning’s front trunk, or frunk, serves up weathertight storage where the engine would normally go.
Standard models have a 12.0-inch touchscreen that grows to a massive 15.5 inches as you work your way up the lineup, too.
The automaker’s optional BlueCruise driver-assistance tech allows for stints of hands-free driving on mapped highways, though it’s not as sophisticated as GM’s Super Cruise.
How much does the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning cost?
The base Lightning Pro with the standard range pack costs $52,090 this year, including the $2,095 destination fee. For retail customers, the Pro and the better equipped XLT can only be fitted with the standard range pack. That makes the $72,090 Lightning Flash the least expensive way for retail customers to get the 320-mile extended range battery pack, with the Lariat costing about $80,000. The F-150 Lightning Platinum Black tops the range at more than $100,000.
Where is the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning made?
In Dearborn, Michigan.
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