8 Amazing Features of the Ford F-150 Lightning That Will Blow Your Mind
Electric pickup trucks are some of the most capable vehicles you can buy, and the Ford F-150 Lightning in particular is full of awesome features that make it one of the most talented EVs. Ford’s full-size electric pickup truck even has bidirectional charging capabilities that can power your home in case of an emergency and a huge front trunk, among other useful features.
Let’s explore the F-150 Lightning’s best features!
1. Bidirectional Charging Capabilities
Most electric vehicles offer unidirectional charging, which means they can accept a charge from a charging station but cannot discharge the energy contained in the battery to power external loads. The F-150 Lightning is equipped with bidirectional charging capabilities, which means it can power your home during a blackout if it’s equipped with the long-range battery pack and is hooked up to Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power system.
If you live in an area with frequent power outages or constant inclement weather that can affect the integrity of the electrical grid, you might want to consider purchasing anEV pickup trucklike the F-150 Lightning. The F-150 Lightning is equipped with Ford’s Pro Power Onboard as well, which allows you to take advantage of numerous electrical outlets throughout the truck that can power everything from power tools to your camping site.
2. Powered Front Trunk With a Large Opening
The technologically advanced Rivian R1Tfeatures a front trunk (also known as a “frunk”) that provides tons of useful storage space, but the electric F-150 takes things a step further. Its frunk opens up with the grille attached to the hood, which offers a much larger opening than the Rivian (which is partially blocked by the stationary grille). The Ford’s front trunk is also significantly larger than the one in the Rivian, with a capacity of 14.1 cubic feet versus the R1T’s 11 cubic feet.
Front trunks are becoming an indispensable feature for many electric vehicle owners. The F-150 Lightning offers one of the best frunks in the industry, especially when you combine the large storage space with the availability of four 120V AC outlets. Having these outlets available in such a handy storage space, plus USB and USB-C ports, makes the F-150 Lightning one ofthe ultimate EVs for a camping trip.
3. 240V Outlet to Power Larger Equipment
The F-150 Lightning can output up to 9.6 kW of power via its many onboard power outlets, including an available 240V outlet, which sets it apart from most other EVs that only offer 120V outlets. With a 240V outlet built into the F-150 Lightning’s bed, you even have the option of charging another EV right from your F-150’s battery or powering some heavy-duty equipment.
4. Dual-Motor Four-Wheel Drive Provides Great Performance
All F-150 Lightning models are equipped with a dual-motor four-wheel drive system. A lot of electric vehicles reserve the dual electric motors for top-of-the-line models, but even the base F-150 Lightning Pro model with the standard-range battery comes with a motor on each axle.
The F-150 Lightning also includes a rear locking differential as standard on all versions, which is great for off-road scenarios where you might need the added traction at the rear tires, usually to help the vehicle climb a steep gradient or get over a difficult obstacle. The F-150 Lightning isn’t as capable off-road as the Rivian R1T (thanks to the Rivian’s four electric motors), but with four-wheel drive and a rear locker, it’s definitely got the hardware to take you off the beaten path with confidence.
5. 10,000-Pound Towing Capacity
The F-150 Lightning in XLT and Lariat trims can tow up to 10,000 pounds, which makes it a very capable electric vehicle. It must be noted, though, that the range will suffer considerably when you’retowing heavy loads in an EV, but this loss in range while fully loaded is to be expected from internal combustion pickup trucks as well (though ICE pickup trucks tend to have more overall range than EV trucks).
Also, keep in mind that the lower Pro trim and the upper-tier Platinum both have significantly less towing capacity (7,700 pounds for the Pro and 8,600 for the Platinum).
6. 320 Miles of Range for Longer Trips
The F-150 Lightning with the extended-range battery option offers up to 320 miles of range in certain configurations. This puts it right on par with the 2023 Rivian R1T’s driving range, which is approximately 328 miles. The Hummer EV pickup truck offers 329 miles of driving range, which means the Ford matches the biggest players in the EV pickup truck segment in terms of driving range.
With that much range, as long as you’re not towing heavy trailers, you should definitely find it to be more than enough to make the F-150 Lightning an enjoyable long-distance cruiser without range anxiety creeping in.
7. Sub-Four-Second 0 to 60 MPH Time
The Pro base model F-150 Lightning can pull off a 4.1-second sprint from 0 to 60 mph, which is excellent for a base model EV pickup truck. But Ford says higher-trim models, like the Platinum, will complete the run to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, courtesy of a combined output of 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque.
to enjoy the extra horsepower, you’ll need to splurge on the bigger battery in certain configurations of the F-150 Lightning. Nobody really needs an electric pickup truck that can outrun your typical sportscar, but it’s certainly a lot of fun regardless.
8. LED Light Bar for a Distinctive Look
Light bars are the newest trend, especially in electric vehicles. The rear light bar has been making an appearance on many vehicles as of late, but the front light bar is almost exclusively limited to electric vehicles. Love it or hate it, the F-150 Lightning is equipped with a light bar that visually joins its front light clusters in certain trim levels, and it gives the truck an unmistakable EV look.
The F-150 Lightning won’t be confused for a Rivian R1T, even if they both have light bars front and back, but the Lightning has its own unique aesthetic that is sure to win over many fans (and it’s also a bit bigger than the Rivian). The front light bar can also be considered a safety feature; it makes the F-150 Lightning extremely visible to other drivers while it’s running.
The F-150 Lightning Is One of the Best EVs You Can Purchase
The F-150 Lightning is an excellent pickup truck, and it’s equipped with features that make it one of the most capable electric vehicles currently for sale, building on the capability of the gas-burning F-150. It will be tough for competitors to match the Lightning’s capabilities, especially with its ability to double as a backup power source for your home.
Ford’s all-electric truck is extremely capable; it can even keep the lights on in your house!
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