What is the F-150 Lightning?
While the Mustang Mach-E is certainly an important vehicle for Ford — after all, it competes in the ultra-popular electric SUV class and bears the name of the Blue Oval's long-running muscle car — it's the F-150 Lightning that's really the automaker's go-for-broke EV. The F-150 along with the heavy-duty Super Duty pickups make up Ford's F-Series truck line, and the F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for decades. So an all-electric version of the most popular nameplate in the country meant all eyes were on the Lightning when it debuted in 2022.
Thankfully, the F-150 Lightning surpasses even those lofty expectations. With a crew-cab configuration and a maximum 10,000-pound towing capacity, it does the typical truck things well. And as long as you aren't towing a trailer, even the most budget-friendly Lightning can go almost 250 miles on a charge. Opt for the larger battery pack and its 320-mile max range, and output from the electric motors rises from 452 horsepower to a stonking 580 hp. That's enough to propel this heavy pickup from 0 to 60 mph in a very rapid 4 seconds flat — quick enough that an F-150 Raptor R owner should think twice about challenging a Lightning driver to a stoplight race.
There are only a few electric trucks on the market at the moment, and that will change as GM readies the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, with the Ram 1500 Rev following close behind. For the moment, the F-150 Lightning is far more utilitarian than the Rivian R1T or GMC Hummer EV, and it earns our recommendation if you want something futuristic but familiar.