Ford confirms it has ended manufacturing of the F-150 Lightning, and can relaunch it as an “prolonged vary electrical car” (EREV). It is the tip of an period for the enduring pickup truck, which debuted in 2022.
“The F-150 Lightning is a groundbreaking product that demonstrated an electrical pickup can nonetheless be an excellent F-Sequence,” says Doug Area, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer.
An EREV is considerably of a combination between a standard hybrid and a completely electrical automotive. It has a gasoline tank, which prices a battery-powered generator. The generator turns the wheels, preserving the short acceleration drivers love from pure EVs—with out the vary nervousness.
Ford estimates the brand new F-150 Lightning may have a 700-mile vary between the gasoline tank and the battery. Because of its substantial electrical energy, it is going to retain its sub-5-second acceleration whereas nonetheless towing “like a locomotive,” Area says. The value, launch date, and doubtlessly new identify, are all beneath wraps for now. “We’ll share timing and extra particulars nearer to launch,” an organization spokesperson tells us.
The pivot to an EREV is what we anticipated when experiences circulated final month that Ford was reevaluating the Lightning’s future. It is smart given the corporate’s broader shift towards hybrids, which started in 2024 amid staunch competitors from Chinese language EV makers and a realization that many US customers weren’t but able to go totally electrical.
One factor we did not count on was Ford to announce a battery storage enterprise to energy information facilities. Tesla is already doing this with its Megapack, and Ford says there may be “giant demand” for these merchandise. The automaker will make investments $2 billion on this product line in its Kentucky plant over the subsequent two years, producing smaller modules in addition to as much as 20-foot containers.
So, Ford is not abandoning the battery experience it is gained since launching the F-150 Lightning. It is also persevering with to develop new EVs for the North American market as a part of its forthcoming “common EV platform,” a $5 billion funding that would produce a $30,000 electrical pickup by 2027. That is a steep drop from the F-150 Lightning’s $54,780 beginning worth.
By 2030, about 50% of Ford’s international quantity can be hybrids, EREVs, and full EVs. That is up from 17% right this moment, the corporate says. Whereas electrical automotive gross sales have slowed within the US, they’re surging in Europe, up 36% in November, Electrek experiences. Ford is making an attempt to be extra aggressive within the EU with its electrical lineup, and final week introduced new European management and plans for “a product offensive.”
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Emily Forlini
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As a information and options author at PCMag, I cowl the most important tech tendencies that form the way in which we dwell and work. I specialise in on-the-ground reporting, uncovering tales from the people who find themselves on the heart of change—whether or not that’s the CEO of a high-valued startup or an on a regular basis particular person taking over Massive Tech. I additionally cowl every day tech information and breaking tales, contextualizing them so that you get the total image.
I got here to journalism from a earlier profession working in Massive Tech on the West Coast. That have gave me an up-close view of how software program works and the way enterprise methods shift over time. Now that I’ve my grasp’s in journalism from Northwestern College, I couple my insider data and reporting chops to assist reply the large query: The place is that this all going?
