Some Ford F-150 Lightning customers are in for a pleasant surprise when they start to take delivery of their 2022 electric pickup trucks this spring. After completing final EPA testing, the automaker is announcing better-than-expected range performance for specific Lightning models. The top-tier Platinum now has up to 300 miles of capability, up from the original 280-mile estimate.
Better Range For Some F-150 Lightning Models
The Lariat, XLT, and fleet-only Pro also get a range bump from 300 to 320 miles in the extended-range configuration. The standard-range versions of the Pro, XLT, and Lariat stay the same with a 230-mile capability. In other words, shell out for the bigger battery pack to get the range bonus. Otherwise, things remain the same standard-range Lightnings. In comparison, Rivian's R1T EV truck offers a minimum 260-mile range. Tesla promises "up to 500 miles of range" for its Cybertruck that has yet to enter production.
"We are laser focused on continually improving our energy consumption efficiency for Lightning and the team is really happy to deliver these results for our customers," said Linda Zhang, Ford's chief program engineer for the F-150 Lightning.
Lightning Reservations Temporarily Closed
According to LightningOwners.com, Ford sits on about 200,000 reservations for its EV truck. This tracks with similar comments by the company made earlier this year. Ford said it's closed reservations to allow production to catch up, and it's inviting reservation holders to convert to orders in waves. New reservations will be opening again this summer. Interestingly, the automaker reports that 75 percent of reservation holders are first-timers to the brand.
The electric F-Series is being built at the Ford's Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Michigan, with production starting in the next few months. In January, the company announced that work is already underway to double the plant's 150,000 annual capacity.
No Price Changes, For Now
While EV makers Rivian and Tesla have announced price increases in recent weeks, Ford's pricing for the F-150 Lightning hasn't changed. But then again, new reservations are on hold for the time being. The base Pro variant starts at $39,974, while the top-dog Platinum begins at $90,874. The extended-range battery pack adds a $19,500 (XLT) or $10,000 (Lariat) premium to the window sticker. This upgrade also increases horsepower from 426 to 563 ponies.
Sources: Ford, Rivian, Tesla