Ford has finally admitted it’s tough to get lightning to strike twice. It has confirmed that its F-150 Lightning electric truck is officially dead.
Instead of a direct replacement, it is working on something it hopes you’ll like a little more: an extended range EV, with a big battery and a gas engine, so you can go a little longer before needing a fill-up.
F-150 Lightning Was More Bug Than Bolt
When Ford first announced the Lightning, it was a revelation. An F-150 that could go up to 300 miles on a charge, made 563 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, and had a starting price of $39,900. It was as cheap as a gas truck, but could power your house for days or a campsite for weeks.
Then it hit the market late, priced at least $6,000 above the originally announced price. Sales foundered, reservations cancelled, the price pinballed, and while those sales numbers climbed over time, the 33,510 Ford sold last year — and it’s the bestselling electric truck this year — is a drop in the F-150 bucket.
Now it is dead, and Ford is going to see different people. There will be a next-generation F-150 Lightning, Ford is saying, but it will be an EREV.
Say Hello to a Lightning With a Gas Engine
An extended range EV is really the hybrid many of us had been expecting for years. It has electric motors to drive the wheels, and it will have a large battery. Once the battery runs down, a gas engine fires up and runs solely to charge the battery. The gas engine can never connect directly to the wheels.
Ford hasn’t said how much the battery pack will hold or what the engine will be — just that the total range will be “more than 700 miles.” That’s a figure that doesn’t really mean anything, since a big enough gas tank will take any pickup that far.
It’s going to be a lot like the new truck Ram is planning. The Ram 1500 REV is expected next year with a 92kWh battery pack and a 3.6L V6. The truck will tow 14,000 pounds, and Ram says it will go 690 miles before needing a plug or a pump. Which, we have little doubt, is where Ford got its 700-mile number.
No More Range Anxiety
If you were worried about running out of charge but wanted an electric truck, Ford is hoping this will be exactly the ticket. Run it on electricity through the week, and the gas engine is there for towing or long distances on the weekend.
We have to say, the idea of having nearly 100 kWh of electricity at an off-grid campsite and the ability to recharge it fully does sound nice. That’s days or weeks of powering even a large travel trailer, combined with a few hours of running your engine to top it back up. And not having to worry about not making it back home.
Using the standard F-150 as a starting point, including the same cab, felt like a winning move from Ford. It was the truck you were used to, but with a new power source. GM’s Silverado and Sierra EV models are completely new and dedicated electrics. They also took longer to get to market and, well, they’re a little strange compared with a gasser.
Expect a New Ford F-150 Lightning for 2028
Ford hasn’t announced any specs for the new truck other than that range figure. There wasn’t even a date given to expect it, though it will likely show up with the next-generation F-150 for 2028.
If you want an electric truck, there are still choices. The Rivian R1T, Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV, and GMC’s oddball Hummer EV truck are all at dealers waiting for buyers. If you want a hybrid, Ford already has one. Ford says it will launch more new affordable models, including a new gas truck. Don’t expect them before 2029.
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