Few people in the US would not seriously consider a sub-$50,000 battery-electric pickup truck like the F-150 Lightning Pro. The torque's instant, the maintenance's cheaper, the powertrain's more reliable, and running it can cost much less than a diesel- or gas-powered equivalent when charging at home or work. But is this type of truck good at navigating off the beaten path? Someone put Blue Oval's first such vehicle to the test, and now we have an answer.
Sadly, the $49,995 F-150 Lightning Pro can't be ordered at the time of writing. The 2023 model year has been sold-out for quite some time. Prospective buyers can only wait for next year's version or order a much more expensive Rivian R1T.
The Cybertruck shouldn't even be mentioned here because 1.9 million people are reportedly waiting to spec and buy one. Even if that number is greatly exaggerated, Tesla will still have its hands tied with satisfying demand. If you're not among the pre-order holders, it would be wise to look elsewhere.
Similarly, the GMC Hummer EV Pickup reservations are closed, and the Sierra EV is coming next year. To add insult to injury, the Ram 1500 REV is scheduled to enter production in 2025.
Moreover, the hotly-anticipated Ultium-powered Chevrolet Silverado EV with a GM-estimated 400 miles of range is coming this fall. But you won't get this truck until the summer of 2024. The units sold earlier this year were aimed at fleet and commercial customers. Retail must wait.
Realistically speaking, Americans only have two options regarding an all-electric pickup truck: Ford's F-150 Lightning and Rivian's R1T. That's it.
While the latter has been put through off-road tests on multiple occasions and impressed nearly everyone, the F-150 Lightning didn't get as much attention in this respect. A Canadian YouTuber took it upon himself to give us a real-world in-depth look at what this electric vehicle can do when the pavement ends.
The chosen model was a top-of-the-line Platinum trim unit with a starting cost of USD91,995 in the US and CAD115,000 in Canada. It includes the Extended Range Battery, which adds 33 kWh of usable energy storage unit capacity and increases the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) to 8,550 lb. It also gives the EV around 80 miles of extra range.
Photo: Truck King on YouTube
But the lad discovered that the F-150 Lightning Platinum isn't very good at tackling rough terrain and muddy trails. The truck has everything it needs to perform well (including skid plates) but is being kept behind by its ground clearance, weight distribution, and suspension setup. It comes in contact with the ground too often for comfort.
This vehicle isn't meant for serious off-roading and at that price point… Almost nobody would dare to drive it where there's no asphalt, even though it has a dedicated off-road mode.
The Blue Oval's F-150 Lightning needs a dedicated off-road trim, which ought to add beefier tires and a small lift kit. Some extra lights and a reliable air suspension would also be nice. But such changes might require a range tradeoff.
Keep in mind this doesn't mean the F-150 Lightning is bad at doing virtually anything else. The vehicle is plenty capable of towing stuff around, helping tradespeople do their jobs easier, and acting as a power source for your house. The pickup truck also offers a premium environment for the driver and passengers. It's just not as good as the Rivian R1T when it comes to venturing into the wild.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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