All-Electric Ford F-150 Lightning Will Strike on May 19

Ford is reviving the F-150 Lightning as an all-electric pickup. Check out the teaser before the upcoming debut.

For years, truck fans have wondered if Ford will ever bring back the F-150 Lightning. After recent speculation, we now have the official answer: Yes–the Lightning is coming back! Well, sort of. Ford is debuting a new, all-electric pickup which will wear the F-150 Lightning nameplate. The Lightning will debut on May 19 at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, livestreamed for millions to watch.

In a teaser video from Ford, we get a glimpse of the F-150 Lightning and how this groundbreaking vehicle will fit in the F-Series.

Clearly, the electric F-150 Lightning will be a departure for the Blue Oval. But we think the timing is perfect. With EV and hybrid sales making big numbers, it is apparent that drivers are ready for a proper electric Ford pickup. And the 2021 Ford F-F150 hybrid PowerBoost proved that Ford could do electric without sacrificing its chops or heritage.

To produce an electric truck that earns the Ford badge, the Lightning had to be something special. Ford says it has brought the innovation, technologies and capabilities to the merit the Lightning’s place in the F-Series. It will have the power, capability, and true-blue pickup DNA that is the hallmark of all Fords.

“Every so often, a new vehicle comes along that disrupts the status quo and changes the game … Model T, Mustang, Prius, Model 3. Now comes the F-150 Lightning,” says Ford President and CEO Jim Farley. “America’s favorite vehicle for nearly half a century is going digital and fully electric. F-150 Lightning can power your home during an outage; it’s even quicker than the original F-150 Lightning performance truck; and it will constantly improve through over-the-air updates.”

Topping the original F-150 Lightning’s performance is going to be a feat. “The truck of the future will be built with quality and a commitment to sustainability by Ford-UAW workers at the Ford Rouge Complex — the cathedral of American manufacturing and our most advanced plant,” adds Farley.

You can watch the F-150 Lightning reveal on May 19, at 9:30 p.m. EDT on Ford’s website, YouTube, Twitter, and more. Check out the spot below.

Photos: Ford

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S.J. Bryan

Longtime automotive journalist S.J. Bryan has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is an editor with Ford Truck Enthusiasts and regular contributor to F-150 Online, Harley-Davidson Forums, and The Mustang Source, among other popular auto sites.

Bryan first discovered her passion for all things automotive while riding in her parent's 1968 Ford Mustang. The automotive expert cut her teeth growing up riding on Harleys, and her first car was a Chevy Nova. Despite her lead foot, Bryan has yet to receive a speeding ticket.

The award-winning former playwright was first published at age 18. She has worked extensively as a writer and editor for a number of lifestyle and pop culture publications. The diehard gearhead is a big fan of American muscle cars, sixth-gen Ford trucks, and Oxford commas.

S.J. can be reached at sherryjbry@gmail.com.