Electrifying Ford's perennially best-selling pickup is an important first step for the automaker.
Electrify This
While the debate rages on regarding just how good electric vehicles are for the environment, automakers like Ford are forging ahead with a bevy of new products designed to do just that. This includes the F-150 Lighting, of course, a critical product that spearheads the automaker's efforts to transition to EVs (alongside the Mustang Mach-E), and one that electrifies America's most popular vehicle and the second-largest consumer good in the U.S.
Photos: Ford
Cultural Moment
As Bloomberg recently pointed out, the F-150 Lightning has already garnered its fair share of interested customers, but it also had a massive influence on the entire market. "If Ford can pull this off, they'll move the entire electric vehicle market," said Dan Albert, automotive historian, and author. "This is a cultural moment for America."
Photos: Ford
Reaching Goals
The F-150 Lightning is doing what few before it have done, aside from Tesla as a whole - helping to accelerate the adoption of all-electric vehicles. "This vehicle is a test for the adoption of electric vehicles," said Ford CEO Jim Farley. "We should all watch very carefully how this does.” Currently, the automaker faces goals of having 40-50 percent of its total sales consist of EVs by 2030, while it expects to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Photos: Ford
Slashing Emissions
In 2019, U.S. greenhouse emissions totaled 6.6 billion metric tons, while automobiles accounted for 1.1 billion of that total as the largest contributor. A recent study from the University of Michigan's Center for Sustainable Systems found that over its lifetime, an all-electric pickup emits 74 fewer metric tons of emissions than an ICE-powered equivalent, even though producing an EV emits more pollution than an ICE vehicle.
Photos: Ford
Potential Impact
Because Ford's F-Series (which also includes the Super Duty) is the best-selling vehicle in America, the F-150 Lightning stands to have a big impact on those emissions totals, once production ramps up to meet demand. Ford recently doubled its planned production of the EV pickup following high demand, which is a good sign for the immediate future, at least.
Photos: Ford
Lower Costs
As a side bonus, Ford says that F-150 Lightning owners will face far lower costs over the vehicle's lifetime than an ICE-powered F-150. The projected cost per mile - which includes taxes, insurance, maintenance, fuel, and financing for the F-150 Lightning is 17 percent less than a gas F-150, according to a recent study from Atlas Public Policy.
Photos: Ford
Convincing Critics
Regardless, these numbers won't sway some EV detractors, who remain convinced that electric power is a fad and not the future. But over time, and more and more F-150 Lightnings hit the road and battery technology improves, perhaps even the most hardened critic will begin to change their stance.
Photos: Ford
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