Well, well, well – the best-selling pickup truck in the whole of America has just gone electric. (I don’t know why I keep hearing this sentence in a Texan accent! Did you too?) Anyways, yes! We are talking about the recently-revealed Ford F-150 Lightning which now joins the list of full-blown electric pickups that will be made available to the public in the not-so-distant future.
Perhaps the best factor-to-consider-while-buying-the-F150-Lightning is its similarity to its conventionally-powered godfather, the F-150. Unlike its competition, Ford has managed to build on the hugely successful model and has made it electric, filled it to the brim with tech and has priced it on the more affordable side of things which, let’s be honest, is a surprise in itself. Nonetheless, with this clarified, let us take a look at what the competition looks like…
Performance
Speaking about the F-150 Lightning first, the all-electric pickup from Ford has 563hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 time of mid-4secs making it more powerful than the F-150 Raptor. However, Ford has also stated that the aforementioned figures are for the extended-range battery pack model and so, one can expect the standard range variant to produce substantially lesser power and range.
On the Tesla side of things, one can have it in a single/dual or even tri-motor setup. In its top-spec, the power output is close to 800hp, with 1,000 lb-ft of torque available and a 0-60 time of fewer than 2.9 seconds. Who’s wearing the lightning badge again? On GMC’s side, the Hummer EV will have a mind-boggling 1,000hp and 11,500 lb-ft of torque on tap. Of course, that specific number is highly likely to mislead and will be nothing short of a marketing gimmick. Confirmed power figures will be made public once it is launched later this year. The Hummer EV can hit 0-60 in 3secs flat.
Last but definitely not the least, the Rivian R1T too, packs in some serious numbers as it can make 750hp and 829 lb-ft of torque in its top-spec. It will have a quad-motor setup and will get you from 0-60 in three seconds. So far on paper, it seems like the Hummer EV has no competition when it comes to power and the Cybertruk, apart from its design, is gonna be the best equipped to challenge the Hummer. Things change when you factor in the pricing, design, practicality and most importantly… availability. THAT is where Ford can and probably WILL change their fate. By the time the Hummer, Rivian or the Tesla are even made available, the F150 could have a mid-life facelift.
Range
Perhaps the biggest and most important factor to consider while buying an EV is its range. Especially when the vehicle is a pick-up truck. The F-150 Lightning comes with either a Standard Range model or an Extended Range model. For the former, the expected miles hover around the 230 mark, for the latter, it is 300.
Tesla says the Cybertruck can hit 500 miles in its tri-motor guise, but we would like to wait until everything is confirmed. The Hummer EV will have a range of up to 350 miles on a full charge with its tri-motor setup, too. And as for the R1T, with a 135-kWh battery pack, the expected range is around the 400-mile mark (in the top-spec).
Payload and towing
This is the MOST important criteria for this battle. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has the 10,000 (pounds) mark for towing in its sights on its XLT and Lariat trims with the extended-range battery and the Max Trailer Tow package ticked. For making the towing process easier for the driver, the electric F-150 has a new Pro Trailer Hitch Assist system that controls the steering, throttle, and brakes.
The Cybertruck can tow up to 14,000 pounds in its top-spec, whereas the Rivian can get you 11,000 pounds worth of towing capacity. As for the Hummer, it is a secret.
Speaking of the payload capacity, the F-150 Lightning can carry 2,000 pounds in its bed and ‘frunk’ with the standard range battery version. To make it one better, Ford has also given it a clever tech dubbed the “Onboard Scales” technology that estimates the current payload, does some math itself, and gives out the projected range. Surely, the F-150 Lightning is our pick!
Tesla states the Cybertruck can haul 3,500 pounds in its bed, which can be fully sealed and secured, thanks to a sliding cover. The R1T is certainly the loser here as it can carry only 1,760 pounds. Once again, details about the Hummer EV’s payload capacity are unknown.
Price
Being an F-150, the all-electric pickup from Ford still is, the king when it comes to pricing. It will start under $40,000, but that doesn’t include the destination charges. So, if anything, it most certainly will cost you just above $40k. Although, a fully-loaded model would make you poorer by around $90,000, making the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning an attractive buy, speaking from a value perspective.
The Tesla Cybertruck will start “under $40,000”, but we would like you to wait until Elon Musk confirms the same. The Hummer EV will set you back $112,595 including destination, but that figure is for the Edition 1 model. Numbers for the less-expensive versions will be revealed soon. The R1T will start at $67,500.
Our say
Well, the aforementioned statements and figures speak for themselves – undoubtedly, the F-150 Lightning is our pick of the lot, and we are sure it is the same for the rest of the world, too. In no time do we expect the all-electric F-150 become the best-selling EV pickup in America, even if the Chevrolet Silverado EV is readying up for a global debut in the coming years.
Are you wondering why the F-150 is a clear pick for a winner when it loses on paper at almost every criteria? The most important thing to note here is that all of this is on paper. The figures for Ford are going to be closest to real world figures as Ford plans to launch this in the real world. By the time other manufacturers even start producing it for the masses, the F-150 would already be in for a mid-life facelift.
