Ford’s EV pick-up will undercut petrol versions and opposition

When it reaches the US market in 2022, the base model in Ford’s F150 Lightning electric pick-up truck range will be priced below the average transaction price for petrol-engined full-sized pick-ups.

Usually EV models cost substantially more than their internal combustion counterparts.

Ford is hoping that a US$39,974 pricetag before shipping, about US $10,000 under the average price of  a petrol F150, combined with new features not possible on the current truck, will help its acceptance, authoritative US magazine Automotive News has reported.

The EV pick-up will have permanent four-wheel drive; the first independent rear suspension used on an F150; an improved on-board generator that can power a house or work site for three straight days; and a front luggage boot big enough to carry two sets of golf clubs.

It’ll be fast. Ford says it will out-accelerate the high-performance F150 Raptor, hitting 100km/h in less than five seconds and its twin electric motors are expected to develop 420kW and 1051Nm.

Its speediness is confirmed by US president Joe Biden, who drove a prototype Lightning on Ford’s Dearborn test track this week.

“This sucker’s quick,” he said.

The Lightning can tow up to 4.5 tonnes and can carry more than 900kg of cargo.

Two battery options will be available: a standard-range that will permit about 370km on a charge, and an extended-range that’ will be good for 480km.

Above the base model are three other Lightnings, the US$52,974 XLT and the high-end Platinum priced around US$90,000. In between is the Lariat but no price is quoted.

The Lightning is priced well below the US$79,995 that will buy GMC’s upcoming Hummer electric pickup and the US$67,500 quoted for the Rivian R1T, which starts production this year.

The Lightning’s price is ballpark with Tesla’s Cybertruck, which starts at $US39,900 before shipping, though the Tesla is is likely to be classified as a medium-duty pick-up, a class that includes Ford’s F-250, says Automotive News.

Ford says it can price the Lightning aggressively because of production scale and by sharing some parts with the existing F150.

Though the Lightning has a specially designed steel frame to protect the battery, Ford is sourcing it from the same company that builds the steel frame for the petrol F-150.

“We didn’t need to do a completely ground-up vehicle,” Ford says. “We have an aluminium-bodied vehicle that’s already the head of its market. We didn’t need to retool the whole thing. As a result, we can offer a vehicle at that price with this whole line-up and make money on it.”

The Lightning also keeps the overall look of the petrol F150, retaining an imposing, traditionally-styled but non-functional grille.

The Lightning also has the same cab and cargo bed dimensions as the petrol F-150, but is between 450 and 680kg heavier.

“Our customers told us they want something modern and advanced, but didn’t want their truck to look like a doorstop or a spaceship,” says Lightning marketing manager Jasen Turnbull. “They wanted something  distinct but not different.”