HUNTSVILLE — She is big and brawny with a sleek but sassy exterior, 580 horsepower and 775 foot-pounds of torque that can tow up to 5 tons. The first, all-electric, 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning was unveiled Thursday in the Rocket City at Woody Anderson Ford.
As the black satin sheath slid away, the audience oohed and ahhed at Ford’s electric version of the iconic F-series truck.
“This isn’t just electric,” said Bobby White, general manager of Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville. “This vehicle is very capable.”
Moving around to the front of the truck, White pointed out there is no trunk, but … he pops the front hood to introduce everyone to a “frunk”, perfect for hauling things such as golf clubs and luggage. The compartment also has drainage holes so you can ice down your favorite cold drinks, too.
With a standard range of 230 miles and an extended range of 320 miles, the Lightning has 9600 kw of onboard power.
Cathy Anderson Stender, a Ford Hall of Fame dealer, said the F-150 Lightning has taken quite a long time coming to market, but it is proof Ford is serious about electrification.
“When a manufacturer takes the No. 1 selling vehicle in the world and converts it to electric, it means we know one thing – that there is a shift toward lowering energy costs, getting emissions under control and saving the planet; but there is also a shift in regards to expanding into electrification,” Stender said. “It started with the Mach, the Mustang, and it has done quite well so they decided to put the F-150 in the same position.”
And Stender said Ford was not willing to compromise on customer expectations.
“This is not a replacement for gas or diesel, so don’t get confused about that,” she said. “That isn’t happening; but Ford has invested $22 billion in electrification through 2025.”
For those skeptical about all-electric vehicles, Woody Anderson Ford sells plugin stations to install at home and Ford has invested in more than 63,000 plugin stations across the Southeast.
“We are going to have some fun with this,” said Stender.
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