When it comes to electrifying its fleet, Ford is fast becoming the most aggressive American automaker. The long-awaited Ford F-150 Lightning EPA range assessment battery testing has now been released for all versions and customizations of the electric vehicle, and the distance on recharging that they were able to achieve is very astounding.
Ford’s first range forecasts for the F-150 Lightning were somewhat modest. The company has released the official EPA performance calculations for its electrical trailer, and the Longer-Range models of the XLT, Lariat, and fleet-only pro provide up to 320 miles of cruising, which is 20 miles longer than the initial objectives. The conventional XLT, Lariat, and Pro trucks continue to provide all the 230 miles Ford initially suggested, but Lightning Platinum purchasers will be healed to realize they’ll have an estimated 300 miles rather than the originally promised 280 miles.
Ford has also created a mechanism that would allow the vehicle to offer backup generators to homes in the case of a power outage. Homeowners may control the device to cut off electricity when it reaches a predetermined range threshold. This will enable them to drive the vehicle if necessary, during the downtime. The company stated that it had enough bookings to begin manufacturing at a rate of roughly 150,000 vehicles per year this year.
The 320-mile ultimate estimates put Ford’s vehicle ahead of the Rivian R1T, which according to the EPA has a 314-mile range. In the actual test, the Rivian gets just six miles less than the Ford! Nonetheless, Ford will be ecstatic since, at this early point in the electric vehicle category, even single figures are a victory.
No Lightning variant scored significantly lower than Ford’s initial objectives, although basic battery-equipped vehicles matched the 230 miles (370 km) Ford declared during the truck’s introduction. As a result, there is no negative spectrum information for appointment holders or potential purchasers. “We are laser oriented on consistently increasing our energy utilization effectiveness for Lightning, and the team is incredibly thrilled to provide these accomplishments for our customers,” said Linda Zhang, F-150 Lightning chief program engineer, in a release.
To set potential buyers’ concerns at peace, Ford claims the vehicle technology will be able to deliver actual range predictions, something it has previously been experimenting on in the Mustang Mach-E. This initial model, not just traffic and weather considerations, but also the weight of any freight or pulling load using an integrated balance.
