2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Pickup Buyer’s Guide

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Written by Nick Versaw

Updated April 29th, 2022

For over 30 years, the Ford Motor Company’s F-150 has been the best-selling vehicle in America. That’s right, the best-selling car in general, not just the best-selling pickup truck — although the F-150 has also held that title for over 40 years.

The evolution of all-electric vehicles has stuck primarily to sedans, so drivers have waited patiently for an electric pickup truck that’s “built Ford tough.”

So it’s no surprise that the 2022 debut of the zero-emissions Ford F-150 Lightning — the first all-electric pickup to hit American markets — has been eagerly anticipated by critics and drivers across the nation.

In this article, we’ll highlight key features and options in the Ford F-150 to give you some key facts to consider before you head to the dealership for a test drive.

Passenger Room & Bed

At its initial launch, all trims of the Ford F-150 Lightning will be available with a five-passenger seating capacity. Those looking for more expansive cabins will be out of luck on the initial production run.

Similarly, the Ford F-150 Lightning Electric will only come with a 5.5-foot long bed at its launch. That means those looking for extended bed options for more versatile cargo capability will have to wait, or go for something like the forthcoming Chevy Silverado EV.

However, every Ford F-150 Lightning comes with a Mega Power Frunk or front trunk, which is a bit of an automotive first, considering pickup truck drivers who have long sacrificed trunk space for a flat, open bed now have access to both. This versatile frunk has a mix of four outlets so you can run power tools or simply charge devices.

Battery

The Ford F-150 Lightning is available with two different types of battery packs. The entry-level Lightning Pro trim is available only with a 98-kWh standard-range battery capable of 230 miles on a full charge. Other trim levels have a 131-kWh extended range battery option that increases the single-charge range of the truck to 320 miles. 

The truck can be charged with Level 1 and Level 2 home chargers as well as DC public charging stations.

Trims and Pricing

When Ford engineers set out to design the electric F-150, they did so under a lot of pressure. Plenty of veteran F-150 drivers are eager for an electric truck, but not one that strays too far from the F-150 they’re used to. As of this writing and given early reviews from critics, the F-150 Lightning certainly appears to hit that mark. The truck is available in four different trim levels with an escalating array of features, range, and towing capability.

Ford F-150 Lightning Pro

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP): $39,974

EPA–estimated range: 230 miles

Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds

The entry-level Ford F-150 Lightning features many of the basic specs that all other trim levels of the truck are built upon. It features two inboard motors — one for each axle — and an all-electric range of 230 miles on a full charge. The entry-level Lightning also has Ford’s newest suite of safety features, dubbed “Ford Co-Pilot360 2.0,” which offers an array of driver-assist features like collision warning, lane-keeping alert, and an intelligent backup power system when the truck is in reverse. 

Ford F-150 Lightning XLT

MSRP: $52,974

EPA–estimated range: 230 miles (320 extended range)

Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds (7,700 pounds extended range)

Drivers who choose the F-150 Lightning XLT can choose a range-extender option that gives it a 320-mile range. This option isn’t available on the entry-level version of the truck.

Other than that, the higher trim levels of the truck include more advanced on-board technology and higher-grade cosmetic and interior features. The XLT trim boasts “Signature Front Lighting,” which extends the truck’s headlamps across the entire front of the truck. In addition to a 360-degree camera that allows drivers to see all around their truck, the XLT has a foldaway interior workspace that allows the driver seat to have a sort of desk that extends over the shifting knob.

Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat

MSRP: $67,474

EPA–estimated range: 230 miles (320 extended range)

Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds (7,700 pounds extended range)

Looking for a Ford F-150 Lightning Electric with plenty of bells and whistles? The Lariat trim might be the best choice. The Ford SYNC 4A with Enhanced Voice Recognition and 15.5-inch touchscreen come on both this and the higher Platinum trim, giving you impressive real-time navigation capabilities that monitor live weather and traffic patterns. The Lariat trim also includes a convenient power tailgate for easier loading and unloading.

Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum

MSRP: $90,874

EPA–estimated range: 300 miles

Towing capacity: 8,500 pounds

Ford F-150 Lightning Electric Platinum trim gives drivers all the advanced safety and onboard technology features they want, complete with a powerful all-electric towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The most impressive feature of the F-150 Lighting’s most luxurious trim is Ford BlueCruise, a satellite-powered automated driving system that allows for hands-free driving on 130,000 miles of highways in North America. While it’s not yet the fully autonomous driving system automobile companies have been dreaming of, it’s certainly ideal for those hauling and vacationing across North America for long road trips. If you’re someone who regularly hauls equipment and materials across long distances, you’ll be thrilled to learn that the Ford F-150 Lightning that has the largest towing capacity also features access to Ford’s hands-free driving network.

In addition, one can only assume that future software updates to the BlueCruise network will further expand the F-150 Lightning Platinum’s hands-free driving territory.

Who Is the Ford F-150 Lightning Best For?

Is the Ford F-150 Lightning a work truck? An off-road weekend warrior? It really depends on how you use it. Despite its all-electric powertrain, which, of course, offers miles of gas-free driving, the new F-150 Lightning is still a pickup truck, and it comes complete with all the benefits and pitfalls conventional gas-powered trucks have been offering for years.

If you’re a budget-conscious driver who lives in a densely packed urban environment where parking is at a premium, the Ford F-150 Lightning is probably not for you any more than its gas-powered predecessor was.

If you’re a commuting professional who’s looking for a ride that can carve up the commute between home and the office, there’s no knocking Ford F-150 Lightning’s comfort and acceleration capability. It’s certainly a more economical commuter than the gas-guzzling traditional F150s out on the road..

Also, the Ford F-150 Lightning Electric will aptly play the role of an all-electric work truck, although Ford’s more powerful F-series truck offerings, namely Ford F-250 and Ford F-350 — not yet available in all-electric form — will likely remain the preferred choice for industrial, construction, and trade professionals who tow machines and cargo on a daily basis.

It’s better said that the all-electric F-150 Lightning hits that niche between a pickup truck and large SUV functionality that has so resonated with American drivers for the past few decades. That’s why the Ford F-150 Lightning Electric is probably best suited to suburban and rural individuals and families who need a large, comfortable vehicle that hauls bark mulch as capably as it can haul soccer equipment and the weekend camper.

No matter what you plan to use your Ford F-150 Lightning Electric for, take advantage of state and local tax credit and tax incentive programs to defray the relatively high cost of its initial purchase price.

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Nick Versaw Managing Editor

Nick Versaw leads Compare.com's editorial department, where he and his team specialize in creating educational content about insurance and other related topics. As an award-winning writer, Nick has seen his work published in countless renowned publications, such as the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and U.S. News & World Report. He graduated with Latin honors from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Digital Journalism.