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The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning just opened a world of possibilities for future electric vehicles. American automaker Ford is a tastemaker in many ways. The blue oval brand has made a substantial impact on both American muscle cars and American pickup trucks. The automotive industry is undergoing some major changes. Ford has decided to embrace these changes wholeheartedly by electrifying some of its most popular models.

The F-150 Lightning: Ford’s electric truck

Ah, the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ford’s very first fully electric pickup truck. The F-150 Lightning is historic, and Ford has made history by creating a combination that many never thought was possible. Electric vehicles have been springing up in the lineups of automakers everywhere. Electric trucks, however, not so much. Who better roll out the first electric truck than Ford, an American automaker that has set the standard for pickup trucks for decades.

The F-150 nameplate is known for reliability and power. Choosing the F-150 to become Ford’s first electric truck was no coincidence. It was a risky gamble, but if any of Ford’s nameplates could be successful as an EV, it’s the F-150. Even folks who despise EV powertrains have to be curious about Ford’s electrified truck.

How much will the 2022 Ford Lightning cost?

The powertrain of a blue Ford F-150 Lightning.
The Ford F-150 Lightning | Ford

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning base model will cost $39,974. This price could be several thousand dollars cheaper with incentives. The standard range version will be able to travel 230 miles on a single charge. Extended range batteries will allow higher trims to travel 300 miles on a single charge. When rolling out the Lightning, Ford emphasized its accessibility.

Not only is it a great truck, but it’s also an affordable truck even though it is such a novelty. Ford F-150 Lightnings will not be exclusive to the super-rich like some EVs. The Lightning is an affordable Ford work truck that also happens to be an EV. That’s the key to Ford’s success at getting consumers excited about its electric transition. It stays true to what consumers loved about the nameplates it’s modifying in the first place.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is just the beginning

A gray Ford F-150 Lightning.
The Ford F-150 Lightning | Bill Pugliano via Getty Images

The release of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is a signal to the rest of the automotive industry. The blue oval brand is leading the charge by showing manufacturers and consumers that electric vehicles aren’t a downgrade, even in areas like speed and power. According to MotorTrend, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning proves that EVs can be just as exciting as gas-powered vehicles, if not more exciting.

Ford made a conscious decision to make the star of its lineup electric. Ford’s electric truck isn’t just an attempt to get on the EPA’s (Environmental Protection Agency) good side. It is a solid effort to create an F-150 that is equal to its predecessors while still bringing something new to the table.

If other automakers follow in Ford’s footsteps, the transition to only producing electric vehicles could be seamless. Some consumers will feel betrayed by the sudden evolution of their favorite vehicles, but the F-150 Lightning proves that change should be welcomed. Ford wasn’t the first to the party, but it kicked in the door and made quite the entrance, showing the entire auto industry that EVs are where it’s at.

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