This Ford F-150 Lightning Problem Just Changed Everything for Electric Vehicles
The Ford F-150 Lightning is a historic nameplate for the Blue Oval. The F-150 Lightning is the first fully-electric Ford truck. Its predecessor is America’s favorite pickup truck, the Ford F-150. Unfortunately, a new Ford F-150 Lightning problem means stormy clouds over the entire electric vehicle space.
This Ford F-150 Lightning problem is bad news for EVs
Ford recently halted F-150 Lightning electric pickup production due to battery fire issues. The Blue Oval isn’t the first automaker to experience battery fire issues, and it won’t be the last.
Battery fires were such a huge issue for General Motors that the company had to issue a mass recall on the Chevy Bolt EV. The recall cost the company over one billion dollars. GM is looking to cut ties with LG following its battery fire issue.
The Ford F-150 Lightning’s battery problem is a huge issue for the EV space for two reasons. This incident makes drivers question the reliability of the electric vehicle. The second, more troubling reason that F-150 Lightning battery fires are a huge issue is because of the specific battery that’s a fire risk.
Battery fires were enough to make GM want to abandon its partnership with LG. It seems LG isn’t the only company that is producing EV batteries that can cause fires. According to CNBC, the F-150 Lightning models that are fire risks are powered by SK On batteries. These batteries power several popular electric vehicles, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.
Why was the Ford F-150 Lightning recalled?
The Ford F-150 Lightning was recalled because of improperly produced battery cells that were made at SK On’s Georgia plant. The Blue Oval recalled 18 electric pickup trucks once it realized that the EVs made with the cells were at risk of causing battery fires.
This is the first major Ford F-150 Lightning reliability issue to date, so it’s rough news for fans of the electric pickup. The brand’s first electric vehicle, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, has recently been plagued with several reliability issues.
This small F-150 Lightning recall could change the way many consumers perceive the electric pickup truck. The Ford F-150 Lightning is currently the most popular electric pickup, but fear of battery fires or reliability issues could leave room for a competitor to overtake the EV. This incident will send shockwaves through the industry because yet another electric vehicle battery supplier is producing batteries that are potentially unstable.
Is the Ford F-150 Lightning a good truck?
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning starts at $55,974. It makes 426 horsepower and a whopping 775 lb-ft of torque. The F-150 Lightning gets 240 miles of EPA-estimated standard driving range.
Ford’s electric pickup truck is expensive following price hikes but offers great value. The F-150 Lightning is a Swiss Army Knife that allows owners to use its power reserves in a variety of ways. MotorTrend praises its frunk and power. Despite its recent recall, the Ford F-150 Lightning is still the best full-size electric pickup truck option for consumers. Are any EVs safe from serious reliability issues?
