The Ford Lightning Pro Is A Bargain
The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro will start at $39,974. At this price, The Ford Lightning Pro is one of the best electric truck bargains. In addition, after some state’s tax incentives, the Lightning will be the cheapest full-size pickup–either ICE or EV. Here’s why the Lightning trounces everything at its price point.
The F-150 EV’s Base Trim: The Ford Lightning Pro
According to the leaked Lightning trim pricing, the Ford F-150 Lightning Pro starts at just $39,972. After the federal EV tax credit, this Lightning will only set you back $32,474. Many states offer additional tax credits.
One differentiator for this entry-level Lightning is that it has two electric motors and AWD.
Many other electric vehicle manufacturers reserve multiple engines for upper trim levels. The only other electric truck on the horizon for under $40,000 is the entry-level Tesla Cybertruck. The base-model Cybertruck only offers one engine and RWD.
The Lightning Pro’s two-engine drivetrain makes 426 horsepower and 775 lb-ft. of torque. That is almost as much as the top-trim F-150: the Ford Raptor.
One benefit of electric engines is that they can produce their maximum torque from a standstill. This feature makes them invaluable while towing or off-roading. In addition, the base-level battery pack offers an estimated 230-mile range. Ford may offer an upgrade option for 300 miles.
The Ford Lightning Pro Comes Loaded
Ford is loading the Lightning Pro with features beyond AWD. The truck comes with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 2.0 Driver Assist Technology. It will also have a 12″ landscape-oriented touchscreen with Ford’s proprietary Sync 4 software. This software includes navigation and traffic updates and will benefit from over-the-air updates.
Many pluses in the Lightning Pro’s column are standard F-150 fare: It comes with a four-door and five-passenger Super Crew cab. It also will have a 5.5-foot bed with a 2,000-pound payload capacity. The truck will have a factory-fitted Class IV hitch and is rated to tow 5,000 pounds. The truck will ship with 18-inch machined aluminum wheels wrapped in A/T tires, vinyl seats, and a vinyl floor.
Other Lightning Pro features will not be available on the internal combustion engine (ICE) F-150. The Lightning Pro offers a 14.1 cubic foot front trunk with powered opening and closing. It also provides 2.4 kW onboard power with both 120V and USB outlets. This capability will prove invaluable on job sites or during power outages. Ford estimates that the Lightning can power the average home for three days in a pinch.
The Ford Lightning Pro Will Be Cheaper Than A Traditional F-150
One of the reasons the Ford F-150 has been America’s bestselling truck for decades is its popularity as a fleet vehicle. Fleet customers purchase barebones, two-door, RWD F-150s for around $30,000. But the starting price of an ICE F-150 optioned like the Ford Lightning, with a four-door Super Crew cab and 4WD, is $42,850. At $39,974, the Ford Lightning is slightly cheaper. Once a truck owner claims their $7,500 Federal tax credit, their Ford Lightning will cost them $10K less than an ICE truck.
Residents of Maine, Vermont, Colorado, and Oregon will receive additional local tax credits. Maine offers such a generous rebate that low-income individuals will pay less for a Ford Lightning than the cheapest, RWD, two-door, ICE F-150.
Conclusion
The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro will be one of the best deals of 2022. It is the ultimate work truck, with powerful next-generation AWD, life-changing onboard power, and a price too good to ignore.
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