MotorTrend named the Ford F-150 Lightning its Truck of the Year for 2023. The auto publication even prefers the Lightning over the popular gas-powered F-150. The Ford F-150 Lightning beat out the most popular trucks in its class for the title, but can the average consumer get their hands on an F-150 Lightning?
The Ford F-150 Lightning boasts impressive specs
The F-150 Lightning is the second mass-produced electric pickup truck to be introduced in the United States (behind the Rivian R1T). It makes 426 horsepower and a whopping 775 lb-ft of torque. Some higher trim levels are capable of producing 563 horsepower.
The standard range F-150 Lightning can travel approximately 230 miles before needing to recharge. The extended range battery pack is rated for 320 miles of driving range. Ford has developed several charging stations across the country and also offers a home charging station.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning started at $39,974. He was eligible for the federal electric vehicle tax incentive of $7,500. So some F-150 Lightning buyers were initially able to shell out $32,474 before additional fees. The flash order books filled up quickly, and the full-size pickup was able to rack up close to 200,000 pre-orders.
Ford is still working on delivering F-150 Lightning models. Demand for the new electric pickup truck is so high that Blue Oval is building another factory to make it.
The F-150 Lightning is getting harder to buy
The Ford F-150 Lightning will become increasingly difficult to buy for two reasons: demand and price. The positive reviews and awards for the F-150 Lightning are likely to make the electric pickup truck even more popular as the nameplate evolves over time. There is a market for the F-150 Lightning, and it will only grow as the electric future approaches.
The F-150 Lightning got a big price increase for 2023. According to InsideEVs, the 2023 model year starts at $56,000. That’s an increase of $16,000. It also doesn’t appear to be eligible for the revised federal EV tax incentive. Thus, the electric truck is significantly more expensive than the 2022 model year.
The F-150 Lightning is harder to buy from an affordability perspective. Its starting price is above the median new vehicle price of $48,000.
Can the average American driver afford the Ford F-150 Lightning?
The Ford F-150 Lightning is still affordable for thousands of Americans, but its new price makes it one of the most expensive trucks on the market. It’s significantly more expensive than America’s favorite pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 and Ram 1500. The Lightning isn’t as widely available as more popular pickups, either.
Ultimately, the EV will only be harder to buy from an affordability standpoint year after year, but Ford should catch up with demand in the coming years. The Lightning may not be the average American consumer’s first choice for their money, but times change and Ford’s electric pickup could become the most popular truck on the road a decade from now.