Ford isn't yet done with the reveal of the 2022 F-150 Lightning, its first fully electric pickup truck. Ford is expanding its line of work-ready EV models with the F-150 Lightning Pro, a fleet-only commercial version of the truck that will start for $58,000, $10,000 less than the XLT trim trucks we saw last week.
The Lightning Pro starts with a twin-motor 4x4 system and 426 hp with a 370-km estimated range, the same as the consumer-oriented trucks, and Ford is making the 563-hp and 483-km extended range battery available as well.
What's different? For a start, the Pro will come with an 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro that combines with the standard dual chargers to let users have faster charging on AC power. An extended-range truck could charge from 15 to 100 per cent in just eight hours compared with the 19 hours a traditional 32-amp L2 plug would require.
Options like the power tailgate will be skipped, with 18-inch wheels, no Zone Lighting, making the 360-degree camera an option, and giving the truck vinyl seats and just 2.4 kW Pro Power onboard standard all work to help trim costs versus the more luxurious XLT and higher models. "Commercial customers track their business expenses closely – they buy what they need and not a penny more," said Ford commercial business GM Ted Cannis.
To help those buyers gauge how much they might save with Lightning Pro, fleet customers will have access to Ford's eFleet Pro Planning tool. The tool is meant to show them purchase and lease costs, fuel and energy costs specific to their region, and show potential savings in scheduled maintenance compared with a conventional model.
Like the consumer truck, the Lightning Pro will be SuperCrew and 5.5-foot box only. It will still have the 400L Mega Power Frunk with power plugs to help keep jobsite equipment charged or operating. It will also have Sync 4A with 12-inch touchscreen and Co-Pilot 360 2.0 driver aids. A Class IV trailer hitch will be standard and the box shares similar mounting points with the gas truck for easy upfitter changes. Maximum towing capacity is 10,000 lbs when properly equipped, with a top payload of 2,000 lbs, both the same as the non-Pro model.
Other fleet-friendly features include standard pre-conditioning, Onboard Scales, acceleration truncation to keep heavy-footed drivers from eating up range, and a speed limiter to help improve safety. A standard 4G LTE modem will allow new connectivity and tracking options which Ford says will help optimize fleet use and lower operating costs. The EV trucks will include data like kWh consumption and charging speeds. They will also offer in-cab driver coaching to help maximize efficiency.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro should be available to order now for fleet customers, with deliveries to start in the spring.
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