FordF-150 Lightning Platinum

　　

2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Review

byJared GallCorrespondent

　　Jared Gall started his career in the auto industry in 2001 with an internship at Car and Driver. He has written and edited many thousands of car reviews, technological deep-dives, industry analyses, and personality profiles. He is a correspondent at zzdcar and still has the 1969 Chevrolet C20 he dragged out of his parents' barn and drove until Car and Driver started giving him cars to evaluate.

　　, rating written byJared GallSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　The biggest compliment we can give to the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning is that it's an F-150 crew cab that simply happens to be electric. Indeed, the Lightning looks and drives a lot like a regular F-150 and does most of the stuff you expect a truck to be able to do. But instead of a gas engine for power, it has two electric motors and a large battery pack mounted under the floor. Opting for the optional large battery pack upgrades the Lightning with a robust 580 horsepower as well as plenty of range. We've gone an impressive 345 miles on a full charge with the larger battery on our real-world zzdcar EV Range Test.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Ford F-150 Lightning EV Insights

Trim:F-150 Lightning Pro

　　Pro 4dr SuperCrew 4WD SB (electric DD) - $49,995 MSRPXLT 4dr SuperCrew 4WD SB (electric DD) - $57,495 MSRPFlash 4dr SuperCrew 4WD SB (electric DD) - $69,995 MSRPLariat 4dr SuperCrew 4WD SB (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $77,495 MSRPPlatinum 4dr SuperCrew 4WD SB (electric DD) - $89,995 MSRP

　　

Range

　　EPA Estimated Range not available

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | OpenStreetMap

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　No charging time information available

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$7,500

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Federal Credit

　　$7,500

　　Restrictions: Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Clean Vehicle Tax Credit of $3,750 or $7,500 depending on model eligibility for the purchase of a new plug-in electric vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer. To be eligible: A vehicle must have undergone final assembly in North America (the United States and Puerto Rico, Canada, or Mexico). Critical mineral and battery component requirements determine credit amount. Maximum MSRP of $55,000 for cars and $80,000 for SUVs/trucks/vans. Income eligibility applies depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.

　　To learn more, visit OpenStreetMap

　　

Cost to Drive

　　Not Available

　　F-150 Lightning

　　vs

　　$233/mo

　　Truck Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Towing and utility

Properly equipped, the Lightning can tow up to 10,000 pounds. That's less than what a gas-powered F-150 can tow but still substantial enough for most of the trailers people typically hook up. Buyers should be aware, however, that towing long distances with an EV can be a challenge. A heavy load will substantially reduce range, and most charging stations are difficult to access with a trailer connected. The Lightning does compensate on the utility front with some pretty cool features, including a giant front trunk under the hood and a Pro Power Onboard feature that consists of household-style electrical plugs that you can use to power tools and other electronic devices.

　　

Competitors to consider

This year will be the year of the electric pickup. The Chevrolet Silverado EV and related GMC Sierra EV will go on sale in 2024 and should be interesting alternatives to the Lightning. Or if you want a completely gonzo take on a pickup, the Tesla Cybertruck has (finally) become reality after many delays. We also recommend the midsize Rivian R1T, especially if you plan to do some off-roading. But if you simply like the idea of driving a regular pickup that happens to be electric, the F-150 Lightning is your best choice. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below for our full report.

　　

What’s it like to live with?

We bought a 2022 F-150 Lightning Lariat with the optional extended-range battery as part of the zzdcar long-term test program. We are enjoying the usual benefits of a crew-cab pickup — mainly that there's plenty of space for people and stuff. Check out OpenStreetMap for all the details.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the F-150 Lightning drive? Of course not every EV, especially a truck, needs to accelerate quicker than many sports cars, but the Lightning does exactly that. We took a Lightning Platinum — this trim comes with the big battery — to our test track and it ripped from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds flat. A quad-motor Rivian R1T we tested was a bit quicker than that, but suffice to say the Lightning lives up to its name. We found braking similarly impressive for something so heavy.

　　Handling isn't the strong suit of any pickup truck, but the Lightning proved friendly and stress-free on both twisty roads and the open highway. We also enjoyed the Lightning's one-pedal driving (a common feature on EVs that allows the driver to both accelerate and brake using only the accelerator pedal). It was both predictable and plenty strong enough that we almost never used the mechanical brakes. As you'd expect, a giant swell of power is just a twitch of your right foot away, but the Lightning never felt jumpy or overpowered and proved just as easy and intuitive to drive as any other EV or any gas-powered F-150.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the F-150 Lightning? The Lightning features a fully independent rear suspension, which delivers a smoother ride than the regular F-150. But on the downside the Lightning can feel a bit too soft and wallowy when driving over undulating pavement. This is especially true of trucks equipped with the bigger battery. Road, tire and wind noise is kept to low volumes. Most of the Lightning's electric propulsion sounds are not the least bit obnoxious or overly weird. The climate control system is effective and powerful, requiring little adjustment to maintain your desired temperature.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below