Ford Begins Delivering F-150 Lightnings — The EV Revolution Accelerates!

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As of last week, they’re rollin’ off the line! If you’ve ordered one, it may be on the way!

Ford F-150 Lightning reservations are “soaring” as manufacturing ramps, marking the start of the EV revolution. And why F-150 EV sales are particularly important for the auto industry…

The Ford F-150 Lightning: Coming soon to the Palmetto, and Wynwood…and Coral Gables and Kendall…

The stars have aligned. We’re witnessing the brilliant dawn of the electric vehicle era. Elon Musk and Tesla (along with some earlier attempts, notably by GM) opened the flood gates of possibility with fast, well-built and very reliable Tesla models — along with the much-anticipated Cybertruck, delivery of which has been promised…well…’soon’. Now the industry’s best-selling pickup is locked, loaded — and in full production, beating Tesla to the pickup punch. But as for the industry, no doubt, the F-150 Lightning will help broaden the electric footprint on our Miami roads and highways across America.

The new F-150 EV, along with its competitors, represent the largest global vehicle segment. With the Lightning as its bell cow, the industry’s upcoming slew of EV pickups will become agents of change — quickly electrifying the automotive landscape.

The Lightning: An important moment in automotive history. And The F-150 will start at under $40K!

History will mark this moment. Full production of the F-150. The tipping point for all-electric vehicles appear is just the horizon. Ford reports it will deliver more than 2 million electric vehicles annually by 2026, that’s about a third of the company’s global volume.

And price-wise, the F-150 is an electric bargain! The F-150 Lightning will be available with a starting price under $40,000. The all-electric Rivian R1T pickup, for example  starts at $67,500. The Lightning will be built at the new Rouge Electric Vehicle Center, and  is set at an annual run rate of 150,000 units in 2023. Hail the F-150 Lightning EV — leading the charge for all-electric pickups. And to be sure, all eyes will be the Lightning production launch — as Chevy’s Silverado EV is taking heavy orders. And on their tail are  Toyota, Tesla, and Ram with their all-electric trucks.

 

Ford’s full-court press on EV technology

“We celebrate the Model T moment for the 21st Century at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center,” said Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “The stunning anticipation for F-150 Lightning is a credit to the work of our Ford engineers and designers, and the UAW team members who are building these trucks with pride.”

While not jaw-dropping, F-150 Lightning posts an EPA-estimated 320 miles of range — but it’s quick with acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in the mid-4-second range. Yes, that makes it the fastest F-150 — ever.

The continually growing demand for the Lightning.

Chairman Ford accurately describes F-150 Lightning demand as “soaring,” with 200,000 reservations and counting. (By the way, those reservation holders who don’t receive invitations to convert for the 2022 model year will have an opportunity to order a future model-year vehicle). To meet demand, Ford has set its production pace at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center at an annual run rate of 150,000 units in 2023. The automaker says it has created 1700 jobs for this launch, spread among five Ford plants in Michigan, including Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center in Sterling Heights (for assembling electric motors and electric transaxles) and Rawsonville Components Plant for battery assembly.

Customers have access to the BlueOval Charge Network, which Ford claims is the largest public charging network offered by automotive manufacturers in North America. Extended-range customers will receive an 80-amp Connected Charge Station Pro for free (through installation partner Sunrun), and can get a full charge overnight on AC power with dual on-board chargers.

Ford plans to use 100% local, renewable electricity in all of its manufacturing operations by 2035, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

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