From CNET.com….
The reborn Ford Bronco SUV practically set the internet on fire when it debuted last year, but it’s not the most consequential vehicle under development by the Blue Oval right now — not even close. Unquestionably, that title belongs to the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, a segment-defining all-electric pickup truck that the automaker officially unveiled Wednesday evening.
When it goes on sale next year, this battery-powered machine could single-handedly revolutionize not only the nascent all-electric pickup segment, but upend a significant portion of America’s truck market too. That sounds hyperbolic, but here’s how: The Lightning promises loads of innovative features, impressive performance both on road and off, plus more capability than you’d probably ever expect from an EV. Just as importantly, it wraps it all in an inoffensive, decidedly familiar-looking package at a shockingly low price.
Ultimately, the F-150 Lightning’s specs and performance will prove whether I’m right about this, but it’s the model’s bargain-basement MSRP that could put it on the map for many truck buyers who would never have otherwise considered an EV.
This truck starts at just $39,974, not including a still-unknown destination charge, which makes it more affordable than a similarly equipped F-150 XL — the gas model’s entry-level trim. The jaw-dropper is that that price is before any applicable state or federal incentives — that includes the $7,500 federal tax credit that the vehicle will be eligible for. All of this is a rather miraculous accomplishment given that EVs have, up until now, always been costlier than their gas equivalents — often significantly so.
