MotorTrend named the Ford F-150 Lightning its 2023 truck of the year. The automotive 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 introduced in the United States (behind the Rivian R1T). It makes 426 horsepower and a massive 775 lb-ft of torque. Some upper trim levels are capable of producing 563 horsepower.
The standard-range F-150 Lightning can travel for an estimated 230 miles before needing to recharge. The extended-range battery pack is capable of 320 miles of driving range. Ford has developed several charging stations across the country and offers a home charging station as well.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning started at $39,974. It was eligible for the federal electric vehicle tax incentive of $7,500. So, some F-150 Lightning buyers were initially able to pay $32,474 before additional fees. Lightning order books filled up quickly, and the full-size pickup truck 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 the Blue Oval is building another factory to manufacture it.
The F-150 Lightning is getting harder to buy
The Ford F-150 Lightning will be increasingly difficult to buy for two reasons: demand and pricing. Positive F-150 Lightning reviews and awards are likely to make the electric truck even more popular as the nameplate evolves over time. There’s a market for the F-150 Lightning, and it will only grow larger as the electric future draws nearer.
The F-150 Lightning got a major price bump for 2023. According to InsideEVs, the 2023 model year starts at $56,000. That’s an increase of $16,000. It also doesn’t seem to be eligible for the revised federal electric vehicle tax incentive. So, 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 average new vehicle price of $48,000.
Can the average American driver buy 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 more expensive pickup 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 also isn’t as readily available as more popular trucks.
Ultimately, the EV will only get harder to buy from an affordability standpoint year over year, but Ford should catch up with demand in the next few years. The Lightning may not be the average American consumer’s first choice for the money, but times change, and Ford’s electric pickup truck could become the most popular truck on the road in a decade’s time.