2025 Ford F-150 Lightning

Ford Motor Company took the world by storm with the Lightning debut striking in 2022.  

Lightning combines old-school pickup truck know-how in the form of an F-150 full-size truck with a too-cool-for-school electric version.  

While all-electric, all-wheel drive Ford Lightning EV arrived in the 2022 model year, the Lightning name surrounded the internal combustion version for decades prior with a V-8 muscle formula debuting in 1993. In 2025, Lightning strictly signifies electrification.  

The F-150 name first arrived after the conclusion of World War II in the late 1940s as a gas-engined brute, and a loyal following soon emerged. At the conclusion of the 2024 calendar year, Ford’s full-size light-duty F-Series ranked as the best-selling pickup truck in the United States for 48 straight years. The 765,649 F-Series sales in 2024 (including Lightning numbers) far outstripped the second-place finisher Chevrolet’s Silverado. Lightning sales contributed 33,510 units, up 37.8 percent from the previous 12-month cycle.  

Ford currently markets three all-electric vehicles (also known as Battery Electric Vehicles or BEVs). In addition to Lighting, Ford dealers market the stylish Mustang Mach E and the versatile E-transit cargo van. Of the trio, Lightning debuted first marking the first all-electric pickup truck available for mass market distribution.  

Viewing the 2024 Lighting side by side with its internal combustion engine (ICE) sibling, the two share many exterior visual cues and one would be hard pressed to distinguish the two at a casual glance. Lighting utilizes similar, rugged body-on-frame underpinnings as its ICE counterpart with a high-strength, fully-boxed steel frame, thick, rectangular pull handles and aluminum alloy body and bed but adds about 1,700 pounds with its hidden-from sight high-voltage DC battery pack and two alternating current motors.  

Lightning boldly adds a distinctive, thick, front end while light bar traveling from end to end. Flanking the drop-down tail gate in back; a pair of red taillight structures resembling the lucky number ‘7.’ Our red exterior including blue highlights spelling out ‘LIGHTNING’ in all san serif block lettering along the rear bed side with a blue ‘F-150 Flash’ embossed upon the swing-out door housing the electric plug ports located on the driver’s side front fender highlighting our specific trim.  

Lightning presents a traditional, work-ready presence contrasting Telsa’s all-electric Cybertruck, sporting its futuristic, sharp-cornered, polarizing style with stainless steel exterior.  

Unlike its ICE counterparts with multiple cabin sizes, bed lengths and engine selections, Lighting arrives exclusively as a Crew Cab (which Ford markets as ‘SuperCrew’) with four standard-sized, swing-out doors-on-the-side and a smallish 5.5-foot bed. This cargo box includes a 52.8 cubic foot volume and a 50.6-inch width between wheel houses. A cargo lamp with center-high mounted stop lamp comes standard across the board.  

Ford also offers the full-size F-150 with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain option (aka a hybrid electric vehicle or HEV), incorporating a self-charging battery pack never in need of a wall socket working in tandem with an internal combustion engine, extending gas miles when compared with the ICE exclusive option.  

Lightning EV returns five trim levels in 2025: Pro, XLT, Flash, Lariat and Platinum. All include dual electric/traction alternating current motors, one powering the front and one powering the rear, creating an all-wheel format. Drive modes standard across all trims include: Normal, Sport, Tow/Haul and off-road selectable via the large, center touch screen. Updates from the 2024 model year remain minimal. Ford debuted the Flash trim in 2024 as the lineup’s tech-friendly bundle including its semi-autonomous ‘Blue Cruise’ with limited ‘Level 2’ hand’s free driving. 

Pop open the power-operated hood and this electrified F-150 redesigns the one-time engine compartment by completely gutting internal combustion engine. Instead, F-150 was one of the first vehicles introducing the funky ‘Frunk’ word into the English lexicon, a truncated wordplay crunching together ‘Front’ and ‘Trunk.’ The frunk’s power hood opens and closes three ways: an inside button left of the steering column, the key fob or a push-button under the grill-like structure.  

The upfront Frunk includes a sizeable 14.1 cubic feet of space, ideal for storing items out of sight rather than inside an open flatbed. For comparison’s sake, 14.1 cubic feet equals the approximate size of a mid-size sedan’s traditional outback trunk and swallows two smallish-sized golf bags. Another below-deck region under a removable frunk floor panel works wonders as a storage home for the 20-foot at-home Alternating Current bi-level (accommodating both 120-volts and 240 volts with two pull-out style interchangeable tail-end receptacles) charger. But wait, there’s more. This under storage area, with convenient drain plug, doubles as an impromptu cooler, handling ice and cold beverages during tailgate season. Unlike most conventional trunks, the frunk cleans effortlessly with the aid of a garden hose while the removable floor panel doubles as a divider when flipped vertically.  

The versatile frunk also offers four conventional 120-volt alternating current outlets and USB ports for charging large and small devices/products while on the move or stationed at a stop.  

Within the confines of a Chicago-area restaurant lots, the long Lighting plays the part of a sizeable pickup necessitating many steering wheel maneuvers to escape a Portillo’s-like parking enclave. On the highway, however, Lightning’s independent rear suspension offers a civilized, sophisticated approach to long-distance travel (engine-motivated F-150’s boast a solid rear axle and reduced highway glide comfort).  

Our mid-level Flash trim tester included a starting price of $67,995. With $4,595 worth of options, the bottom line tickled $74,685 after factoring in a rather heavy $2,095 destination charge. Factory extras included $495 for premium Rapid Red Clearcoat exterior paint, $1,200 ‘pro power’ with 9.6kw of on-board plug availability, $1,100 tow package, $175 for a spare tire, a handy $430 tailgate step, very handy $600 bi-level charge cord and $595 bedliner spray protection. A Pro trim starts at $56,975.  

Two distinct, sizeable high-voltage direct current lithium-ion batteries packs populated with flat, pouch-like cells and combined into eight modules are offered: a standard range 98-kilowatt hour producing 452 horsepower and an extended range 131kwh version generating 580 horses. The standard-range battery includes a 230-mile estimated range when fully charged while the extended range delivers up to 320 miles. 

The Pro and XLT trims arrive with the Standard Range DC battery pack. The larger, Extended Range pack fits into Flash, Lariat and Platinum trims. Currently, F-150 Lightning’s DC battery packs utilizes nickel, manganese and cobalt chemistry construction, the go-to choice within a majority of on-road EVs in 2025.  

Inside, Lighting carries forward the familiar and welcoming F-150 layout with minimal high-tech gimmicky extras save for an EV-exclusive instrument panel display with data points highlighting ‘range-to-empty’ estimates and unique graphics when charging. Lots of storage opportunities abound within all for doors, a double glove box design and large, deep, center storage bin hinged at the back’ flipping up for inside access. 

A sizeable, portrait-style multi-function infotainment touch screen dominates the central dashboard with a single, multi-function dial at the bottom helping monitor volume (among other functions including built-in HVAC fan speed). A 12-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard in Pro and XLT trims while dimensions grow to 15.5 inches in Flash, Lariat and Platinum.  

A wireless charging pad comes standard only in Lariat and Platinum trims while un-available in the lower three. Instead, those folks must rely upon both Type A and Type C plug ports. Both screen sizes enjoy Ford’s SYNC 4 interface with voice recognition. The upper cruse Platinum trim solely plays host to the upgraded 18-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. All trims enjoy Satellite Radio and in-dash navigation standard.  

The single-speed transmission features a conventional-operating shifter between the front buckets with a stout grab handle traveling vertically forward and back when selecting park, reverse, neutral or drive. The airy second row fits three adults with ample head and leg room and easily and includes bench seating with seats flipping up and folding against backrests with a 60/40 split and storage opportunities below the seats. 

With a workable ground clearance of 8.4 inches, F-150 Lightning provides relatively easy access to both front and second row seating with minimal ‘jump up’ contortion needed in other large pickups with off-road design in their sights. Our Lightning tester included recommended static running boards at door bottoms aiding human uploads along with molded grab handles built into both front A and second-row B pillars. A power-easing drop-down tailgate arrives standard in Lariat and Platinum (as does a twin-panel moonroof) but unfortunately not available in the lower three trims, where our Flash delt with the annoying ‘thud’ when manually dropping down the rather heavy gate.  

Lighting takes full advantage of Regenerative braking, capturing friction created during the mechanical braking process and recycling this energy back into the DC battery pack for later use, helping extend mileage estimates. If desired, high resistance, one pedal driving orders up through the touch screen allowing primary use of the accelerator pedal with little or no need for the brake pedal as the friction/resistance slows the vehicle adequately during lower speed travel.  

When utilizing a Direct Current fast charger away from home to re-energize travel, Lightning accepts a maximum of 150 kilowatts with both DC battery sizes. This translates into the battery’s state of charge increasing from 15 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes under ideal circumstances, a relatively slow rate when compared to other current 2025 EVs and ideal circumstances rarely arrive.  

When ordering the $600 bi-level J1772 charging cable in 2025, Ford includes a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adaptor which plugs relatively easily into F-150’s CCS-design port enabling F-150 Lighting to charge up at Tesla Superchargers dispensing direct current. 

The adaption of the NACS adaptor allows Lightning access to Tesla’s 31,990 high speed Supercharge Ports in the U.S. (identified as V3 and V4), doubling the number of DC Fast Charging opportunities. Lighting continues connecting up with the rival Combined Charging System (CCS) DC fast charging design/network traditionally used for non-Tesla EVs. This agreement greatly reduces ‘range anxiety,’ when away from home as the number of available recharging opportunities blossoms with the combined availability of high-speed Tesla Superchargers and DC Fast Charging CCS franchises including ‘Electrify America,’ Charge Point,’ ‘EVgo,’ and ‘Blink.’ 

As of this writing, about two-thirds of these NACS Tesla Superchargers accept non-Tesla vehicles (software updates need completion before both designs play nice with each other), but that percentage promises to increase quickly. During our week together, every Tesla Supercharger sampled worked in tandem with Lightning.  

The best way to determine if a specific Tesla Supercharger location adapts to a non-Tesla vehicle is to download the informative Tesla App, providing network details and locations. Currently, NACS Superchargers require use of a Smartphone to download apps and supply credit card information to make real-time payments. Cash is not accepted unless one can convince or bribe the stoic Supercharger otherwise.  

The NACS adaptor also works with Tesla’s publicly-available ‘Destination Chargers’, delivering 240-volts of AC current but at a much slower rate than the DC Superchargers. Publicly available Direct Current fast chargers bypass the vehicles onboard charger (OBC), sending direct current directly into the DC battery pack at high rates. An EV’s Onboard Charger (OBC) converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) for storage in the DC battery pack, acting as a gate keeper of sorts helping to prevent overcharging when utilizing alternating current. 

We jumped at the chance to try out the NACS adaptor for the first time when powering away from home at a Supercharger. The adaptor snapped in easily into Lightning’s J1772/CCS port with the Supercharger’s narrow plug at the cable’s end requiring a forceful ‘oomph’ to complete the connection. At the session’s end, the adaptor removes from the truck first before the Supercharger plug disconnects and returns to its svelte hanger.  

One caveat; the power cable attached to NACS superchargers measure significantly shorter than the thicker, heavier cables found teaming among CCS-style ports. When pulling into the Supercharger’s parking slot, Lightning needed to inch up as close to the front curb as possible for the Supercharger’s attached power cable to stretch/reach the plug port and attached adaptor located on the F-150’s driver’s side front fender. Most Tesla vehicles locate their NACS plug port at the passenger side rear requiring a shorter distance for a vehicle connection when backing into a Supercharger network stall (historically consisting of a dozen ports).  

Charging away from home utilizing a Tesla Supercharger generally costs between 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt hour, depending upon the time of day and demand. It’s far more expensive (sometimes two-to-three times more) than at home AC charging where Chicago-area rates hover around 14 cents per kilowatt hour.  

During a ‘real world’ ion refill at a Supercharger in Lake Delton, Wisconsin with the Ford-approved NACS adaptor; a 46 percent state of battery charge reached 84 percent in 40 minutes with a cost of 49 cents per kilowatt hour. Final tally: $28.54 applied automatically to the downloaded credit card account.  

Ford’s 20-foot-long alternating current (AC) mobile charger required for home refills easily connects into a conventional 120-volt household outlet (also known as Level One charging). Expect two-to four electric miles added per hour with this method, the slow lane for sure but the least expensive. During at-home testing, we consistently averaged a measly two miles of range per hour utilizing a 120-volt wall socket. Ford’s home-grown A/C mobile charger also includes an adaptor designed for 240-volt (or Level Two) charging if at-home garages already include a higher-voltage outlet (historically used for washers, dryers and HVAC units).  

As of this writing, the popular Federal program allowing purchasers to qualify for up to $7,500 in tax credits when buying a new electric vehicle (up to $4,000 for qualifying pre-driven EVs) is set to expire on September 30, 2025. Originally, these incentives were to sunset in 2032. While in the long term this may dissuade some price sensitive shoppers from an EV decision, in the short term, Blue Oval dealers should ready themselves for an uptick in Lightning queries before this perk’s untimely demise. With assembly taking place in Michigan and on U.S. soil, the 2025 Lightning qualifies for up to $7,500 in Federal tax credits dependent upon a purchaser’s income level among other variables. It’s one of a select few non-Telsa EVs available in 2025 to qualify for a large slice of the $7,500 pie.  

Plus, Ford recently extended its ‘Power Promise’ originally begun in October of 2024 through September 30, 2025, the scheduled end of the Federal Tax Credit. With this generous offer, Ford includes, at no charge, installation and purchase of an at-home Level Two 240-volt, AC wall charger (specifically a bi-directional Ford Charge Station Pro), a perk normally adding between $1,300 and $2,500 depending upon individual circuitry and circumstances. All three of Ford’s current EVs (F-150 Lighting, Mach E and E-Transit) qualify. A Level Two, 240-volt wall charger (depending upon the variable amperage rating) recharges the Standard Range battery pack in approximately 10 hours; 15 hours for the larger Extended Range battery pack.  

The State of Illinois offers an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program, but it too includes perplexing restrictions. Unlike the Federal program, Illinois’ $4,000 rebate is open to new EVs no matter where in the world they’re assembled as long as purchasing takes place at a dealer licensed by the Illinois Secretary of State. Leased vehicles don’t qualify for the Illinois rebate nor do Plug-In Electric Vehicles.  

The Illinois program operates within ‘Limited Application Cycles,’ the most recent as of this writing falling between January 21 and April 30, 2025 when applications were accepted. This narrow window jibs with the program’s funding and may open up again if/when additional dollars get allocated to the program. Applications and current information is found at www.epa.illinois.gov 

At a Glance - 2025 Ford Lightning EV 

Price as Tested: $74,685 

Direct Current Battery Build: Lithium-ion 

Total System Horsepower: 580 

All Electric Range Estimate (Extended Range Battery): 320 miles 

Wheelbase: 145.5 inches 

Overall Length: 232.7 inches  

Overall Height: 78.3 inches 

Overall Width: 80.0 inches  

DC Battery Warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles  

Assembly: Dearborn, Michigan