[7] In January 2019, Ford announced the intention to produce a fully-electric light pickup at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.

Ford also announced then that the company would offer digital services for subscription revenue that will change car sales from a single-time transaction process.

[14][15] As of June 2022[update], demand was strong for early deliveries, with one dealer offering a used 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum at $100,000 above the base price for the model.

[18] In June 2022, Ford announced its intention to restructure its dealership model, including building an e-commerce platform where customers can buy EVs at non-negotiable prices in an effort to match Tesla’s profit margins.

[19] Ford also stated in June 2022 that it planned to spend $3.7 billion to hire 6,200 union workers to staff several assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio and Missouri in a bid to sell 2 million EVs a year by 2026.

[20] The F-150 Lightning is ready to launch in Iceland, Norway, and South Africa in Late 2023, and Australasia in Early 2024 alongside the Mustang Mach-E.[21][22] The base configuration has 452 hp (337 kW), 230 mi (370 km) range, and its smaller battery supports a 2,000 lb (910 kg) payload.

[5][23] The F-150 Lightning was one of several electric vehicles cited by National Transportation Safety Board head Jennifer Homendy as being significantly heavier than ICE-powered models and thus raising the risk of other road users being killed or seriously injured in collisions, alongside products from other manufacturers such as General Motors and Volvo.

EPA range estimates of 230–300 mi (370–480 km)[6] produced by Ford in May 2021 were based on 1,000 lb (450 kg) of cargo carried in the truck.

The test was over a 80-mile (130 km) route with average highway speeds between 64 and 67 mph (103 and 108 km/h), and with the headlights and audio system on and the automatic climate control set to 72 °F (22 °C).

In the country, it is only offered in the Lariat Launch Edition version, featuring a Super Crew Cab body style and available exclusively in Antimatter Blue.

[38] A modified Ford F-150 Lightning EV competed in the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where it won the event, with a 8:53.553.