Ford is also starting a battery storage business to power AI data centers, following Tesla.<\/b>
\nFord confirms it has ended production of the F-150 Lightning, and will relaunch it as an \u00ab\u00a0extended range electric vehicle\u00a0\u00bb (EREV). It’s the end of an era for the iconic pickup truck, which debuted in 2022.
\u00ab\u00a0The F-150 Lightning is a groundbreaking product that demonstrated an electric pickup can still be a great F-Series\u00a0\u00bb, says Doug Field, Ford\u2019s chief EV, digital and design officer.
An EREV is somewhat of a mix between a traditional hybrid and a fully electric car. It has a gas tank, which charges a battery-powered generator. The generator turns the wheels, preserving the quick acceleration drivers love from pure EVs\u2014without the range anxiety.
Ford estimates the new F-150 Lightning will have a 700-mile range between the gas tank and the battery. Thanks to its substantial electric power, it will retain its sub-5-second acceleration while still towing \u00ab\u00a0like a locomotive\u00a0\u00bb, Field says. The price, launch date, and potentially new name, are all under wraps for now. \u00ab\u00a0We\u2019ll share timing and more details closer to launch\u00a0\u00bb, a company spokesperson tells us.
The pivot to an EREV is what we expected when reports circulated last month that Ford was reevaluating the Lightning’s future. It makes sense given the company’s broader shift toward hybrids, which began in 2024 amid staunch competition from Chinese EV makers and a realization that many US consumers weren’t yet ready to go fully electric.
One thing we didn’t expect was Ford to announce a battery storage business to power data centers. Tesla is already doing this with its Megapack, and Ford says there is \u00ab\u00a0large demand\u00a0\u00bb for these products. The automaker will invest $2 billion in this product line in its Kentucky plant over the next two years, producing smaller modules as well as up to 20-foot containers.
So, Ford isn’t abandoning the battery expertise it’s gained since launching the F-150 Lightning. It’s also continuing to develop new EVs for the North American market as part of its forthcoming \u00ab\u00a0universal EV platform\u00a0\u00bb, a $5 billion investment that could produce a $30,000 electric pickup by 2027. That’s a steep drop from the F-150 Lightning’s $54,780 starting price.
By 2030, about 50% of Ford\u2019s global volume will be hybrids, EREVs, and full EVs. That’s up from 17% today, the company says. While electric car sales have slowed in the US, they are surging in Europe, up 36% in November, Electrek reports. Ford is trying to be more aggressive in the EU with its electric lineup, and last week announced new European leadership and plans for \u00ab\u00a0a product offensive.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n