Ford News: Ford F-150 Lightning Goes EREV with 700+ Mile Range and Locomotive-Like Towing

[G. David Felt]

Doug Field, Ford's chief EV, digital and design officer had this to say; "The F-150 Lightning is a groundbreaking product that demonstrated an EV pickup can still be a great F-Series. Our next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV will be every bit as revolutionary. It delivers everything Lightning customers love — near instantaneous torque and pure electric driving. But with a high-power generator enabling an estimated range of 700+ miles, it tows like a locomotive. Heavy-duty towing and cross-country travel will be as effortless as the daily commute."

The Ford F-150 Lightning EREV is unlike any traditional hybrid. The new EREV powered by the 100% pure electric motor system that people love in regard to rapid acceleration and quiet operation but eliminating the need to stop and charge during long-distance towing.

Ford states that the F-150 Lightning has been a driving force for U.S. EV sales growth and that the next generation is Ford listening to their customers who have asked for a expansion of the F-150 Lightning's capabilities. This EREV will continue the legacy of innovation as the next generation F-150 Lightning EREV replaces the F-150 Lightning EV production at Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn.

Ford says they will release full details at a later launch date.

Interestingly, Ford not only ended F-150 Lightning production early but will have the plant closed down for several months with a statement that the employees would be laid off and then called back some time in Q1 of the 2026 calendar year. The changeover includes support for building EREV but also includes needed maintenance at the plant.

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[smk4565]

So the Lightning was too expensive and the solution is to add an ICE motor and more complexity on top of that.  Can't wait to see the $99,995  F-150 XLT EREV.

[ccap41]

Yeah, I don't love the idea of axing the full BEV Lightning. I thoroughly believe it will only be temporarily anyway but still feels wrong to get rid of it now. 

I understand the whole "extended range" thing is a steppingstone into a full BEV... but it feels unnecessary. Just make an EV with the proper technology to get 300 miles for the small battery and 400-450 miles with a larger battery. Be it battery chemistry (or all of the technology that goes into various things such as the elements and solid-state technology), battery size and/or aerodynamics, but that's what needs to take a leap forward. Maybe more importantly, price. They need to keep prices in check. Only so many people can afford near-100k vehicles regardless of how good the vehicle is. 

[G. David Felt]

On 12/26/2025 at 12:54 PM, ccap41 said:

Yeah, I don't love the idea of axing the full BEV Lightning. I thoroughly believe it will only be temporarily anyway but still feels wrong to get rid of it now. 

I understand the whole "extended range" thing is a steppingstone into a full BEV... but it feels unnecessary. Just make an EV with the proper technology to get 300 miles for the small battery and 400-450 miles with a larger battery. Be it battery chemistry (or all of the technology that goes into various things such as the elements and solid-state technology), battery size and/or aerodynamics, but that's what needs to take a leap forward. Maybe more importantly, price. They need to keep prices in check. Only so many people can afford near-100k vehicles regardless of how good the vehicle is. 

Sadly the Ford CEO clearly made his feeling known when on national TV he told Trump that Biden Forced them to build EVs that the world does not need. Idiot!!!

I agree that Ford is making ANOTHER MISTAKE in axing the EV only Lighting, they clearly have not been in vesting in battery technology as Mercedes, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis and more have all been investing in battery technology such as Factorial Solid State tech and Mercedes just finished initial testing of the 110 kW battery pack that gave them 745 mile range.

Solid-state EV battery maker is going public after a 745+ mile test

Mercedes Needed A Solid-State Battery To Match Lucid’s EV Range Record | Carscoops

I reported about the startup back in 2023 as the potential is huge and real.

Next year, Mercedes is supposed to bring out their first solid state EV and the other companies that invested will follow within 12 to 18 months. Mercedes was the first investor with Kia, Hyundai, Genesis and others following.

[smk4565]

1 hour ago, G. David Felt said:

Sadly the Ford CEO clearly made his feeling known when on national TV he told Trump that Biden Forced them to build EVs that the world does not need. Idiot!!!

I agree that Ford is making ANOTHER MISTAKE in axing the EV only Lighting, they clearly have not been in vesting in battery technology as Mercedes, Kia, Hyundai, Genesis and more have all been investing in battery technology such as Factorial Solid State tech and Mercedes just finished initial testing of the 110 kW battery pack that gave them 745 mile range.

Solid-state EV battery maker is going public after a 745+ mile test

Mercedes Needed A Solid-State Battery To Match Lucid’s EV Range Record | Carscoops

I reported about the startup back in 2023 as the potential is huge and real.

Next year, Mercedes is supposed to bring out their first solid state EV and the other companies that invested will follow within 12 to 18 months. Mercedes was the first investor with Kia, Hyundai, Genesis and others following.

Ford (and everyone else) went into EV's because they saw Tesla's $1.5 trillion market cap, and the investors were like "what the hell Jim, why does Ford have a $50 billion market cap while this start up that sells 1 million cars a year is worth 30 times more?  We want return on our investment!"

Ford could see F150 sales double and my guess is their market cap would move from $53 billion to $55 billion.  If you aren't on the cutting edge of technology it will be too easy for others to just eliminate you.  Ford gave up on sedans because they couldn't compete with the Asians, gave up on the Ecosport, the Escape ended production this month also, because they admit they can't compete in those segments.

Ford is going to be pickups, commercial vans, and Bronco.  Would be really easy to the Chinese to copy pickups and vans and come in at a much lower price and wipe out those pick up and van sales.