The Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear has been unveiled as an off-road demonstration of Ford’s electrical powertrains that guarantees to “push the boundaries” of electrical pick-ups.
The one-off truck, set to make its debut at subsequent week’s King of Hammers off-road racing occasion in California, follows the Supervan 4 and Mustang Mach-E 1400 EV initiatives.
It’s stated to offer a “playground for engineers” to experiment with and optimise Ford’s future electric cars.
It has been developed by Ford’s Demonstrator Programme in collaboration with specialist tuner RTR Vehicles.
Over the usual F-150 (Ford’s long-time best-seller), it beneficial properties a “significant” enhance in observe width to enhance off-road stability, higher floor clearance, double-wishbone suspension on the entrance, a multi-link association on the rear and beefier dampers.
It additionally will get bespoke entrance and rear bumpers and a stabiliser bar on the entrance axle for steeply undulating surfaces, in addition to higher strategy and departure angles.
Its swollen wheel arches accommodate the broader tracks, 37in off-road tyres and extra air flow ducts to clean airflow over its physique and thus make it extra secure off-road.
It additionally will get a Ford Performance livery, as seen on the Mustang GT3 race automobile.
While all the things in regards to the Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear appears to concentrate on its off-road capabilities, Ford claims the car feels simply pretty much as good on the tarmac. The firm guarantees nice dealing with over paved surfaces due to the customized impartial suspension techniques on the entrance and rear, which function management arms and coil-over shocks.
The Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear additionally options carbon composite entrance fenders, bedsides, and a rear bumper cowl that aids the car’s sturdiness. Steel-fabricated rock rails and a entrance skid plate present extra safety for off-road adventures. Limit straps are built-in to handle suspension and wheel journey successfully.
Ford
Ford does not have any rapid plans to carry the F-150 Lightning Switchgear to customers. However, it’s believable that the corporate would use the platform to gauge client response to a lot of its new options. In reality, it’s possible that future variations of the Ford F-150 will incorporate a number of options showcased on this demonstrator platform.
Those fascinated with seeing the F-150 Lightning Switchgear in motion ought to head to Johnson Valley, California, on January 25, the place the corporate will showcase this truck for the primary time as a part of the King of the Hammers off-road racing occasion.
When the Ford F-150 Lightning first got here out in 2021 for the 2022 mannequin yr, the hype surrounding the electrical pickup was extraordinarily excessive. So excessive, actually, that Ford even had to stop accepting orders for the F-150 Lightning at one level final yr. However, as we strategy the tip of 2023, the market scenario has modified drastically, and so they’re not precisely what they appeared to be in 2022.
That’s as a result of as you’ve got in all probability seen in a number of articles these days, electric vehicle (EV) sales in the United States are reaching a point of plateau. That’s not precisely excellent news for Ford, who has closely hyped the F-150 Lightning in recent times, and evidently the plateauing EV gross sales are affecting Ford’s EV rollout and manufacturing plans within the coming years. What does this imply for the Blue Oval model, and even the whole EV business as a complete?
The Ford F-150 Lightning ‘Flash’ redefines the enduring pickup with cutting-edge tech and a premium contact.
In order to provide the most recent and correct data doable, the info used to compile this text was sourced from Ford and different authoritative sources, together with Atlas Public Policy, Business Insider, Automotive News, Auto Week, iSeeCars, Cox Automotive, The Washington Post, and J.D. Power.
Sales Are Slowing Down, But Things Are Different In The Bigger Picture
Yes, EV gross sales have been slowing down, however that does not imply it is not anymore rising. In reality, Atlas Public Policy experiences that the market share of EVs in 2023 when it comes to overall new car sales is expected to be at nine-percent, up from 7.3-percent in 2022. It simply so occurs that the tempo of progress in 2023 isn’t as quick as automakers like Ford have initially predicted, main the model to cut back its EV ambitions within the coming years.
Not As “Lightning” Fast As Predicted
When the F-150 Lightning was first introduced, the electrical pickup racked up as a lot as 200,000 preorders at its peak, main Ford to cease taking orders. As a end result, Ford throughout that point elevated manufacturing to fulfill demand, however in 2023, that peak in curiosity within the F-150 Lightning slowed down.
Does that imply F-150 Lightning gross sales are unhealthy in 2023? Not fairly. As talked about, EV gross sales are reaching a plateau, nevertheless it’s only a signal of slower progress versus no progress or, even worse, a gross sales decline. The identical Automotive News report says that Ford’s weekly F-150 Lightning manufacturing can be decreased from 3,200 to 1,600 items, which is half of its authentic plan in a bid to realize an annual F-150 Lightning manufacturing of 150,000 items.
Yet, regardless of the manufacturing cuts, Ford sold 20,365 F-150 Lightnings as of November of this year. This continues to be a formidable 54 % enhance over final yr. In addition, 4,393 items of the electrical truck have been bought in November, although within the grand scheme of issues, Ford bought 190,477 F-Series vehicles within the third quarter of 2023 alone.
The Ford F-150 Lightning represents Ford’s prowess within the electrical pickup truck section, and here is all it’s essential to know.
Why EV Sales Have Slowed Down
Ford
In order to know why EV gross sales progress has slowed down not too long ago, we now have to know the present market scenario and what sort of hurdles automakers are presently dealing with to fulfill their lofty targets. Is the United States at a degree of EV saturation, or is most people merely towards proudly owning an EV?
Early Adopter Market Already Owns EVs
Unsurprisingly, many of the preliminary consumers of EVs and even hybrids within the early 2000s have been early adopters who liked trying new technology and wished to be forward of the pack when it got here to innovation. Therefore, these individuals have larger disposable incomes and thus, have extra room to be courageous in attempting out new know-how. EVs were and remain to be more expensive than inside combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, so it is also unsurprising that those that bought or will buy an EV are in a higher-end demographic.
At the identical time, it is this market that is additionally just about saturated at this level. Most of the early adopters now personal EVs and do not discover novelty within the know-how. This is an impact you may observe when evaluating the EV gross sales progress in every state.
Ford
As iSeeCars’ data suggests, it’s unsurprising that states recognized for environmentalism or cutting-edge know-how like California, which is forward of the pack on the subject of EV market share, can be one of many states with the slowest EV gross sales progress. On the opposite hand, states resembling Alaska which has traditionally low curiosity in EVs, are experiencing the best EV gross sales progress.
“Several states you wouldn’t associate with hybrid and electric vehicles saw the most growth over the past 5 years, including Alaska, West Virginia, Louisiana, Wyoming, Arkansas, and North Dakota,” stated Karl Brauer, iSeeCars.com Executive Analyst. “Then you have Washington, California, and Oregon, three states most people would associate with environmental activism that ranked 45th, 46th, and 49th out of 50 in hybrid and electric vehicle market share growth.”
Time To Target Mainstream Buyers
So, what ought to automakers do to proceed rising their gross sales of EVs? Well, the subsequent problem now’s to faucet the mainstream buyer–the common Joe who would think about an ICE automobile versus an EV. Unfortunately, based on Cox Automotive, EV costs could have fallen not too long ago over the previous yr, however the average price of a brand-new EV is still higher than a comparable ICE car. This is how the typical transaction value for every fashionable car section compares.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is without doubt one of the first electrical vehicles to hit the market and units the benchmark for others to comply with… and for them to beat!
What This Means For The EV Market
Ford
Does this imply that the glory days of EVs are over? Absolutely not! As emphasised on this article already, extra EVs can be bought than ever within the United States when 2023 ends. It simply so occurs that the speed of progress is not as quick because it was once as a result of early adopters already purchased their EVs. The problem now for automakers is to draw the mainstream automobile purchaser who has been principally traditionalist and can stick with an ICE automobile for so long as the hurdles of EV possession have not been resolved.
Yes, There Are Still Hurdles
Despite EVs already being available in the market for thus lengthy, there are nonetheless hurdles that stop EVs from hitting the mainstream within the United States. It’s simple responsible pricing, however there’s one other main hurdle that is scaring ICE house owners from switching to EVs–charging. Yes, that is as a result of even when EVs have been round for some time now within the United States, The Washington Post experiences that the “country’s broken and dysfunctional charging system” is perhaps the biggest threat to widespread EV adoption.
Most consumers of EVs cost at dwelling, nevertheless it additionally have to be famous that not everybody owns a home and lots. In cities like New York, residents principally reside in condominiums and flats and due to this fact depend on public charging. That’s the place the hurdles start, as a result of not solely is there an absence of them, but when there may be one, there is a good likelihood it is not even working.
According to a 2022 survey by J.D. Power, 1 in 5 respondents were unable to charge during their visit, and out of those that have been unable to cost, 72-percent stated that it was because of the station malfunctioning or being out of service. Even if it did work, house owners could need to take care of an app that wasn’t put in on their cellphone but or isn’t but a member of the corporate that operates these chargers.
“Everyone knows that the landscape of gas stations is focused on convenience—readily available, fast fueling and quick convenience items,” Gruber stated. “Although fast charging is seemingly getting faster by the day, to expedite the charging process vehicles will need to accommodate the newest ultra-fast chargers. Currently, only a handful of vehicles can take advantage of the fastest charging speeds. And no matter how fast their vehicle charges, EV owners still indicate they need more options for things to do during each charging session to enhance convenience and fill the down time.”
What EVs Need To Overcome
Tesla
Therefore, the most important enchancment that the EV business desperately wants is a standardized charging system that is dependable and simple to make use of. As it stands, we’re presently witnessing this on the subject of the charging port normal, as a result of identical to our smartphones, even EVs have totally different charging port requirements.
Tesla opened up its charging standard to automakers and named it the North American Charging Standard (NACS), which implies that each EV bought within the United States can be appropriate with Tesla’s Supercharger community. Before NACS, we needed to deal with CCS1 and a small minority of ChaDeMo ports with Japanese vehicles. A bunch of automakers have already joined the NACS bandwagon, and EVs that have been already bought earlier than the adoption of NACS can be given free adaptors, although the free adaptors are just for some automakers.
While we’re making the proper strikes on the subject of the charging port normal, the automakers, and the federal government even have to handle the nation’s convoluted charging community. The present EV charging panorama consists of a hodgepodge of personal firms and government-owned stations, and each additionally has its personal cost and membership schemes.
It additionally have to be famous that earlier than NACS, manufacturers like Tesla also used to offer its charging network exclusive to owners of its vehicles. That’s nice for those who personal a Tesla, which has a various charging community, however for those who personal a unique EV, good luck coping with the massive mess of operators and corporations you need to take care of recurrently.
You might already have the Lightning McQueen Crocs in your closet (assuming you snagged a pair before they sold out), and now Pixar and teaming up with the iconic clog brand for another iconic character – the tow truck Mater. When wearing them, you can be a precisional instrument of speed and aromatics (see the video below if you don’t get the reference). They just went on sale today, Tuesday, October 17, and are already sold out in adult sizes.
The Mater Crocs feature the character’s prominent teeth and smiling mouth on the toe. A partially exposed engine sticks up from the toebox, and a pair of eyes stare forward. The heel strap looks like a stylized tow truck boom. There’s even a little hook on the back of this piece. The midsole features a Tow Mater logo with mud speckles and rear wheels. The back has a graphic with tow hooks and a license plate.
This is the second collaboration between Crocs and the Cars franchise. There were previously shoes featuring series protagonist Lightning McQueen, and they even had LED lights that illuminated when the wearer walked.
When Crocs initially launched the adult-sized Lightning McQueen shoes in May 2019, they sold out quickly. The company released a second batch in September 2022. Now, only kids’ sizes are available for $54.99.
According to Box Office Mojo, Cars is Pixar’s third-highest-grossing franchise with total earnings of $588,436,493 across the three films. The Incredibles has made $870,022,836 with just two movies in the series, and the six Toy Story entries have made $1,318,120,746.
Ford has already proven its capability in building electric vehicles with the F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E, which are both popular and capable electric vehicles. Where can Ford add electric dominance to its already growing stable of EVs? The Ford Bronco makes perfect sense. We’d love to see an all-electric Ford Bronco Lightning arrive before the end of the decade.
Why would Ford electrify the Bronco next? Although some of the road-going SUVs might be more likely to be electrified first, the Bronco should hit the market before Jeep brings a fully-electric Wrangler. The Bronco and Wrangler battle head-to-head for off-road SUV supremacy. If Ford can beat Jeep to an all-electric off-road SUV, the Bronco Lightning could be a dominating force.
Using data from Ford Authority, Car and Driver, and MotorTrend, we bring you ten reasons why we’d love to see the Ford Bronco Lightning offered very soon.
Is Ford ahead of the game with the potential of a Bronco Lighting, or is it behind the time? We already have the GMC Hummer EV and the Rivian R1S, which are impressive off-road SUVs. The Jeep all-electric Recon is on the way to give us an electrified Jeep, although the Recon is not the Wrangler. This means Ford might be a little behind in bringing off-road electric driving to the market.
Excellent Electric Capability From Ford
When the Ford F-150 Lightning arrived, it simply replaced the gas-powered engine with a set of electric motors. Much of the design and performance elements remained the same. We could expect the same story with a Bronco Lightning. This means we might have 452 horsepower from a Standard Range battery and 580 horsepower with the Extended Range battery. Both could provide 775 lb-t of torque, which is plenty for some off-road fun.
2Roof-Mounted Batteries Change the Game
A New Design With Interesting Qualities
USPTO
If you think Ford will move the entire battery pack to the roof, think again. Electric vehicles have much of their weight in the battery pack, and a roof-mounted unit would make the Bronco Lightning top-heavy. Instead, the idea behind a roof-mounted battery pack is to act as an auxiliary power source when the regular batteries become depleted.
Can The Roof Be Made Strong Enough?
Although a set of auxiliary batteries on the roof could remove range anxiety and provide an extra driving range for anyone spending time on the trails, the extra weight could cause some problems. Added weight on the trails might cause the electrified Bronco to sink deeper in the sand or mud, create a greater risk of rollovers, and include more weight because the roof would need to be much stronger.
3Ford Already Hit A Home Run With the F-150 Lightning
The Bronco Name Carries Respect
Ford
The most popular pickup truck in America is the Ford F-Series, with the F-150 being the most popular of the series of Ford pickups. Tossing the Lightning name on the end of the F-150 brought reminders of a high-powered performance truck from yesteryear, giving this new electric truck the perfect name when it hit the market. The same could easily be true with the Bronco.
Americans Loved The Bronco
Before the Bronco was gone from the market, only to be reborn in its current form, it was the only true competitor to the Jeep Wrangler in the midsize off-road SUV world. As soon as the Bronco name returned, it immediately received admiration, attention, and a strong following that has translated to excellent sales. If it weren’t for supply shortages during COVID-19, the Bronco might be even more popular than it is.
4The Electric Powertrains Already Exist – F-150 Lightning
Swap Bodies, And You’ve Got The Bronco Lightning
Ford
Unlike other automakers that haven’t brought off-road-capable trucks to the market yet, Ford started with the F-150 Lightning, which means the powertrains for a Bronco Lightning already exist. It shouldn’t be difficult for Ford to reconfigure the platform to fit under the full-size Bronco. The smaller Bronco Sport could utilize the Mustang Mach-E setup to provide ample power in this smaller version.
Ford F-150 Lightning Power Specs
Standard Battery 98.0 kWh
Extended Range Battery 131 kWh
Driving Range
240 miles
320 miles
Horsepower
462 hp
580 hp
Torque
775 lb-ft
775 lb-ft
Tow Rating
7,700 lbs
10,000 lbs
It wouldn’t be a stretch to have this same power setup under the Bronco Lightning. The off-road electric SUV might not be capable of the same towing figures, but that also could mean greater driving range if the Bronco Lightning is lighter than the F-150 Lightning.
5The Bronco Lightning Could Be More Affordable Than the GMC Hummer EV SUV
A Smaller SUV For Off-Road Fun
Ford
Although it was easy to admire the GMC Hummer EV SUV, this new high-powered off-road SUV wasn’t practical or affordable for most consumers. Some models of the Hummer EV SUV start at more than $100,000, which isn’t a figure many can shell out for their ride.
The Bronco Lightning Should Use Similar Pricing As the F-150
Although we’ve grown accustomed to the trim names of the current Bronco, which aren’t the same as the F-150 pickup truck, pricing should be similar with base models starting at less than $50,000. The F-150 Lightning reaches $92,000 at the top end, which would be fine for a top-trim of the Bronco Lightning. This would still keep the all-electric Bronco more affordable than the GMC Hummer EV SUV.
6The Bronco Lightning Will Look So Darn Cool
Keeping the Retro Look Is Important
Ford
Too many new electric vehicles present themselves with a stark and sterile look, which was begun by the Tesla Model S. Instead of removing the retro style that we admire, the new Bronco Lightning could embrace its roots and bring us the style we admire. There’s nothing wrong with a ventless grille design, rough wheel wells, and body panels, or the high stance desired.
A Frunk Makes Things Even Better
The new Ford Bronco Lightning won’t have an open bed like the F-150 Lightning, but it still offers the benefits of an impressive frunk to replace the space where the engine would reside in a gas-powered version. We’re unsure whether this frunk will be a powered feature, which is the case in the F-150 Lightning, but it could be a great place for storing wet gear after an adventure of kayaking on the river or swimming in your favorite lake.
7Performance Qualities From the Mustang Mach-E Could Be Included
Could The Bronco Lightning Utilize GT Performance Qualities
The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance can rocket to 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds, making it quick and decisive on any road. This high-powered version delivers 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque to be an electric SUV worthy of the Mustang name. This setup could be good in the Bronco Lightning but might be more fitting in the Bronco Sport Lightning.
Mustang Mach-E Power On A Smaller Scale
The lower trims of the Mach-E provide a power range that delivers 266 to 346 horsepower and 317 to 428 lb-ft of torque. The Mach-E also rides on wheels that range in size from 18 to 20 inches while also delivering the benefits of adaptive dampers among a host of performance features. Will a Bronco Sport Lightning utilize the Mach-E platform? We’ll soon find out.
8An Expanded EV Lineup Pushes the Market Forward
Every New Electric Vehicle Is a Step Forward
Ford
Every decade in the automotive world has something to offer, but the current decade moves faster than any other. Only ten years ago, electric vehicles were regarded as small, limited, and slow. The only exception to this was the Tesla Model S. Today, we have new electric vehicles hitting every part of the market at an extremely rapid pace.
What’s Next For Electric Vehicles?
Adding a Ford Bronco Lightning to the mix brings a popular name to the off-road world and gives us an affordable option for some trail-riding fun. Could the EV world begin to move upmarket to heavy-duty pickup trucks next? Will electric semis become more widespread and popular? Automakers are currently working on solid-state battery technology, which could push the electric vehicle world forward, but every new EV increases the market with more options.
9The Ford Bronco Name Is Respected Among Off-Road Enthusiasts
A Platform Change For The Bronco Lightning
Ford
Ford announced plans to electrify its entire lineup of passenger vehicles in Europe by 2030 or sooner and in North America soon after. This makes it inevitable that we will see an electrified Bronco that could offer the off-road fun we’re after. Utilizing the Bronco name promises certain qualities in this SUV, although the electric model will ride on a new platform.
Several Dedicated Platforms Are Coming
Ford intends to build the new electric Bronco using the TE1 platform instead of the T6 platform shared by the ICE-powered Bronco and Ford Ranger. Several dedicated EV platforms are in the works to be shared among future models, helping bring an electric Ford lineup to the market.
10Beating The All-Electric Jeep Wrangler To Market Is A Big Deal
The Race Is On
Jeep has presented the Magneto models at Easter Jeep Safari events over the last couple of years. The Magneto is supposed to be the all-electric Jeep Wrangler, but it hasn’t been confirmed for sale yet. A Ford Bronco Lightning hitting the market first could do for the Bronco what the F-150 Lightning has done for the F-150.
Will Ford Be First?
Ford has the platform, the electric vehicle success, and the capability to quickly add an all-electric Bronco to the market. In fact, Ford has two platforms to bring both a full-size Bronco Lightning and a smaller Bronco Sport Lightning to the market for off-road enthusiasts to admire and enjoy. Will these electrified Broncos arrive before the electric Jeep Wrangler? That’s the million-dollar question of the day.
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