Ford Replaces All-Electric F-150 Lightning With 700-Mile Extended Range Model

2025-12-16 companies

Dearborn, Tuesday, 16 December 2025.
Ford’s strategic shift replaces the all-electric Lightning with a generator-backed model, boasting a massive 700-mile range to eliminate towing anxiety while retaining electric performance.

Strategic Pivot to Extended Range Technology

In a decisive move to address the practical limitations of heavy-duty electric trucking, Ford Motor Company (F) announced on December 15, 2025, that it is ending production of its fully electric F-150 Lightning this year [1][7]. The automaker is replacing the battery-only model with a next-generation F-150 Lightning utilizing Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology [1][6]. This shift represents a major adaptation to consumer feedback regarding range anxiety and towing capabilities, promising a total driving range exceeding 700 miles (1,126 km) [1][3]. While the vehicle retains the performance characteristics of an electric powertrain—including sub-five-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph—it integrates a high-power onboard generator solely to recharge the battery system, eliminating the need for charging stops during long hauls [1][3].

Bridging the Capability Gap

The introduction of the EREV system aims to resolve the specific challenges that have hindered the widespread adoption of pure electric pickups. Unlike traditional hybrids where a combustion engine can drive the wheels directly, the new F-150 Lightning EREV is propelled 100 percent by electric motors [1][6]. Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV officer, emphasized that while the truck delivers the “pure electric driving” experience customers enjoy, the generator-backed architecture ensures it “tows like a locomotive,” making cross-country travel as effortless as a daily commute [1][7]. This technology allows the vehicle to function as a mobile power source, offering exportable electricity for homes and worksites, a feature carried over from the previous generation [1][7].

Financial Realities and Market Pressures

This product roadmap adjustment comes amidst significant financial headwinds and softening demand for the company’s current electric lineup. In November 2025 alone, sales of the F-150 Lightning plummeted by 60.8% [5]. While sales peaked in 2024 with 33,510 units delivered, the momentum slowed in 2025, with 25,583 units sold through the first 11 months of the year [3]. The financial toll of this transition is substantial; Ford anticipates a financial hit of approximately $19.5 billion associated with these strategic changes [8]. This figure compounds earlier losses, as the Ford Model e business unit reported a loss of $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2024 alone [5].

A New Roadmap: 2027 and Beyond

Ford’s revised strategy extends beyond the F-150, outlining a broader realignment of its manufacturing and product development slated for late 2027. The automaker has cancelled the “T3” program, which was intended to be the fully electric successor to the current Lightning [7][8]. Instead, Ford will focus on a new Universal EV Platform, debuting with a midsize electric pickup expected to start around $30,000 in 2027 [5]. Furthermore, the company is redeploying assets to capitalize on high-margin opportunities, including a new battery energy storage business (BESS) utilizing plants in Kentucky and Michigan [5][8]. By 2030, Ford aims for electrified vehicles—including hybrids, EREVs, and EVs—to comprise 50% of its global sales volume, a significant increase from the current 17% share [3][8].

Sources

electric vehicles automotive industry