Ford is a truck expert. For over 40 years, Ford has dominated the U.S. pickup truck market with its F-Series pickup trucks. Ford’s investments in electric cars have seen impressive growth over the past year. The company now owns more than 10% of America’s electric vehicle market. The F-150 Lightning brought together these two categories, EVs and trucks. This electric truck is in high demand. Logistically, Ford’s next big EV product is the Ford Ranger Lightning.
Lightning Rumors
Ford already makes an electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. Is there enough demand to make another? The F-150 Lightning is in high demand. There were 200,000 pre-orders for the truck before production began. This shows that there is a lot of interest in this electric pickup. Ford’s Ranger has been a top-selling model since its reintroduction and the compact pickup truck market continues to grow.
Ford will now have an electric pickup in the growing pickup truck market. The Ranger Lightning will also make it more affordable for consumers. Ford plans to produce more than 2,000,000 electric vehicles each year by 2026. The Ranger Lightning is an integral part of that plan.
Although the Ranger Lightning is being referred to as Ford’s first electric compact pickup truck it’s not true. Ford produced a limited number of Ranger EVs (around 1,500) from 1998 to 2002 primarily for commercial purposes, but they were also made available to retailers. Although the EV was identical to the Ford Ranger’s standard model, the battery-powered engine was replaced by a motor.
It had a range of fewer than 100 miles and dropped quickly when loaded. The new Ranger Lightning could in some ways be considered the second-generation electric Ford Ranger. It will be very different from the original Ranger Lightning. Before you go off-road, make sure to read the Owner’s manual. Also, be familiar with your trail conditions and terrain. Use appropriate safety gear.
Some have speculated that Ford would keep the Lightning name on the F-150 and that the Ranger electric would carry a different name. Some publications suggested that it could be called Ranger Thunder. Ford appears to be sticking with the Lightning name. Ford filed a trademark application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office earlier this year for the names Ranger Lightning, and Maverick Lightning. As of the writing, no filings have been reported to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It is possible, however, that Ford will continue to use the Lightning name for the Ranger and Maverick, as it is used in America.
Built-in Tennessee
Ford’s new electric vehicle center in Stanton (TN), where the Ranger Lightning will be manufactured, is called BlueOval City. The new complex will feature EV assembly, battery manufacturing, and battery recycling. Two plants will be operated by Ford and SK Innovation to produce and recycle batteries. The facility will run on 100% renewable energy and produce zero waste in landfills. It is expected to create 11,000 jobs in the area.
Ford’s president, Jim Farley, stated that the F-150 Lightning’s production was about to begin. He said that “We’re already driving dirt down in Blue Oval City, Tennessee for another electric pickup truck.” This truck will be called the Ranger Lightning.
New Platform
Although the Ford F-150 Lightning looks like a regular F-150, the chassis is custom-built on an all-new frame. This frame was specifically designed to hold the batteries. The new 2025 Ranger Lightning will arrive on the market next year. The new model may be built on a platform that can accommodate multiple powertrains including hybrid gas-electric variants or fully-electric Lightning. It is still to be determined. The Ranger Lightning will likely be produced at the Blue Oval City facility, which is dedicated to electric vehicle production.
Modern Styling
Ford has not released images of the next-generation Ford Ranger in America, but it has shown a Ranger for Australia, which could give us a hint as to what to expect. The pickup’s updated design is more in line with the F-Series. It features a grille that incorporates elements from the Maverick’s design and the F-150’s signature LED running lights.
The new Ranger Lightning won’t require airflow to cool its internal combustion engine. Instead, it will feature a solid grille similar to the F-150 Lightning. It would be no surprise to see the same light strip across the grille as the F-150 Lightning. The Ranger Lightning will likely be similar to the F-150 Lightning in its basic dimensions and shape.
The F-150 Lightning has many innovative features, but the Mega Power Frunk is a fan favorite. Ford has created a 14.1 cubic-foot cargo area that can be fully covered with a power-operated lid, instead of the V8 engine at the front. There are multiple outlets and moveable organizers inside, which make it easy to store large items out of direct sunlight. Consumers will expect Ranger Lightning to have a similar feature due to its popularity.
Expected Capability
Ford’s F-150 Lightning was designed to provide the same level of utility and performance as the gasoline-powered version. The F-150 Lightning can haul up to 10,000 pounds and tow as high as 2,235 pounds, which is comparable to its gas-powered sibling. The Ranger Lightning will have similar abilities to the gas-powered Ranger, which can tow up to 7,500 pounds and haul 1,860 lbs.
The Ranger Lightning will likely be launched with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive system that is similar to the F-150 Lightning. Ford might offer an electrified Ranger with one rear motor at some point. Ranger Lightning must have a range of at least 300 miles to compete with other electric vehicles.
Ford first introduced the concept of an onboard generator in the F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid. The Lightning offers even more power. The Lightning, also known as Pro Power Onboard or Pro Power Onboard, can produce up to 9.6kW of power and has multiple 110 and 220 outlets that are conveniently located in the truck’s cabin, truck bed, and frunk. This is enough power to power a typical house, job site, or campsite in an emergency.
Ford even demonstrated how the Lightning could charge another electric vehicle, thereby redefining jump start. This innovation will be a key feature of any Ford electrified pickup truck, including the Ranger Lightning.
Competitors
Current competitors to the Ford Ranger are the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado, and GMC Canyon. General Motors and Toyota have both announced plans to electrify all of their lineups over the next few years. Chevrolet has already introduced its full-size Silverado electric vehicle, which will arrive in early 2019.
Although none of these compact pickups from competitors are currently available as EVs, there are rumors that electric versions of the Tacoma Canyon, Colorado, and Ranger Lightning will be.
Trim Levels and Pricing
There are many trim levels for the Ford Ranger, including XL and Lariat. You can also get special add-on packages such as the STX Special Edition and Tremor Off-Road Pack. The new Ranger Lightning will likely match these trim levels when it arrives.
The Ranger Lightning would cost $7,000 to $10,000 more than an F-150 Lightning. The Ranger Lightning would have a starting price of around $35,000-$40,000, which would be reduced by the available federal and state tax credit.
What’s the best time to do it?
Ford will unveil the next-generation, gas-powered Ranger before the Ranger Lightning arrives. The truck is likely to arrive before the end of the year. Ford will announce the Ranger Lightning in 2024 if it follows the same timeline as the F-150 Lightning. Trucks should arrive by 2024 or 2025 if Ford follows that path.
The Ranger Lightning is sure to be a huge hit due to the success of the F-150 Lightning, and the phenomenal growth in Ford’s electric vehicle sales. We expect Lightning to strike twice, with several models in the pipeline. This would be a fantastic name for an electric Ford truck that is high-performance, in case Ford is paying attention.
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