Ford told reporters this afternoon that production of the current F-150 Lightning electric truck will stop this month. The F-150 Lightning is an important part of the automaker’s plan to make more of its vehicles electric, but Ford said that they will no longer be made. This is a big part of Ford’s often-discussed electrification strategy. The next Ford F-150 Lightning will feature a plug-in hybrid system that extends range, with electric motors powering the wheels and a gasoline engine charging the batteries. Ford says the next-generation Lightning will have a total range of over 700 miles, but hasn’t said when it will come out. Ford made a big change to its electric car plans today. They will focus on more affordable EVs and hybrids in larger vehicles. Ford confirmed that production of the 2025 F-150 Lightning ended this month, marking the first step in the company’s new plan. In its next version, the EV pickup will be replaced by a plug-in hybrid that can drive farther. After the F-150 Lightning launched for the 2022 model year, an electric version of the most popular car in the US, Ford is now taking a different route with the next-generation model. But, there was never as much desire for electric trucks as expected. The updated F-150 Lightning will feature a range-extender setup, meaning the truck will have a gas engine that can act as a generator to extend the battery’s range. At the same time, the electric motors continue to power the wheels. Ford says its plug-in hybrid truck will have a range of over 700 miles, though there aren’t many details available yet. Ford says that the new engine would make it easier to drive long distances while still giving customers the EV features they want, like quiet running and fast acceleration. The business also thinks that people will be able to drive on just power nine days out of ten. Like the current Lightning EV, the next-generation model can power the owner’s home and outside tools during a power outage. No one knows when the next-generation F-150 Lightning will come out or what gas engine will power the generator. We expect a hold-up until the next Lightning begins to be made at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. Ford says this year’s Lightning production will end. Ford says that the current Lightning line staff will have to move to the Dearborn Truck Plant temporarily so a third crew can be added to help build more gas- and hybrid-powered F-150s.
