2023 Ford F-150 Lighting Professional Street Check: Does it nonetheless make sense at $60,000?

The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Professional that simply left my driveway is a primary instance of how pricing modifications can shift your entire perspective on a car. When Ford launched the Lightning for the 2022 mannequin yr, the Professional began at a dumbfoundingly good value of simply $41,769. At present, that very same truck will run you $61,869. What within the blazes occurred?

In line with Ford, supplies prices, provide chain struggles and market components occurred. Regardless of the rationale/excuse, although, such a value enhance in such a brief time period is solely unfathomable for any car. You is perhaps pondering to your self that the unique value was just too good to be true. I used to be curious myself how Ford managed to cost the Lightning as little as it did initially, and when queried in 2021, Ford’s basic supervisor for its battery-electric car division, Darren Palmer, had solutions. In a nutshell, Ford promised that it might nonetheless flip a revenue on the Lightning at its authentic value due to scale and elements sharing with the gasoline F-150 and its different EVs. It makes some sense — nothing sells higher than the F-150 in the USA.

Nearly two years later, although, and Ford’s potential to brag about profiting at that eye-popping low value is kaput. The vinyl-covered, base-spec work truck model of the Lightning is now an over-$60,000 proposition, and when you recognize the place the worth began from, it’s not possible to not really feel a bit of depressed concerning the truck’s competitiveness. Nonetheless, the “competitiveness” angle is the place Ford has truck patrons the place it desires them. 

What different electrical pickup are you going to purchase? There’s the Rivian R1T, however that’s each significantly smaller than the Lightning and goes for much more cash. After which there’s the Hummer EV Pickup, which is principally unobtainium for now till GM ramps up manufacturing. Neither are precisely what you consider when somebody says “pickup,” both. Others are coming, together with extra conventional choices from GM and Ram, however they’re not right here but. Consumers are subsequently left with the Lightning, nothing or the superb gas-powered work truck throughout the seller lot.

Ford particularly made the Lightning Professional for fleet obligation. Be that as it could, the Professional “work truck” with vinyl seats/flooring, no keyless entry and a plastic steering wheel is surprisingly nicely outfitted. If you’d like the same degree of apparatus and options in a gasoline-powered F-150 — together with the Professional’s included 2.4 kW Professional Energy Onboard generator system, LED headlights, 12-inch infotainment system, totally digital gauge cluster, dual-zone auto local weather management, heated seats and far more — you’re an F-150 XL PowerBoost hybrid that’s pushing nicely into the mid-$50,000 vary. Going with out Professional Energy and the requisite hybrid powertrain would avoid wasting cash, but it surely’s a troublesome characteristic to lose. Once you drill down on these like-for-like gear comparisons, the Lightning Professional that was wanting like a rip-off just some moments in the past appears prefer it has potential. Plus, there are a lot of benefits you get when choosing the Lightning.

For one, the Lightning is each faster and rides higher than any gasoline-powered F-150. Perhaps a fleet coordinator doesn’t care about such issues, however as an proprietor, these are large benefits. The Professional comes customary with 452 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque from its two electrical motors, getting it to 60 mph in lower than 5 seconds. Solely the F-150 Raptor R will beat it in a straight line. Its impartial rear suspension design means the journey high quality over poor pavement trounces that of gasoline-powered F-150’s. Driving a extra snug truck daily makes it price extra, particularly if the use case for such a truck might be as a day by day driver. The frunk is one other large plus, because it permits extra, straightforward to entry storage {that a} gas-powered F-150 would not. The whole silence of the powertrain and comfort of one-pedal driving are different large Lightning benefits over any of the gas-powered F-150s, even the PowerBoost hybrid. Except you’re one to relish within the roar of Ford’s 5.0-liter V8, there’s no beating the serenity of cruising round city with simply you, your ideas and a few tunes.

For all these causes, it’s logical that somebody would possibly pony up the additional money for a Lightning Professional as a substitute of a decked-out gas-powered work truck for private use. On the similar time, the Lightning has some limitations for those who’re shopping for it purely for work. Towing capability is perhaps respectable with the Prolonged Battery Pack and Max Trailer Tow Package deal at 10,000 kilos, however the distances you tow might be important to the acquisition determination. Vary whereas towing with the Lightning suffers drastically, and counting on our public charging infrastructure to create a seamless and dependable expertise for a enterprise might be a battle (at greatest) till the infrastructure improves. The precise driving expertise could also be one whereas towing (particularly for those who’re native), however we will nonetheless heartily suggest a gas-powered F-150 for any long-haul adventures.

Ford additionally limits retail customers who purchase the Lightning Professional to the usual battery pack, which is able to solely get you 240 miles of vary. In the meantime, industrial prospects are allowed to order the Professional with Ford’s greater pack — as our take a look at truck was outfitted — rated for 320 miles of vary. That is sensible for companies attempting to build up a fleet of automobiles that may haul or tow large hundreds, but it surely solely makes the Professional an excellent more durable monetary tablet to swallow. Ford prices an additional $10,000 for the additional 80 miles of vary, however companies must also notice that it unlocks the upper towing capability and extra horsepower for even faster acceleration — as a result of possibly your staff will get to their places faster because of this? I don’t know, I’m spit-balling right here.

Whatever the use case, a piece truck that steps into the $70,000 vary is, at face worth, an outrageous proposition. Maybe it’s the correct name for a enterprise particularly focusing on inexperienced transportation that’s already on a safe monetary footing. Or possibly you’ve been contemplating a nicely-optioned F-150 PowerBoost that’s already starting to method the Professional’s base value within the low $60,000 vary. Stepping as much as a Lightning Professional would possibly sound like a stretch, however maybe gasoline financial savings might cowl that margin over time? However, you can additionally simply purchase two completely base F-150 XLs with 8-foot beds and customary cabs for the worth of our take a look at truck. That gasoline burner will tow 8,200 kilos and haul 1,965 kilos with its 3.3-liter V6, and whereas large infotainment programs and high-tech options would possibly sound attractive, these aren’t going to maneuver the needle for companies attempting to make sound monetary selections and maximize how far their cash takes them. In comparison with a base XL work truck, the Lightning Professional appears like a luxurious truck in value. Plus, that “luxurious” truck nonetheless has vinyl seats and vinyl flooring.

This line of thought brings us again to the one logical scenario the place the Lightning Professional is sensible right now, which is as a private car. If you’d like an electrical truck for the least amount of cash, the Professional would nonetheless drive brilliantly, maintain the entire household, and be crammed with incredible tech – you’d simply should stay with vinyl seats. Sadly, as of this evaluate’s publishing, that is all theoretical because the Professional is at present bought out for retail prospects. Business patrons can go purchase their $60,000-plus work vans, however until Ford lowers the worth again down nearer to the extra cheap $40,000 vary, it’s going to stay a troublesome promote for many use instances past these parking it in a private storage.

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