The demise of the F150 Lightning is greatly exaggerated
New and improved is different from dead
Photo source, Ford.com
I think the demise is more like a rebirth. Ford is retiring the current configuration of the F150 Lightning, but a new-and-improved Lightning is on the way.
The old EV Lightning is being replaced by an EREV configuration, also named Lightning, and built in the same factory. EREV stands for Extended Range Electric Vehicle and has become the name of a vehicle where the wheels are driven only by electric motors and not the internal combustion engine, it has a full-size battery that can be charged from an EV charging station, the internal combustion engine which charges the battery as you drive, and a large gas tank. With a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas it has a very long range. When towing a trailer the range will be less but still among the longest ranges available.
Here is text from this Ford press release: https://www.fromtheroad.ford.com/us/en/articles/2025/next-gen-f-150-lightning-extended-range-electric-vehicle
“The F-150 Lightning is a groundbreaking product that demonstrated an EV pickup can still be a great F-Series,” said Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital and design officer. “Our next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV will be every bit as revolutionary. It delivers everything Lightning customers love — near instantaneous torque and pure electric driving. But with a high-power generator enabling an estimated range of 700+ miles, it tows like a locomotive. Heavy-duty towing and cross-country travel will be as effortless as the daily commute.”
Production of the current F-150 Lightning ends this year. The next-generation F-150 Lightning EREV also will be assembled at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn. Ford will share more details about the vehicle and launch timing at a later date."
Ford is no stranger to the EV business. Globally Ford competes in markets with higher EV sales than the US. USA today says 17% of Ford’s sales are EVs. On December 9 Ford of Europe announced a strategic partnership with Renault to produce commerical EVs. https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/feu/en/news/2025/12/09/Ford-Announces-Next-Phase-of-European-Strategy.html
My personal observation is that the internal combustion engine business has stagnated and shrinking. Most new vehicles sold use gasoline or diesel as the fuel, but the growth segment is Electric Vehicles. Every car manufacturer in the world has EVs in their lineup and future plans. Some car companies make EVs exclusively.
Here is a link to the USA Today article:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/ford/2025/12/15/ford-to-make-big-pivot-in-future-vehicle-offerings-add-a-new-business/87781567007/
Nevertheless, the all the domestic car companies seem to be focused on creating huge, extravagant, long range, luxury vehicles that just cost too much!
Electric watch makers also made expensive watches, but they blasted the mechanical watch makers out of business with the volume of their cheaper models.
“Everyman” would be interested in the cheaper, less frills auto that can carry them around town to work, doctor, or grocery store and be charged up on household current alone at night.
I have an EV with a 300 mile battery pack. Of which I use less than 10% a day. Where are the smaller, lighter, cheaper EV’s with 75 to 100 mile batteries?
I would like to trade-in my watt guzzler for such a car.
This sounds very expensive. The EV version of the lightning was expensive as well, and now they are turning the drive train into the same as a train locomotive (generator over electrical), along with a battery? Did my eyes deceive me? Who do they think is going to buy this truck?
I get the idea behind the fossil-fuel driven generator... it resolves the complaints of those EV truck holders that tow trailers. It also resolves distance issues during the wintertime use when away from your home charger.
I just don't think there will be that large a market for them. What is this? A $100k baseline model? Its got to be pricey.