Important Update: The Ford EV Roadmap and Future of F-150 Lightning (EREV Next Gen Model)

[alexose]

Feels like the sort of design-by-committee that keeps legacy auto from innovating. "Can't decide between EV or ICE? How about both?"

By appealing to everyone, it appeals to no one...

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[Quibbs]

Too bad.
One of the best vehicles I have owned.

All things considered, I believe Ford made a lot of good calls with the design of the Lightning.

I think some of this course correction comes from the fallout of having an anti-ev regime in charge. Automakers are affected by federal laws and politics is a nasty business.

Maybe some of it was baked in from the beginning. Beleiving Ford F150 owners were a good group to convert over to EVs in large enough numbers to justify a large outlay.

Perhaps knowing half the dealers weren't really onboard didn't help. Finally the cost...the cost that tariffs introduced, retooling, competition, labor and other bottlenecks in the supply chain all probably contributed.

Surely the market for 70k trucks is finite. Especially on tech that will just improve and impact the values of vehicles in a way cars have not traditionally been affected by.

What I don't believe is the majority of hold outs were because of the range. Most people just don't do that much towing, as implied by today's post.

What I have now, that I did not have yesterday, is confirmation I own a discontinued product. We can argue about what that means and the praticallity of it. As much as I appreciate my Lightning I will be looking at other options now. If there was barely incentive for a lot of dealers to support Ford's ev truck before, this certainly cannot help.

I don't know for sure what was the biggest driver in all this. What I do know is that while Ford is doing what they think is best for them, I am going to do what I think is best for me. Luckily there are a few non range extending EV options either out now or coming out that I will now consider. My time frame to change my vehicle to something else has just been greatly accelrated.

Oh well.

 

[Jarratt]

That’s disappointing. I don’t need two powertrains. I got rid of my i3 REX and went to an i3 BEV when range got to 150 miles. Maintaining the gas engine was the worst part of the Rex.

The current truck meets my needs now. I’m not towing across the country. It just needs a little faster charging.

I don't see it that way. In my view the powertrain remains the same. Electricity is now supplied via all charging options available today supplemented by juice provided by an onboard generator (powered by gas). Maintenance cost for the generator will vary on usage, but the overall maintenance profile will still far less than ICE.

 

[LUXMAN]

The thought that these will be collectible, IMO is a fantasy. As the batteries age there won't be replacements. Get out when you can before 2035. They will be worthless. Again, IMO.

I would rather have a cybertruck then an EREV anything. @Ford Motor Company

 

[OpenMinded150]

Hi F-150 Lightning owners,

I’m coming to you today with an update on our product roadmap. There has been a lot of speculation recently and we just went live with some news. So, I want to give you the facts straight from Ford, explain what is changing, and more importantly, why.

With the F-150 Lightning, we proved an electric truck could be a hit, and it has remained the best-selling electric pickup. Let’s be real about what we’ve learned from you, the owners, and the market over the last few years. You love the electric performance, smoothness, and the tech, but for those that drive long distances, take frequent trips or tow heavy loads across state lines often, an F-150 Lightning might not be the truck for them. And we want it to be.

We took a bet, produced an amazing product that so many people love, and now we’re making adjustments in response to evolving market realities, consumer preferences, and the regulatory environment. No one could have predicted how the EV landscape would change in the U.S., which has impacted the industry.
That is why our next-generation F-150 Lightning will be an EREV. 100% electric power delivery, sub-5-second acceleration – and adds an estimated 700+ mile range with locomotive-like towing capability. That is a game-changer for our customers. Like the current F-150 Lightning, the next-gen version will also offer exportable electricity that can power everything from work sites to camp sites to homes during a power outage.

For those who aren’t familiar with EREVs, this isn't a traditional plug-in hybrid. This is an electric vehicle with an on-board generator. It’s designed to give you the electric capability you enjoy around town, but with the range and towing confidence of a gas truck when you’re hauling a boat or camper. It will be assembled right here in Dearborn at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.

What this means for the current generation F-150 Lightning and “T3” truck​

Production of the current generation of F-150 Lightning will end this year, and we have also made the decision to no longer produce the next-generation full-size electric truck, also known as “T3”. For those that still wish to purchase a MY25 F-150 Lightning, we have good inventory and interested customers can purchase from dealer stock.

If you have an order in, or were waiting on one, please contact your dealer immediately to see if your vehicle will be built or if they can match you to an existing stock unit.

As for existing Lightning customers who might be coming off lease or looking or a new Lightning, we are looking at the following:

• Assist early adopters to purchase or lease a new 25MY Lightning
• Offering extensions to customers who wish to extend their leases beyond the original term
• Providing dealer support to help match customer with available inventory

What about support for my current F-150 Lightning?​

I know reading "production is ending" can be nerve-wracking for current owners. I want to be clear: We are committed to ensuring ongoing support of your vehicle’s software updates, quality and experience. Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years. The team is not walking away from the current F-150 Lightning, and I’m not going anywhere.

The Ford Universal EV Platform​

While we shift F-150 Lightning to EREV, we are absolutely maintaining our plans and investment in the next generation of affordable EVs. The new Universal EV (UEV) platform is now more important than ever for Ford. UEV platform development is well underway. This flexible architecture will underpin a new family of smaller, more affordable, and cost-efficient vehicles—starting with a midsize pickup in 2027.

There is no impact to Mustang Mach-E. Mustang Mach-E is a great success story and is now available in almost 60 markets across the globe. It continues to be a standout electric SUV and plays an important role in the portfolio.

Other News: Battery Technology​

We are also making moves to make our business more sustainable. We are repurposing our Kentucky battery plant to build large-scale battery storage systems (for grid and industrial use), and our Michigan plant will be focusing on prismatic LFP cells. The same Michigan plant will be ramping up production in 2026 to power the new midsize electric truck built on our new Universal EV Platform.

Ford has been in manufacturing for over a century. We understand power management, thermal systems, safety engineering, and large-scale manufacturing. Our licensed LFP prismatic technology is proven, and our brand represents long-term accountability critical for 20+ year infrastructure investments.

I know this is a lot of news, and for the BEV purists, this might be tough to hear. We have a huge opportunity to get more people driving electric – whether that be plug-in hybrid, extended-range electric or pure electric vehicles and our plans set us up to succeed in this mission.

You can read the press release on this news here. I’ll be in the comments a later tonight to answer what I can.

Brian from Ford

Brian I have 115,000 miles on my 23 lightning. And I’m still in shock at this article. But I have to say my initial reaction is not good. Disappointing ford is abandoning an all electric truck option. Was really hoping to to get the next gen lightning.

 

[Temix]

Honestly, as someone who’s done with gas engines and endless dealer visits, this letter pretty much seals it for me - my next truck will be fully electric, just not a Ford

 

[bc1]

On another note, Ford said they were taking a 20 Billion dollar write off for this. I'd like to see $75,000 in the form of a check to me as part of that write off.

 

[NikonJim]

I don't see it that way. In my view the powertrain remains the same. Electricity is now supplied via all charging options available today supplemented by juice provided by an onboard generator (powered by gas). Maintenance cost for the generator will vary on usage, but the overall maintenance profile will still far less than ICE.

The BMW i3 was a generator as well, it was the only part of the car that had issues. Gasoline engines don’t like to sit idle for long periods of no use. BMW pressurized the gas tank to try and maintain the freshness of the gasoline(keep water out), but it still had issues with that system as well as other issues. It requires annual oil changes regardless of hours of use. I’ve seen this movie before and didn’t like it.

 

[Jamchampnate]

I think you're seriously over estimating the size of the battery pack on the EREV... probably by 2x or so.

Agreed. They are bleeding money on the lightning right now especially because the size of the battery and its cost associated with it so this battery is going to be significantly smaller. I bet you anything that electric only range is gonna be about 120 to 150 miles and the rest is gonna be gas.

 

[Jarratt]

I didn't buy the Lightning to have my next truck be a step backwards.. this is silly and reactive. Shame on the United States for this crap.

FWIW, I see EREV as a huge step forward.

Eventually the much needed step-chage improvement in battery performance will come from new tech that reduces weight and charge times and, most importantly, extracts cost. I suspect Ford and other EV makers (especially those trying to serve high power markets) had hoped solid state and other techs would have completed the arduous qualification process by now. Not only has that not happened, but the pace of progress is lagging. I don't see any transformative battery techs hitting the sector in the next 5 years -- I follow the space closely.

 

[AltitudeAdventurer]

Ditto with most other comments or at least their main point. Not only has this been the best truck I have owned, but definitely the best vehicle! It's not without its faults, but that's the case with all vehicles.

Truly disappointing news...

 

[Aminorjourney]

People who say this is a step forward have never owned a PHEV that's broken down. It's more complicated than an EV and less reliable.

i3 REx was less reliable than the i3.
Volt was less reliable than the Bolt

I've been covering this industry for 20 years, and seriously, it feels like everything we've done in the last 20 years has just been wiped out by [redacted] wanting to [redacted] POTUS.

 

[Oafy44]

Call me skeptical but thinking this is another Jim Farley marketing pitch that won’t happen-all it takes is a progressive president to be elected with a good chance of house /senate flip and ford will be scrambling to resurrect an amazing electric truck. Looks like now Ford caved to probably mostly Russian bots posting about the lightning instead of rolling coal. I have an f350 diesel and love it and my lighting. But in America can’t love two sides of the coin anymore.

Wasn’t it just a few months Farley and Ford had an evening “you tube sign up reveal” about the T3 that didn’t even reveal a truck?

They are grasping for straws and will take a true leader to be the new CEO of Ford. And until they fire Farley stuff like today will keep happening. He can’t even move a stock price more then a few $$ since he took over with recalls still at all time highs (after he said their mission was to correct them a few years ago) and the wobbling on the EV lightning platform over the past 4 years because of what a bunch of people who buy 1 truck every 10 years think.

I’ll go out on a limb and say by the time Ford comes out with what they said they are -new battery tech will be available

 

[Lightningwaiter]

Hi F-150 Lightning owners,

I’m coming to you today with an update on our product roadmap. There has been a lot of speculation recently and we just went live with some news. So, I want to give you the facts straight from Ford, explain what is changing, and more importantly, why.

With the F-150 Lightning, we proved an electric truck could be a hit, and it has remained the best-selling electric pickup. Let’s be real about what we’ve learned from you, the owners, and the market over the last few years. You love the electric performance, smoothness, and the tech, but for those that drive long distances, take frequent trips or tow heavy loads across state lines often, an F-150 Lightning might not be the truck for them. And we want it to be.

We took a bet, produced an amazing product that so many people love, and now we’re making adjustments in response to evolving market realities, consumer preferences, and the regulatory environment. No one could have predicted how the EV landscape would change in the U.S., which has impacted the industry.
That is why our next-generation F-150 Lightning will be an EREV. 100% electric power delivery, sub-5-second acceleration – and adds an estimated 700+ mile range with locomotive-like towing capability. That is a game-changer for our customers. Like the current F-150 Lightning, the next-gen version will also offer exportable electricity that can power everything from work sites to camp sites to homes during a power outage.

For those who aren’t familiar with EREVs, this isn't a traditional plug-in hybrid. This is an electric vehicle with an on-board generator. It’s designed to give you the electric capability you enjoy around town, but with the range and towing confidence of a gas truck when you’re hauling a boat or camper. It will be assembled right here in Dearborn at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.

What this means for the current generation F-150 Lightning and “T3” truck​

Production of the current generation of F-150 Lightning will end this year, and we have also made the decision to no longer produce the next-generation full-size electric truck, also known as “T3”. For those that still wish to purchase a MY25 F-150 Lightning, we have good inventory and interested customers can purchase from dealer stock.

If you have an order in, or were waiting on one, please contact your dealer immediately to see if your vehicle will be built or if they can match you to an existing stock unit.

As for existing Lightning customers who might be coming off lease or looking or a new Lightning, we are looking at the following:

• Assist early adopters to purchase or lease a new 25MY Lightning
• Offering extensions to customers who wish to extend their leases beyond the original term
• Providing dealer support to help match customer with available inventory

What about support for my current F-150 Lightning?​

I know reading "production is ending" can be nerve-wracking for current owners. I want to be clear: We are committed to ensuring ongoing support of your vehicle’s software updates, quality and experience. Like all vehicles, we will maintain parts and service for 10 years. The team is not walking away from the current F-150 Lightning, and I’m not going anywhere.

The Ford Universal EV Platform​

While we shift F-150 Lightning to EREV, we are absolutely maintaining our plans and investment in the next generation of affordable EVs. The new Universal EV (UEV) platform is now more important than ever for Ford. UEV platform development is well underway. This flexible architecture will underpin a new family of smaller, more affordable, and cost-efficient vehicles—starting with a midsize pickup in 2027.

There is no impact to Mustang Mach-E. Mustang Mach-E is a great success story and is now available in almost 60 markets across the globe. It continues to be a standout electric SUV and plays an important role in the portfolio.

Other News: Battery Technology​

We are also making moves to make our business more sustainable. We are repurposing our Kentucky battery plant to build large-scale battery storage systems (for grid and industrial use), and our Michigan plant will be focusing on prismatic LFP cells. The same Michigan plant will be ramping up production in 2026 to power the new midsize electric truck built on our new Universal EV Platform.

Ford has been in manufacturing for over a century. We understand power management, thermal systems, safety engineering, and large-scale manufacturing. Our licensed LFP prismatic technology is proven, and our brand represents long-term accountability critical for 20+ year infrastructure investments.

I know this is a lot of news, and for the BEV purists, this might be tough to hear. We have a huge opportunity to get more people driving electric – whether that be plug-in hybrid, extended-range electric or pure electric vehicles and our plans set us up to succeed in this mission.

You can read the press release on this news here. I’ll be in the comments a later tonight to answer what I can.

Brian from Ford

I hope they have an electric only version. I do not want to have any gas. I have moved on and don’t need two power plants in my vehicle.

 

[jmc6020]

Awesome news!

I hope this was sarcasm.

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