Ford F-150 Lightning Now Makes 580 HP With Extended-Range Battery

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If you haven’t heard, production of the Ford F-150 Lightning is now underway. It kicked off April 26 with a livestream event from the Lightning assembly line in Dearborn, but Ford has a welcome surprise for customers waiting for their new truck. Regardless of trim level, all Lightnings exceed initial estimates for horsepower and payload capacity.

Trucks equipped with standard battery packs now have an official rating of 452 hp. That’s an increase of 26 horses over Ford’s initial estimate of 426 hp. For Lightnings with remote battery, power increases from 563 hp to 580 hp. Regardless of the battery pack, torque remains the same at 775 pound-feet for all applications. The Lightning’s forecast range is still 320 miles for the larger battery, though that figure is also up from its initial target in March.

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Along with more power, owners of the F-150 Lightning can also haul a little more than expected. Ford was targeting a 2,000 pound payload capacity, but that has been revised up to 2,235 pounds. Automakers want to note that load limits apply to properly equipped trucks.

“We are very focused on raising the bar for this truck, including after we reveal it, so we can provide more for our customers,” said F-150 Lightning Vehicle Engineering Manager Dapo Adewusi. “And our drive for continuous improvement will get a big boost when we start getting feedback and ideas from customers when they receive their Lightnings.”

The official announcement comes amid all kinds of unofficial chatter about Ford’s next electric truck. During the Lightning production launch party, Ford CEO Jim Farley directly referenced “another electric pickup different from this one” to be built in Tennessee. Last September, Ford announced the construction of a vast new manufacturing center in Tennessee that will build its next-generation battery and electric F-Series.

A Ford spokesperson confirmed with Motor1.com that Farley referenced Ford’s next-generation electric truck, but did not refer to it as the F-Series. Earlier today, our electrification colleagues at InsideEVs learned that Farley also mentioned this truck has active aero components, and a range that far exceeds the current F-150 Lightning. Everything points to a possible next-generation electric truck from Ford very different from anything currently offered in the F-Series family.

For now, the new Lightnings will be hitting dealers soon but unless you already have an order you likely won’t be buying them. Except for the cancellation of existing orders, all 2023 F-150 Lightnings were sold out.

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