After three years of owning the Ford F-150 Lightning EV, this man says his relationship with it is complicated
Published on Jul 28, 2025 at 11:06 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
How does a Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup truck hold up after 20,000 miles and three years? Well, it’s a bit complicated.
Ford unveiled its EV F-150 truck back in 2021 and production began the following year.
Due to the popularity of the ICE version of the truck, which was once the most popular vehicle sold in the US, it had some high expectations.
So, how has the Ford F-150 Lightning fared?
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How has the Ford F-150 Lightning fared over three years?
There are plenty of folks itching to share their experiences after switching from a gas-powered truck to an EV, like this guy who is ‘head over heels’ with his Ford F-150 Lightning.
However, when it came to the folks from Edumnds Cars, the feelings were a bit muddy.
They recently posted a review on the Edmunds Cars YouTube channel, detailing the good and the bad about the Ford F-150 Lightning.
The EV pickup has been put through its paces by the team, having been used for everything from tractor pulls to home removals.
“The Lightning makes a terrific tow rig, it’s super torquey and very quiet,” the team said.
When it comes to range, the team was also impressed.
They were able to take the Ford F-150 Lightning 345 miles on a single charge, which is about 25 miles further than the EPA estimate.
Now, it’s important to note that the model in question does have the extended range battery, so it offers more miles per charge than the stock standard model.
Comparing it to other similar EV pickup trucks, like the Chevy Silverado EV and the Tesla Cybertruck, the Edmunds team thinks the Ford F-150 Lightning is the ‘only conventional pickup’ and also the one that would feel the most familiar to existing truck owners.
OK, so far so good, right?
But the team then shared some bits that they were less impressed with.
They started off by pointing out that the truck’s weight made it feel ‘portly and wobbly’ when driving on bumps, particularly at highway speeds.
They also said that while the big battery offered lots of range, it also took a long time to charge.
And the range is seriously cut down when using it to tow a trailer, compared to the F-150 hybrid, which the team also tested.
All in all, would the team recommend a Ford Lighting F-150?
“That’s a bit of a complicated question, not because we didn’t like our Lightning, but because of how much we loved our F-150 hybrid,” they said.
They added that ‘both trucks were great’ but noted that you’d spend a lot less time filling up the hybrid than you would charging the Lightning.
Tempted to get your own EV? Act now
If you’re considering buying an EV for your next vehicle and you live in the US, then experts are urging folks to act now.
After September, the $7,500 federal tax credit for EV will be cut, meaning all eligible EVs will effectively cost $7,500 more.
“Now is the time to buy,” director of industry insights at Cox Automotive Stephanie Valdez Streaty told CNBC.
She also suggested that some dealers may offer even better savings to help create a sense of urgency about the tax credit running out.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
