When Lightning Strikes

The pickup truck is at the core of the American spirit. It’s synonymous with hard work, dependability and versatility. For many people, their pickup truck is at the center of their business, the irreplaceable modern workhorse they need to get the job done.

A few months ago, I wrote about the factors influencing mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs)—science, policy and technology. There are more electric sedans and SUVs announced every day. But, as the automotive world increasingly turns toward electrification, many Americans raised the question, “what about pickups?”

Several EV start-ups answered this call with exciting, innovative and futuristic electric trucks, but none are ready for mass production. That is until May 2021, when Ford became the first leading automaker to enter the electric pickup game. That’s right, I’m talking about the aluminum-bodied, all-electric F-150 Lightning.

The importance of the Lightning cannot be overstated, not only for the automotive industry and aluminum producers, but also for the nation and the planet. The aluminum-bodied internal combustion engine (ICE) F-150 is the number one selling vehicle in the U.S. The entire F-Series lineup of pickups offers a legacy that is well…legendary. And the legend now continues.

A game changer for the automotive industry. Truck people want a vehicle that will make their lives easier and work as hard as they do, and they want it to be safe and dependable. More and more, they also want it to be sustainable. Ford checked every box with the Lightning. The most impressive thing about this vehicle is that it’s battery powered and still delivers in all categories: safety, durability, performance, and yes, price. Ford has the market share and manufacturing capacity to build an electric pickup truck at a price point similar to its ICE counterpart, putting electric pickup trucks within reach of current full-size truck owners. Talk about breaking down barriers to EV adoption.

Spoiler alert, aluminum and EVs are a perfect pair. Aluminum is a key enabler for EVs. Batteries are heavy, and weight is the enemy of performance and efficiency. Aluminum allows automakers to reduce vehicle mass and extend range while maintaining and even improving safety and durability. But Ford already knew the advantages of aluminum.

In 2015, they introduced the aluminum-bodied F-150 and spent the last six years refining mass market aluminum manufacturing best practices. Thanks to its high-strength, energy absorbing aluminum body, the aluminum-bodied F-150 became the first full-size Ford pickup to earn a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)—up from the four-star safety rated steel-bodied truck of yesteryear. It’s safe to say Ford pioneered using aluminum to make great vehicles even better—and increased consumer demand for them along the way.

The heart of a nation. I could have written this entire post listing out every technical advantage aluminum holds for EVs and the automotive industry, but the significance of this moment must not be overlooked. Its electric motor may run silent, but Lightning’s impact on ushering in a new era of greener, lighter and higher performing pickups that are highly sought after by consumers will no doubt boom like thunder. A vehicle that so decisively defines our nation has entered the age of environmental consciousness. Electric pickup trucks signal the arrival of an electric awakening. Sustainability paired with increased productivity, allowing consumers to do more while helping protect the environment for generations to come.

From four wheels and a wooden stake bed to a supercomputer on wheels, the pickup truck has come a long way in the past 100 years. I can’t wait to see what innovations will follow the Lightning in the not-so-distant future.