Flash Mob: Ford Introduces F-150 Lightning Flash

Yes, I had to check the calendar to learn if this is April Fool’s Day. It is not. Ford announced this morning a new trim for their all-electric pickup truck. It has an extended range (320-mile) battery, popular equipment, and a price tag right at $70,000. 

Why the Flash? Why not, we guess is a better question. Though if Ford is going down this road, they better be prepared to also add the Lightning Strikes and Lightning Rod trims to its roster. Essentially an XLT with a few more tech tricks, the Flash packs that 131 kWh extended-range battery, available Ford BlueCruise, and throws in the 15.5-inch touchscreen as standard equipment. The goal, apparently, is to place this gear at a slightly more approachable price point, though we’ll note that 70 grand is still a lotta cheddar.

Improvements across the range include the notable addition of a heat pump for the 2024 model year, which is a piece of kit that should improve driving range in cold conditions. The unit will help improve heat transfer into the cabin but also reduce power consumption, a pair of goals seemingly at odds with one another but achievable with this tool. At risk of oversimplification, a heat pump takes ambient air, compresses it, and then uses the condenser’s heat to warm up the air it just grabbed from outside. This is miles more efficient, especially in terms of usage in an EV, than a simple resistive heater. Anyone with a heat pump installed in their residence (raises hand) will know what we’re on about, though it is worth saying that the things tend to stop working when temps get really frigid.

Ford also took the opportunity to reiterate that, starting in Spring 2024, F-150 Lightning drivers will have access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers. We all know this is a big deal and that the photo above, provided by Ford, would have been unobtanium not too long ago.

The range of 2024 F-150 Lightning trucks will throw open its order books early next year. As of this writing, Ford claims the standard-range Pro will cost $49,995, the standard-range XLT should be $57,495, followed by the extended-range Flash described above at $69,995. A Lariat ER is $77,495 while a Platinum ER is $89,995. Topping the list is a Platinum Black ER at $97,995.

[Images: Ford]

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