New Ford F-150 Lightning Is No Longer Fully Electric, Offers Up to 680 Miles of Range

Ford appears to be acknowledging an obvious reality: a fully electric pickup works well—right up until you hook up a heavy trailer and head out on a long trip. As a result, after 2025 the current Ford F-150 Lightning will be phased out, making room for a far more practical replacement: the F-150 Lightning EREV.

Technically, it’s still an electric vehicle. The wheels are driven by electric motors, acceleration remains instant, and the familiar EV-style torque delivery is unchanged. The key difference is the addition of a gasoline engine—but not one that drives the wheels. Instead, it acts purely as a generator, with one simple mission: keep the battery from running dry at the worst possible moment.

The result is impressive. While today’s Lightning tops out at roughly 515 km (about 320 miles) of range, Ford estimates the EREV version will exceed 1,100 km (around 684 miles). For a pickup that’s often used for work and long-distance travel—not just grocery runs—that difference is huge.

With this move, Ford is clearly aiming straight at rivals like the Ram 1500 REV and the upcoming Scout Terra. Ram, for reference, claims a range of up to about 1,110 km (around 690 miles), 647 horsepower, and towing capacity of up to 6,350 kg (roughly 14,000 pounds). Full specifications for the Lightning EREV haven’t been released yet, but Ford clearly knows which league it’s entering.

The reason for the strategy shift isn’t exactly a secret. The biggest pain point for electric F-150 owners is towing. With a trailer attached, range drops dramatically, and charging stops can turn a long journey into a logistical challenge. Ford’s idea is that a gasoline generator eliminates the constant anxiety of watching the battery percentage tick down.

Doug Field, Ford’s chief EV, digital, and design officer, calls the new pickup just as revolutionary as the original Lightning. According to him, the model will retain everything people love about the electric version, while also being able to “pull like a locomotive” and handle long-distance driving without concern.

There are no official images of the Lightning EREV yet—all available photos show the current-generation truck. Ford says details on the powertrain, output, and towing capabilities will be revealed in the coming months. But one thing is already clear: the Lightning is no longer trying to be a “pure” EV—it’s focused on being useful.