Due to plunging demand, one of the core electric fleet pickup truck models will be replaced by extended gas and hybrid versions in future model years.
Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup truck on display at the ACT Expo on May 1-4, 2023, in Anaheim, California.
Photo: Martin Romjue / Charged Fleet
When Ford officially unveiled its all-electric version of the best-selling Ford F-150 pickup truck, it heralded the Lightning as the commercial pickup truck pioneer, leading a new era of electrified fleets.
Since the livestreamed launch in May 2021 to worldwide fanfare, the fortunes of the EV industry have not transformed commercial and work truck fleets. On Dec. 15, the automaker announced the end of Lightning production, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
The Journal reported the OEM is "expected to take about $19.5 billion in charges, mainly tied to its electric-vehicle business, a massive hit as the automaker retrenches in the face of sinking EV demand. The sum is among the largest impairments taken by a company and marks the U.S. auto industry’s biggest reckoning to date that it can’t realize its electric-vehicle ambitions anytime soon," the report stated.
But Ford reassured the automotive industry that it will bring a $30,000 EV pickup to market by 2027, which the company says will be the first in a new lineup of low-cost EVs, the WSJ reported. It will also provide an extended range electric vehicle (EREV) pickup truck as a future option.
According to previous reports in Automotive Fleet and Charged Fleet, the 2022 F-150 Lightning was a pillar of Ford's more than $22 billion global electric vehicle plan.
The electric platform unlocked new capabilities, including enough energy to power an entire home and a massive, lockable frunk with power and charging capabilities to spare. Ford deployed standard over-the-air software updates, called Ford Power-Up, to improve the technology experience, add new features, and fix issues without trips to the dealership.
Among newsworthy developments in the electric pick-up truck's four-year model run 2022-2025:
The magazine highlighted the Telluride HEV, Niro HEV, and Sportage HEV for efficiency, performance, and overall value.
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Hyundai earns three top spots in U.S. News’ 2026 hybrid and EV rankings, led by repeat wins for the Tucson Hybrid and IONIQ 5 and a category win for the new IONIQ 9.
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An experimental model home shows how residential charging could enable electric fleet operations by allowing drivers to take EVs home.
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Subaru introduces the all-electric 2027 Getaway, a three-row SUV with 420 hp, over 300 miles of range, and fast-charging capability, expanding its EV lineup.
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EV sales showed strong month-over-month gains and surging used EV demand, while tighter inventory and declining prices narrowed the gap with gas-powered vehicles.
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At NAFA I&E 2026, WEX debuted an EV solution that adds a layer of verification to help fleets track, validate, and trust every at-home charging dollar.
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Lucid and Uber partner to provide at least 35,000 vehicles, backed by new investments totaling $750 million to support the deployment of autonomous fleets.
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Slate Auto will use the money to advance production plans, with more than 160,000 reservations and deliveries targeted for late 2026.
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EV Realty opens a 76-port, 9 MW truck charging hub in San Bernardino, designed to support more than 200 medium- and heavy-duty vehicles per day with CCS and MCS capability.
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Learn about a new level of energy management that helps fleets control costs while maintaining service reliability. [VIDEO]
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