One of the most shocking announcements just happened: the F-150 Lightning is being discontinued. Not only is it one of my favorite EVs, but it was actually the first all-electric vehicle I drove — I credit it for jump-starting my interest in the best electric cars around.
I’m disappointed because the end of the F-150 Lightning leaves a big hole to fill in the full-sized pickup truck segment. But Ford’s not throwing in the towel just yet because the company plans to release an F-150 Lightning EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle) that supposedly will get 700 miles of range.
Unlike the all-electric F-150 Lightning, this EREV version will have a similar electric powertrain to deliver instant acceleration. However, it’s backed by a gas engine that acts like a generator.
Even with my disappointment about the F-150 being discontinued, I’m also not surprised. For starters, Ford’s already planning to come out with a midsize electric truck that will start at $30,000. Here’s why I’m not surprised by this shakeup.
Rivian beats Ford at its own game
In the last year of testing out new EVs every week, I’ve become spoiled by what other electric pickup trucks offer. Take the Rivian R1T Tri that I’ve tested as an example. Despite costing more at $99,900, the R1T Tri offers substantially better performance than the comparably equipped $91,080 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum I just drove last month.
What’s even more telling is that I see way more Rivian R1T models on the road than I do the F-150 Lighting. That says a lot, but it’s even more poignant when Rivian’s stock soared recently after the company announced a strong push for autonomy.
Considering that Ford’s been in the business of making pickup trucks for ages, you’d think the F-150 Lightning would have the upper hand — but it doesn’t. When I compare the Ford F-150 Lightning to the Rivian R1T, there’s clearly a lot of meticulous thinking behind the R1T’s design.
Not only does the R1T Tri have one of the most modern-looking interior spaces around, smaller details like the gear tunnel that runs across the vehicle for extra storage prove why it’s way better. Even though Ford's BlueCruise tech works nicely to drive the F-150 Lightning on its own, Rivian offers the best ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) around. I'd go as far to say it's the thing I trust most to drive for me.
I can go on and on, but my point here is that Ford was completely outdone in every single way by a company founded in 2009. That says a lot on why the F-150 Lightning failed to be the leader in the full-size pickup truck segment.
Slate Truck could be the better disruptor
One of the biggest reasons why the EV revolution has stalled is due to the outrageous prices of EVs. Kelly Blue Book’s latest report lists EVs with an average price of $57,245. The base trim of Ford’s all-electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning Pro, is practically at that price. Ford already has plans to come out with a midsize electric pickup that should cost $30,000, but the Jeff Bezos-backed Slate Auto could be the disruptive force that could undermine Ford’s ambitions.
What makes the Slate Truck attractive is the fact that this all-electric two seater pickup is going to have a starting price of $20,000. That’s a significant fraction of what most EVs sell for right now; more importantly, it adds pressure on Ford to justify its midsize electric truck costing more.
Now to be fair, that price for the Slate Truck gets you a bare bones vehicle that has manual seats and windows — along with no displays whatsoever. Rather than going the traditional route of offering different trim levels and packages, Slate Auto is going with an a la carte model where you select the add-ons. Needless to say, it’s an intriguing concept, but fundamentally a disruptive one that Ford needs to be mindful about.
The first Slate shipments are expected to arrive in late 2026, while Ford’s planned midsize pickup won’t arrive until 2027. Considering Slate Auto’s going to have a head start, I just hope Ford can adapt to ward off this potential disruptor.
Overcoming the PHEV conundrum
Ironically, Ford explicitly says in its announcement that “the next-generation F-150 Lightning will offer the best of both worlds.” As much as I agree with that, it’s exactly what I’ve been saying all this time about PHEVs.
However, the problem with current plug-in hybrids is that they’re stuck in no man’s land due to how they’re priced. Take the Kia Niro as an example. It's available in three versions — a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric. The standard hybrid costs $27,090, while the EV version costs $39,600. Meanwhile, the PHEV sits at $34,490, which makes me question whether it’s worth getting over the all-electric model.
I’m hoping that the Ford F-150 Lightning EREV doesn’t end up in the same pitfall as other PHEVs I’ve tested, in the sense that there’s not much financial justification for buying it — more so when the company already has an F-150 hybrid in its lineup. That model has an MSRP of $39,330, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the EREV ends up being more. One thing it absolutely needs to do is be under the base cost of the current F-150 Lightning at $54,780.
If Ford wants to prove to consumers that it’s offering the best of both worlds, it needs to make a statement by pricing this EREV appropriately to warrant people to choose it over the current hybrid.
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