2027 Ford F-150 Lightning EREV
The 2027 Ford F-150 Lightning EREV is one of Ford's most significant changes to its electric-truck strategy. Instead of returning as another battery-electric pickup, the next-generation Lightning will use an Extended Range Electric Vehicle system that combines electric motors with a gasoline-powered generator.
The important distinction is that the generator does not drive the wheels. According to Ford, the truck will remain 100 percent electrically propelled while the gasoline engine generates electricity for the battery when additional energy is needed. Ford's headline target is more than 700 miles of estimated total range. That could address one of the biggest challenges facing electric truck owners today: maintaining useful range during long-distance travel and towing.
Key Takeaways:
- The next-generation F-150 Lightning is moving from a battery-electric system to an EREV architecture.
- Ford estimates more than 700 miles of total range with the generator-backed system.
- Electric motors will provide propulsion, preserving the instant torque and quiet operation associated with an EV.
- Ford says the Lightning EREV will accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
- Final battery size, generator specifications, towing capacity, pricing, charging times, and launch timing have not yet been announced.
What is the 2027 Ford F-150 Lightning EREV?
The Lightning EREV is the next generation of Ford's electric F-150, but it works differently from the previous model. The earlier Lightning used a large battery pack and electric motors exclusively. The new version adds a gasoline-powered generator that can produce electricity for the battery when additional range is needed.
According to Ford, the wheels are still driven entirely by electric motors. That means the driver should experience the immediate torque and smooth acceleration associated with a battery-electric truck rather than the mechanical power delivery of a conventional hybrid. Edmunds describes the architecture as essentially a series plug-in hybrid, where the gasoline engine's primary job is generating electricity rather than directly powering the wheels.
| 2027 Lightning EREV | What Ford Has Confirmed |
|---|---|
| Propulsion | Electric motors |
| Range | More than 700 miles estimated |
| Acceleration | 0-60 mph in under 5 seconds |
| Range extender | Gasoline-powered generator |
| Power export | Work sites, campsites, and home backup |
| Production | Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn |
These are manufacturer-announced targets rather than final EPA or instrumented test results. Car and Driver notes that many of the truck's final specifications are still unavailable.
Why is Ford switching the Lightning to an EREV?
The change is primarily about solving the limitations of a large electric pickup on long trips. Ford says it listened to Lightning owners and identified heavy towing and long-distance travel as areas where the all-electric truck could be difficult to use. According to Ford, the next-generation Lightning will combine the electric driving experience customers want with significantly more range.
The company specifically describes the new truck as having an estimated 700-plus-mile range and much stronger long-distance towing potential. That approach also reduces the need to make the battery enormous enough to provide several hundred miles of range while towing. Instead, the truck can use its battery for electric propulsion and rely on the generator when the battery needs additional energy.
How does an EREV work in the F-150 Lightning?
An EREV sits between a traditional battery-electric vehicle and a conventional hybrid in how its powertrain is organized. The battery supplies electricity to the electric motors, and those motors turn the wheels. The gasoline engine is used as a generator to produce additional electrical energy rather than mechanically driving the truck.
That distinction means the driving experience can remain fundamentally electric. The Lightning EREV will preserve near-instantaneous torque and 100 percent electric power delivery. The system also means owners can potentially use battery power for shorter daily trips and rely on the generator when longer journeys make a conventional charging schedule less convenient.
How far can the 2027 F-150 Lightning EREV travel?
Ford's current target is more than 700 miles of estimated total range. That figure represents the overall driving capability of the truck using its battery and generator rather than an EPA rating that has already been certified.
The previous all-electric Lightning was rated for up to 320 miles with its largest available battery. Car and Driver notes that the EREV's projected range would therefore represent a dramatic increase in total travel capability. There is an important qualification for shoppers, however: Ford has not yet published the Lightning EREV's battery capacity, electric-only range, generator fuel capacity, or EPA fuel-economy rating. Those numbers will be necessary to understand how much of the truck's 700-plus-mile capability comes from the battery and how frequently the generator may operate.
Will the Lightning EREV tow better than the old Lightning?
Ford has not released a numerical towing rating for the new truck yet, but towing is one of the primary reasons the company is making the change. Ford says the Lightning EREV will "tow like a locomotive," while also emphasizing that the generator-backed system is intended to make long-distance towing easier.
The issue with any battery-electric truck is that towing can dramatically reduce range.
The additional weight and aerodynamic drag of a trailer require more energy, and a long charging stop can become significantly more complicated when the truck and trailer have to be positioned at a compatible charging station. Edmunds specifically identified long-distance towing and the limited availability of truck-and-trailer-friendly fast-charging locations as major weaknesses of the previous Lightning. The EREV system is designed to address that problem without giving up electric propulsion.
Will the Lightning EREV still drive like an electric truck?
That is one of the things Ford is most confident about. The company says the next-generation Lightning will retain sub-five-second 0-to-60-mph acceleration and near-instantaneous electric torque. According to Ford, the truck will use electric motors for propulsion regardless of whether the battery is being charged from an outlet or receiving energy from the gasoline-powered generator.
Car and Driver also reports that Ford is targeting an acceleration time below five seconds. That would keep the new Lightning considerably quicker than many traditional full-size pickups while giving it the longer-distance flexibility of an onboard generator.
Can the 2027 Lightning EREV export power?
Yes. Ford has confirmed that the new Lightning will retain the ability to export electricity for applications including work sites, campsites, and home backup.
That continues one of the more useful ideas introduced with the original F-150 Lightning. Ford previously equipped the all-electric Lightning with Pro Power Onboard technology and home power capabilities, and the company says the next-generation EREV will continue offering exportable electricity. For a work truck, that could mean running power tools at a jobsite without a separate generator.
For recreational owners, it could provide electricity for a campsite. At home, bidirectional power technology can potentially provide backup electricity during an outage. Ford has not yet published the maximum export-power output for the EREV, so the final capability should not be assumed to match the previous truck.
How will the Lightning EREV charge?
The Lightning EREV is still an electrified vehicle designed to use external charging, but Ford has not yet published the complete charging specifications. Battery capacity, maximum DC fast-charging rate, Level 2 charging time, and final connector information remain unconfirmed. This is an important area to watch because the EREV's purpose is not to eliminate charging. Instead, it gives drivers another source of electricity when charging is inconvenient during long trips. Car and Driver lists charging speed and battery specifications among the details still awaiting confirmation from Ford.
Where will the 2027 F-150 Lightning EREV be built?
Ford plans to assemble the next-generation Lightning at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan. According to Ford, production of the current-generation all-electric Lightning has concluded, allowing Ford to rework its manufacturing strategy around the next-generation EREV. That makes the upcoming truck part of a broader change in Ford's electrification strategy. Rather than concentrating large trucks entirely around battery-electric power, Ford is developing EREV and hybrid systems for vehicles where towing, range, and payload can make a very large battery less practical.
How much will the 2027 Ford F-150 Lightning EREV cost?
Ford has not announced an official starting price for the Lightning EREV. Car and Driver currently estimates a range of roughly $54,000 to $89,000, but those figures are estimates rather than Ford pricing. CarsDirect also lists pricing as unavailable and emphasizes that Ford has not yet released detailed specifications for the new truck. That means shoppers should not treat current price estimates as final. The cost will depend heavily on battery size, generator equipment, cab and bed configuration, technology, and trim strategy.
When will the 2027 Ford F-150 Lightning EREV be available?
This is one area where the 2027 model-year label needs some caution. Ford has announced the next-generation Lightning EREV, but it has not yet provided a firm customer launch date.
MotorTrend currently treats the Lightning EREV as a future model and notes that the timing and even final model-year designation have not been fully confirmed. Ford has said additional details and launch timing will be provided later. For buyers planning ahead, that means the 700-plus-mile estimate and sub-five-second acceleration target are the established pieces of the story, while pricing, production timing, detailed specifications, and final configurations are still to come.
Summary
The next-generation Ford F-150 Lightning EREV represents a major change in how Ford approaches an electric full-size pickup. Instead of relying entirely on a large battery, it will use electric motors for propulsion and a gasoline-powered generator to extend the truck's total driving range.
Ford's current targets are ambitious: more than 700 miles of estimated range, sub-five-second acceleration, long-distance towing capability, and exportable electrical power for work, recreation, and home backup. The concept directly addresses some of the biggest practical concerns surrounding electric trucks while preserving the instant response of electric propulsion. Stop by Brighton Ford to find out more.
