#Ford unveils electric pickup truck F-150 Lightning

Here’s a plug-in vehicle that can handle dirt roads better than a Tesla sedan — and it’s handier for construction and yard work, too. 

Ford revealed the electric version of its most popular pickup truck at an event in Michigan on Wednesday night, saying it expects the so-called F-150 Lightning to hit the market next year. 

The truck will be cheaper than some analysts anticipated, with a starting price of $39,974. Buyers will likely qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, reducing the effective price to about $32,500 — only slightly more expensive than the gas-powered F-150, which currently retails just shy of $29,000. 

By comparison, Ford rival GMC says its electric Hummer will sell for $113,000, and Elon Musk’s Tesla plans to charge $39,900 for its weird-looking “Cybertruck.” 

The standard F-150 Lightning will come with a range of 230 miles before drivers have to recharge, according to Ford. A more expensive XLT model will retail for $52,974 and offer a range of 300 miles, in addition to other premium features. 

The XLT version will be the fastest F-150 ever made, offering 563 horsepower and the ability to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just over 4 seconds. The standard version will boast a still-impressive 426 horsepower. 

“This is the smartest, most innovative F-150 Ford has ever built,” said Ford’s chief F-150 engineer, Linda Zhang, at an elaborate press conference that was held outside Detroit but looked straight out of Silicon Valley. 

The company is already taking pre-orders on the truck for a $100 deposit. 

President Biden got a chance to test-drive an F-150 Lightning on Tuesday before it was officially revealed. 

“This sucker’s quick,” the president said while behind the wheel. Biden also joked about running over a reporter who wanted to ask a question about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.