---
title: "The Ford F-150 Lightning’s Range Could Be a Lot Better Than We Think: Report"
description: "It could be sandbagging, literally."
date: "2021-06-01"
modified: "2021-06-01"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/40866/the-ford-f-150-lightnings-range-could-be-a-lot-better-than-we-think-report"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Electric Vehicles"
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Trucks"
tags:
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "F-150 Lightning"
  - "Ford"
  - "pickup"
---

# The Ford F-150 Lightning’s Range Could Be a Lot Better Than We Think: Report

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2021/06/6_16X9-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When Ford unveiled its [electric F-150 Lightning](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40675/electric-2022-ford-f-150-lightning-is-finally-here-with-775-lb-ft-and-a-40k-sticker>) pickup, it promised 230 miles of range with the truck's standard battery pack and 300 miles with the extended-range unit. As it turns out, [Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/40840/how-the-ford-f-150-lightnings-chief-engineer-linda-zhang-brought-the-world-an-electric-pickup>) may or may not have literally been sandbagging when making those claims because according to one YouTuber, those figures were calculated with 1,000 pounds of payload on board.

Tech YouTuber [Marques Brownlee](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=493&v=J2npVg9ONFo&feature=emb_title>) recently got an in-person look at the extended-range electric pickup and dropped this little tidbit: "I actually learned something from the people at Ford who were walking me through the car that I haven't seen anywhere that is definitely worth sharing... that 300-mile range is the EPA-estimated rating with 1,000 pounds of cargo in the trunk."

![message-editor%2F1622561100642-2\_16x91.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1622561100642-2_16x91.jpg>)
**Ford**

Without that extra weight, then, the Lightning's range would naturally be quite a bit higher. Of course, the F-150 Lightning happens to feature an onboard range indicator that takes into account towing and payload using [Onboard Scales](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/40359/the-2021-ford-f-150-will-get-an-onboard-scale-to-measure-payload>). And when unencumbered by any cargo or trailers, the Lightning Brownlee previewed showed 367 miles of range available with a battery that was "about 80-ish percent full." A little napkin math, then, says an empty and fully charged F-150 Lightning should be able to travel almost 460 miles without seeing a plug.

https://youtube.com/embed/J2npVg9ONFo

When we asked Ford about this, it declined to comment, with a company spokesperson replying in an email, "We are confirming that we have a targeted EPA estimate of 300 miles for the extended range derivative. No further detail to add at this point."

One of the more common and cynical comments left on previous F-150 Lightning stories have been folks understandably questioning the volt-powered Ford pickup's range once it's actually carrying stuff, pulling loads, and [doing work](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/40727/2022-ford-f-150-lightning-pro-the-40k-work-truck-version-of-fords-new-electric-pickup>). It looks like Ford may have already taken that stuff into account.

*Got a tip or question for the author about the F-150 Lightning? You can reach them here: chris.tsui@thedrive.com*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)