This is Ford’s first electric pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning

Enlarge / Ford's range of all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup trucks will start at just $39,974 before tax credits. (credit: Ford)

On Wednesday night, the Ford Motor Company unveiled its latest pickup truck, the F-150 Lightning. The truck is the hotly anticipated battery-electric version of Ford's bestselling vehicle, and when it goes on sale in mid-2022, it will join the Mustang Mach-E and the electric Transit van as part of Ford's battery EV lineup.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden visited Ford's Rouge factory in Michigan and gave the world an impromptu demo of how quickly the F-150 Lightning can accelerate.

The answer is around four seconds to 60 mph, at least when the truck is fitted with an extended-range battery. But a more important headline figure is the truck's price. Remarkably, Ford is not targeting the upper end of its consumer base with the F-150 Lightning. Although you'll be able to option a Lightning out the wazoo like you can with any other F-150, Ford will sell basic models with the (smaller) standard battery pack, aimed at commercial use, for $39,974 before tax credits.

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