Ford has shared photos of the Ford F-150 Lightning braving the Alaskan cold in its final tests ahead of its official spring launch.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is called to revolutionize the truck segment in the United States. It is the 100% electric version of the best-selling pick-up in the country, which will undoubtedly help sales take off once it hits the market this spring. Meanwhile, the Ford F-150 Lightning braves the Alaskan cold as it prepares for launch.
Ford engineers have spent two weeks in the northernmost state of the United States, where the F-150 Lightning has accompanied them to face snow and ice, as well as temperatures as extreme as -34ºC. This has allowed the manufacturer to test that all systems work properly in a scenario with such a low temperature.
The Ford F-150 Lightning braves the cold of Alaska in its final tests
These test drives also explored how the “all-electric powertrain adjusts power delivery to the wheels on low-traction surfaces.” The program involved six units of the pre-production electric F-150 on a variety of winter surfaces including loose snow, packed snow, full ice and mixed surfaces.
The new F-150 Lightning features a dual-motor propulsion system that can detect wheel slip and adjust power delivery in milliseconds. “The extremely quick responses and dual motors make it like you have two motors pumping power into one vehicle,” explains Nick Harris, powertrain engineer.
Testing in Alaska is just part of an extensive program designed to test the traction capability of the electric F-150, which involved testing in Borrego Spring, Johnson Valley, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and Ford’s proving ground near Romeo. . The goal is to ensure that the pick-up is safe no matter what surface it is driving on.
The F-150 Lightning that will hit the US market this spring will be available with a SuperCrew body and two mechanical configurations. The first, called Standard Range, develops 432 hp and 1,050 Nm for a range of 370 km, while the second version (Extended Range) will reach 571 hp and 1,050 Nm with a range of 483 km.
