How heavy is the F-150 Lightning battery?
The F-150 Lightning’s battery weight depends on the pack you choose. The lighter standard-range pack weighs roughly 300–500 kg (660–1,100 lb); the larger extended-range pack weighs about 600–900 kg (1,320–1,980 lb).
Ford does not publicly publish exact weights for each battery pack, but the above ranges align with the vehicle’s stated energy capacities and EPA ranges. The following sections break down the two battery configurations and what their heft means for performance and practicality.
Battery options
Which battery you select determines both driving range and weight. Here are the two configurations commonly discussed in official materials and media accounts.
- Standard-Range Battery: the lighter option, delivering lower overall energy capacity and a shorter EPA-rated range compared with the extended pack. It is the lighter of the two and incurs less weight in the vehicle’s chassis.
- Extended-Range Battery: the larger option, delivering substantially more driving range but adding significant heft to the vehicle. It is the heavier configuration of the two.
In short, the two battery configurations offer a trade-off between weight and range, a common dynamic in modern electric pickups.
Estimated weight ranges by pack
When engineers estimate battery weight, they consider energy capacity and typical lithium-ion chemistry. The numbers below reflect widely cited estimates based on energy content and standard battery densities, rather than official published weights.
- Standard-Range Battery: roughly 300–500 kg (660–1,100 lb).
- Extended-Range Battery: roughly 600–900 kg (1,320–1,980 lb).
These estimates illustrate the substantial difference in heft between the two configurations and help explain why the extended range version places a heavier load on the vehicle’s structure and systems.
What weight means for performance and practicality
The heavier battery pack influences several practical aspects of ownership. Heavier packs tend to affect payload capacity, suspension tuning, and overall efficiency, especially in more demanding uses such as towing or off-road work. While the extended-range pack provides more driving miles per charge, it also adds weight that can impact acceleration feel, cornering, and the maximum payload that the truck can carry.
- Payload and towing: the extra battery weight reduces the amount of cargo the truck can carry and can influence towing efficiency. Specific payload/towing figures depend on trim and configuration.
- Vehicle dynamics: added weight raises the center of gravity slightly and can alter ride quality and handling characteristics compared with the standard-pack version.
- Efficiency: heavier energy storage requires more energy to move, which can influence real-world MPGe and battery range under varying conditions.
Ultimately, buyers choosing the extended-range pack gain more range while accepting a heavier vehicle, whereas the standard-range option emphasizes lower weight with a shorter driving distance between charges.
Construction and context
The F-150 Lightning’s battery architecture features a large, integrated high-voltage pack with active cooling and protective enclosures. The exact assembly details and any year-to-year changes are not always disclosed in full by Ford, but teardown analyses and industry reporting emphasize that the larger pack is both physically larger and heavier due to its higher energy storage needs.
Summary
The F-150 Lightning offers two battery configurations that differ markedly in weight: the standard-range pack is estimated at about 300–500 kg (660–1,100 lb), while the extended-range pack is estimated at about 600–900 kg (1,320–1,980 lb). Official weights are not published by Ford, but the weight difference aligns with the corresponding increases in energy capacity and driving range. Buyers trade weight for range, with the extended pack delivering more kilometers per charge at the cost of additional heft and potential payload implications.
How big is the battery in the 2025 F-150 Lightning?
The 2024 and 2025 F-150 Lightning Standard Range (98 kWh battery) can charge from 15-100% in about 10 hours. The 2024 and 2025 F-150 Lightning Extended Range (131 kWh battery) can charge from 15-100% in about 13 hours.
Is Ford cancelling the lightning?
Ford is reportedly considering canceling the F-150 Lightning, but the decision is not final. Production was paused due to an aluminum supply shortage, and ongoing EV losses have led Ford to evaluate the future of the electric truck. While production is temporarily halted, there is no official announcement of cancellation yet.
- Production is paused: The F-150 Lightning assembly line at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center is currently on hold, and Ford will not say when it will restart.
- Supply chain issues: A fire at a key aluminum supplier's plant caused a shortage, and Ford is prioritizing its more profitable gas and hybrid F-150s.
- Financial losses: Ford's electric vehicle division has been losing a significant amount of money, and the F-150 Lightning has been a major contributor to these losses.
- Uncertain future: The Wall Street Journal reports that Ford executives are in active discussions about ending the truck's production.
- Potential replacements: If production were to end, the F-150 Lightning might be replaced by a new vehicle built on the Universal Electric Vehicle (UEV) platform, according to MotorTrend.
How much does an F-150 Lightning battery weigh?
The Ford Lightning's battery pack weighs approximately 1,800 pounds. This weight is a significant contributor to the truck's overall weight, with the battery pack itself being a major component of the F-150 Lightning's substantial curb weight.
- Approximate weight: Around 1,800 pounds, which is a major factor in the F-150 Lightning's overall weight.
- Weight distribution: The battery is mounted low in the frame to help with better weight distribution.
- Comparison: The 1,800-pound battery pack is a significant portion of the truck's extra weight compared to a gas-powered F-150.
How heavy is an electric truck battery?
16,000 pounds
A semi-truck including its cargo can legally weigh a maximum of 80,000 pounds. A battery for an electric truck can be up to 16,000 pounds, according to recent reporting by CNBC. That's nearly a quarter of the total weight of the truck. How did Tesla's bulletproof Cybertruck become so expensive and so delayed?
