The highly anticipated Ford F-150 Lightning needs to be up to the task. People need trucks to get work done, and range anxiety can put a damper on plenty of situations. The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has been put through extreme conditions, but in one towing test, it fell extremely short. 

How much can the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning tow? 

When properly equipped, the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning can tow up to 10,000 lbs. This is with the extended range battery and the Max Tow Package. With the standard range battery, the F-150 Lightning can tow up to 7,700 lbs and carry a payload of up to 2,000 lbs. 

For comparison’s sake, the gas-powered F-150 can tow up to 14,000 lbs and carry a payload of up to 2,238 lbs. 

We aren’t sure which F-150 Lightning model was used for towing, but it showed an estimated range of 282 miles. When Fast Lane Truck entered the 6,000-pound trailer’s dimensions, the range dropped to about 160 miles, so that’s about a 120-mile loss. 

After driving about six miles, the range dropped to 150 miles, and by the time they traveled 50 miles, the battery was down to a 20 percent charge, so they turned around to find a charging station. 

They had to stop the towing test and reach a charging station with about nine percent of the battery left. The range dropped off much faster than the computer initially estimated. 

How much range does the F-150 Lightning have? 

The standard range 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. The extended-range F-150 Lightning has an EPA-estimated range of about 320 miles, but towing can drastically impact these figures. 

Also, the standard range model provides 452 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. By upgrading to the extended range model, you get 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. 

With a Level 1 charge or a regular 120-v outlet, it can take up to 64 hours to fully recharge the F-150 Lightning. But you can use a Level 2 charger or a 240-v outlet to charge the battery pack in about 12 to 14 hours. 

If you use a DC-fast charging station, you can recharge the batteries from 15 to 80 percent in about 45 minutes. It will add about 50 miles of range in only 10 minutes. 

Ford recommends charging the truck to about 90 percent for daily driving. Only charge it to 100 percent before long trips to prolong battery life. 

Does the F-150 Lightning save money? 

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning has the potential to help owners save. It may reduce maintenance costs by 39.6 percent due to the lack of spark plugs, oil, timing plugs, and more. Plus, it may run at 6.1 cents per mile compared to 10.1 cents per mile for gas-powered trucks. 

However, you may want to have a Level 2 charger installed at home, which costs about $3,895 before installation costs. On a positive note, the Lightning may qualify for a $7,500 tax credit. 

Being cheaper to own is a great perk if the truck actually works. This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen the Lightning quickly burn through its range. It’s unclear if the issue is related to one model or all of them.