Ford patented a tailgate setup for its Mega Power Frunk. This patent means one thing and one thing only: time to prepare for the frunk wars. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming battle.

Ford has officially begun the frunk wars with the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning

A frunk is a trunk that is located at the front of a vehicle. Frunks were once reserved for luxury sports cars and supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador and Audi R8. Since the engines of the aforementioned vehicles are housed in the rear, the front compartment of the vehicle remained empty. Thus, the frunk was born.

Now, as more automakers begin to unveil electric vehicles, more vehicles are getting frunks. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) often house their battery backs under the body instead of in the front or rear. In the case of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, this leaves the truck with both a cab and a frunk for storage.

The Blue Oval has been experimenting with cab utility for years by adding features like power outlets. Today, Ford is innovating using the frunk as well. All that empty space has to be utilized, right? Instead of just leaving the F-150 Lightning’s trunk as unused space, Ford found an interesting way to maximize the frunk’s utility.

According to The Drive, the Blue Oval filed for a patent that could turn the F-150 Lightning’s mega power frunk into the ultimate tailgating party accessory. The patent includes a huge table that would extend out of the frunk as well as speakers and electrical outlets. The F-150 Lightning may be the ultimate work truck, but it knows how to party as well.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning’s frunk means war

Ford has clearly put thought into distinguishing the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning from rival electric trucks. The F-150 Lightning can do many things other trucks cannot. That being said, the Lightning isn’t the only electric truck to include electrical outlets in its truck bed.

Ford must find new ways to innovate to be competitive. Its frunk may seem like a small part of the truck’s overall appeal, but it is a huge deal when comparing electric trucks. The frunk has about 14 cubic feet of space. It has a payload capacity of over 400 pounds.

The Mega Power Frunk is massive, and that’s bad news for competitors. It’s already tough to compete with the utility a Ford F-150 provides. Now, it may just be impossible for trucks in the same price range to hold a candle to the F-150 Lightning.

What is the Ford F-150 Lightning competing against?

Electric trucks were once foreign to the automotive industry. Today, Rivian has already launched its electric truck. Ford and Tesla will follow. Ram and General Motors have also teased electric pickups. The Ford F-150 Lightning may have been one of the first electric trucks to be introduced, but the competition between automakers is stiff.

The 2022 Rivian R1T is more powerful, but also much more expensive. The Tesla Cybertruck is a competitor, but it has had its fair share of setbacks. The truck with the coolest frunk may eventually become the most popular of similarly priced EVs when it comes to electric trucks.

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