Ford Lightning Electric Pickup Designed For Police
Ford has announced the new 2023 F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, intended towards law enforcement users. The vehicle is the first US market electric pickup truck specifically intended for police use. The new F-150 Police Responder utilizes the Lightning’s electric drivetrain as well as police-specific technology from the Lightning. The expectation is that the electric truck can offer cheaper fuel and maintenance expenses compared to existing combustion-engined police vehicles.
The requirement includes police-grade fabric chairs with steel intrusion plates for enhanced protection. They’ve also got less bolstering, which makes it easier to get out while you’re carrying a firearm holstered. Vinyl chairs and flooring are being installed in the back row for ease of cleaning. A reinforced box on the instrument panel for mounting police equipment inside and LED warning lights on the roof are additional equipment. There’s also a huge nudge bar on the front end.
Read: Ford Reveals F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, the EV Truck’s Police Model
Ford Lightning For Police
The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is essentially a combination of the F-150 Police Responder and the SSV version of the truck. Seats now have heavy-duty textile lining and decreased bolsters to make it easier for cops with holstered weapons to enter and exit the vehicle quickly and efficiently. In addition, the front seatbacks include steel intrusion plates, and the center console has been reinforced to accommodate police equipment. Ford says the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV isn’t built for pursuit work, where range is critical, but it’s made to handle other kinds of typical police work.
As we have seen with other electric vehicles, the Ford Lightning electric SUV is well-suited for police and emergency use. Its low center of gravity and all-wheel drive make it stable and sure-footed on slippery surfaces, while its quiet operation means that it can sneak up on suspects without being noticed. And with a range of up to 300 miles, the Lightning can patrol large areas without needing to stop for a charge.
The carmaker mentions aiding at the scene of an accident or a crime and giving towing capability to law enforcement agencies as examples of these actions. Also included in this model are a frank with power outlets and the same 12-inch screens that are found in the instrument cluster and the infotainment hub of Ford’s F-150 Lightning Pro pickup truck. The electric drive system is rated at 452 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque with the standard battery and 580 horsepower and 775 lb-feet of torque with the extended range battery. Ford’s fastest police car, it can go from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds thanks to the latter feature. However, the EPA ranks the ordinary F-150 Lightning with the standard battery at 230 miles, and the extended battery at 320 miles, for the vehicle’s overall range. Ford has now produced two electric police cars. The New York City Police Department has been using Mustang Mach-E police vehicles since the summer of this year.
So whether you’re looking for a vehicle to help you catch criminals or one to help you escape them, the Ford Lightning electric SUV is the perfect choice. Contact your local Ford dealer today and test drive one for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
Ford F-150 Lightning Features
The Ford F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is the first electric pickup truck specifically designed for police enforcement in the United States. The base version of the automobile has a 452 horsepower engine and a torque of 1050 nm. Additionally, there is a 580 hp. version that goes from zero to 60 mph (96 kph) in less than four seconds with the same torque. There are a variety of options for the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV depending on the needs of the police department. Flashing beacons, weapon and computer mounts, and a ram are among the items. Added security is provided by steel plates on the backs of the front seats of the automobiles itself.
To put it another way, the seats are much more comfortable than those found in the Ford F-150 pickup truck. The side bolsters have been shortened so that police officers with holsters on their belts can more easily enter and exit the vehicle. At the same time, the passenger compartment floor and rear seats are covered with vinyl, which is both durable and easy to clean. Lightning Pro SSV can pull a trailer or a car up to 10,000 pounds in the top variant (4.5 tons). It’s possible to light up traffic accidents on the road using a car’s power.
The interior of the SSV is identical to that of the normal F-150 Lightning, with the same 12-inch touchscreen display and 12-inch digital instrument cluster. A Ford Sync 4 infotainment system is installed in the truck. Ford’s Mega Power Frunk and Pro Power Onboard systems are also included. For example, the truck might be used to power emergency lighting or drive equipment in the field in the event of a power outage. All together, the truck’s power connections can offer up to 9.6 kW, and it can run for hours at maximum load without a hitch. A dominant position in the US market for police vehicles is now held by Ford, with a market share of 65 percent. In the current market, it is outselling all of its rivals. Having the first officers electric pickup in the US market should help it keep its advantage for a long time to come.
Specifications of the Ford Lightning
For more than 70 years, Ford has provided police agencies with the cars they need to keep the public safe. In the United States, Ford Pro clients include more than 12,000 police departments, and the company’s police vehicle lineup has outsold all other police cars put together. The Ford Police Advisory Board, in particular, is credited for helping the carmaker achieve this level of achievement and customer loyalty.
Specialized departmental demands like as aiding at an accident or crime scene or allowing departments to tow a boat or trailer can be met by the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV. The F-150 Police Responder’s custom-built features include:
• Upholstered police-grade seats with lower bolsters for easier entry and egress for armed officers.
• Steel intrusion plates are built into the seatbacks of the front seats.
• For increased visibility, roof-mounted LED warning beacons in red/blue or amber/white are also available.
• Police equipment can be mounted quickly and easily on this upfit-friendly reinforced instrument panel tray
• Vinyl seats in the back and vinyl floors make cleaning a breeze.
A choice of either 452 or 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, and a 10,000-pound-towing capacity with the larger battery will be available. All of these features are included in the Lightning Pro’s standard 12.3-inch landscape-style touchscreen, the Mega Power Frunk, Sync 4, and Ford Co-Pilot 360. Although Ford hasn’t yet released its 2023 range estimates for the Lighting, the current ranges are 230 miles with the regular battery and 320 miles with the extended range battery. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are interested in the company’s E-Telematics, which track power usage and vehicle health. Any of Ford’s 650 Commercial Vehicle Centers can service the Lightning Pro SSVs, and the fleets come with consultancy services to help handle all of the data.
If a department already has a Ford or a non-Ford internal combustion engine and battery electric vehicle fleet as well as chargers and fleet management software, the zero-emissions police truck can be easily integrated into the Ford Pro platform. Together, police agencies may proactively manage when vehicles are charged and repaired, which could result in cheaper operating costs and increased uptime.
Ford Lightning Evolution
The first generation of the Lightning was produced from 1993 to 1995. It featured a revised suspension system with lowered springs and gas-filled shocks. The body of the truck was also significantly different from the standard F-150, with a more aerodynamic design and a larger grille. The second generation of the Lightning was produced from 1999 to 2004. It featured a supercharged 5.4 liter V8 engine which was capable of producing 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The Lightning was available in both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive versions.
The Ford Lightning is an electric vehicle that was introduced in 2020. It is based on the Ford Mustang and is part of the automaker’s plan to produce more electrified vehicles. The Lightning has a range of over 300 miles and can go from 0-60 mph in under 4 seconds. It also has a unique design that sets it apart from the Mustang. The Lightning is currently only available in the United States.
The pros of Ford Lightning
The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, an electric truck specifically developed for law enforcement, has been unveiled by Ford, the world’s largest carmaker in the field of law enforcement vehicle manufacturing and sales. F-150 Lightning Pro is a commercial version of Ford’s electric pickup that’s geared toward fleet owners and businesses. With all the amenities cops have grown to depend on over the years plus other benefits specific to EVs, such as rapid acceleration and a cheaper total cost of ownership, Ford is positioning the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV as an excellent fleet vehicle. Even more significantly, the new Lightning is being shown just over two years after a wave of racial justice and anti-police brutality rallies erupted across the country in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Ford already sells the Police Responder, a gas-powered variant of the F-150, to law enforcement agencies. In addition, the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV will have many of the same features, such as: a reinforced instrument panel top tray for easy mounting of police equipment, police-grade heavy-duty cloth seats with reduced bolsters, steel intrusion plates in the front seatbacks, roof-mounted LED warning beacons, and easy-to-clean vinyl rear seats and flooring. Ford’s business telematics software, available on Ford Pro models, makes it easier for fleet managers to keep track of their vehicles’ location, charging state, and overall health. Interested police departments can sign up for a two-year subscription to the F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, according to Ford. Ford also provides cities and municipalities interested in purchasing electric police vehicles with flexible financing options. Additionally, the company’s Body Builder Advisory Service provides cops interested in customizing or upgrading their vehicles with aftermarket equipment with a variety of instructions.
Ford Lightning Competitors
In the world of high-performance pickup trucks, the Ford Lightning has long been a force to be reckoned with. However, in recent years, there have been a number of challengers that have sought to dethrone the Lightning as the king of the hill. Among these are the Chevrolet Silverado SS, the Dodge Ram SRT-10, and the Shelby GT500KR. Each of these trucks brings something unique to the table, and all are capable of giving the Lightning a run for its money.
The Silverado SS is perhaps the best-rounded of the bunch, offering impressive performance both on and off the track. The Ram SRT-10, on the other hand, is all about power, packing a massive 8.3L V10 engine under the hood. And then there’s the Shelby GT500KR, which takes things to another level altogether with its supercharged 5.4L V8 engine. Whichever truck you choose, you can be sure that you’ll be getting one heck of a ride.
Conclusion
Ford has officially launched a special police edition of its F-150 Lightning electric truck with features tailored to the needs of law enforcement personnel. In the United States, police pickups are prevalent because they are great for roadblocks, towing trailers and big cargo, and because most feature a four-door crew cab style, the back seat may be used like any other. The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV, a new model from Ford, borrows elements from the F-150 Police Responder, which was previously unveiled. Steel intrusion plates on the seat backs and smaller side bolsters allow police officers to enter and exit the vehicle more easily. The vehicle’s seats are upholstered in a heavy-duty fabric material.
Depending on the intended purpose, it can be supplied with either red and blue or amber and white LED warning light beacons fitted on the roof. There are easy-to-clean vinyl rear seats and floor covering in the back and a strengthened instrument panel top tray inside the Ford. A 98 kWh battery pack is standard on the Ford F-150 Pro SSV, and it delivers a range of up to 230 miles, while the longer-range, higher-capacity battery pack (131 kWh) increases the range to 300 miles. Because of the larger battery, the pickup’s advertised sprint time to sixty mph has been reduced from four seconds to under four seconds. Regardless of the version, this is one police pickup you won’t be able to outrun.
