United States Forest Service to Employ Ford F-150 Lightning
The United States Forest Service will receive several Ford F-150 Lightnings. The Forest Service will use the all-electric pickup truck as part of a 12-month program to determine the effectiveness of electric vehicles compared to combustion engine vehicles. Depending on the results, it could greatly benefit the agency as it plans its transition to zero-emission vehicles by 2027. As for Ford, it motivates the automaker to continue to offer electric vehicles. Along with the F-150 Lightning, Ford offers the powerful Mach-E. Several other EVs, like the Maverick Lightning and Ranger Lightning, have been reported as in development. As Ford continues to build its EV lineup, we’ll see more agencies like the Forest Service making use of them.
U.S Forest Service to Receive F-150 Lightning
The United States Forest Service will be receiving three Ford F-150 Lightnings. The government agency will use the all-electric pickup truck in its 12-month program to determine the effectiveness of EVs compared to combustion engine vehicles. This program will serve as an evaluation tool to measure the quality and safety of using electric vehicles. It will help the Forest Service identify potential issues as it transitions toward a zero-emissions fleet by 2027. About the program, a U.S Forest Service spokesman said,
“It’s a quasi-experimental approach to systematically evaluate use–frequency, quality, safety, experience– of EVs relative to Internal combustion vehicle use over the study period,” said the Forest Service spokesman.
The Forest Service will be receiving three Ford F-150 Lightnings. Aside from the Forest Service logo on the doors, the three electric pickup trucks remain unchanged. They feature a dual-motor setup that delivers 564 horsepower and 775lb-ft of torque. The F-150 Lightning also offers 10,000 pounds of towing capacity and 2,000 pounds of payload. Regarding battery range, the all-electric pickups will have an EPA-estimated range of 230 miles. If the agency needs additional range, Ford offers a range-extending battery that can increase the battery range to 300 miles.
The electric pickup trucks will be deployed to the Forest Service’s Eastern Region. This region includes the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania, the Huran-Manistee National Forests in Michigan, and the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. Currently, the region operates 1,489 vehicles. As EVs become more accepted and agencies complete evaluations, they will become more common. The U.S. president has also called for a federal government fleet of over 600,000 zero-emission vehicles so that the EV wave will be backed by solid momentum.
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Photo Credit: U.S Forest Service