But electrifying the pickup is a bumpy road to travel. These vehicles are powered by huge batteries which require an energy-intensive process to manufacture. Then there's the cost. The majority of electric pickups currently on the roads are selling for at least double the price of the non-electric truck.
"Looking at it from a climate perspective, you really want those lower-cost models that are going to be more widely affordable if you want to bring overall emissions down," says Trancik.
Ford says it is working on a new range of more affordable pickups, which will be released in 2027, and aims to attract new customers who were initially resistant to buy a truck because of its higher emissions. But experts warn that emissions savings will only be achieved if people swap conventional pickup trucks for electric ones. If you drive a small petrol car, it is much better to trade it in for an electric sedan than an F-150 Lightning.
John Heitman, a history professor at the University of Dayton in Ohio, says the pickup remains an American icon because it is "equated with independence and individuality", and symbolises "self-sufficiency, anti-authoritarianism, militarism, and a do-it-yourself attitude".
So what will it take for America's best-loved car to go fully electric? Find out in my feature about the race to electrify the US's best-loved truck. |
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