Ford has introduced its first electric pickup truck for police departments.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro Special Service Vehicle (SSV) includes several upgrades over a standard consumer F-150 Lightning, such as heavy-duty cloth seats with reduced bolsters to make it easier for officers to enter and exit the vehicle, built-in steel intrusion plates in the front seatbacks, easy-to-clean vinyl rear seats and flooring, and optional roof-mounted LED beacons.
They will be pre-configured to connect to an organization’s existing fleet of internal combustion and battery-electric vehicles, chargers, and fleet management software.
This should enable departments to manage when vehicles are charged and serviced proactively, lowering operating costs and increasing uptime.
With the standard-range battery option, Ford expects 452 horsepower, 775 pound-feet of torque, and a towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.
When equipped with the available extended-range battery and max trailer tow package, the Pro SSV produces 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph acceleration rating of less than four seconds and a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds.
This will allow departments to easily tow heavy items such as trailers or boats.
The front trunk (where the engine would normally be) has been converted into a 14.1 cubic foot lockable cargo area for carrying extra supplies such as first-aid kits, ratchet straps, and, presumably, high-powered weapons.
The truck will also include a 220A DC-DC converter to power computers, radios, lights, and other devices.
Pro Power Onboard outlets, as well as the integrated USB ports, provide additional power to accessories as needed.
A 12-inch digital cluster screen, a 12-inch landscape-style touchscreen, and a reinforced instrument panel top tray for mounting police equipment are also standard features.
More than 12,000 police departments across the country are Ford Pro customers. Indeed, Ford has a long history of supplying police vehicles, perhaps most notably the legendary Crown Victoria.
Ford has stated that more information on the 2023 F-150 Lightning, including range estimates, will be released later this summer. There has been no word on potential availability or pricing.
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