Electric Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear: When the Raptor meets the Volt

If I had Raptor electric cousin, that would definitely be it Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear. At first glance, it looks like a brawler cousin of the famous Rapto, with its huge 37-inch (about 94 cm) fenders and aggressive looks. But don't be fooled - this isn't your average Raptor, this is Lightning in its entirety electric glory.

Ford impressed us with this concept, who is, hands down, like some kind of comic book superhero. It is designed for off-road rampage, but also for elegant gliding through city streets. Ford says the Switchgear is the result of years of experience with the Raptor model. Well, sure, if the Raptor only ate batteries for breakfast.

To make this wonder a reality, Ford teamed up with RTR Vehicles and Vaughn Gittin Jr. The result? A pickup that is kind of a mix Mad Max and Tesla. It has Fox 3.0 internal shocks, a custom double-wishbone front suspension, and a multi-link independent rear suspension. This beast has a wider track - 80 inches (about 203 cm) both front and rear. And for good measure, they added custom carbon panels.

In the off-road version of the Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear achieves incredible 13.5 inches (approx. 34.3cm) ground clearance in front and 11 inches (about 27.9 cm) in the back. A steel skid plate and custom-made skid plates are added to protect the chassis. Of course, to make the concept complete, special front and rear bumpers are also added. All these upgrades add approx 68 kg weight to the standard Lightning XLT. Well, even without all the extras, we're talking about a truck that weighs approx 3,175 kg – like a mini elephant!

It gets interesting when Switchgear transforms into its road version. Instead of all-terrain tires, it gets 20-inch (about 50.8 cm) wheels with street tires, and instead of skid plates and tall bumpers, it gets a carbon composite front bumper and tonneau cover. The suspension is adjusted for a lower ride height - 7.0 inches (approx. 17.8 cm) in the front and 5.0 inches (approx. 12.7 cm) in the rear.

When it comes to the powertrain, the good old remains 100 percent stock. We are talking about a two-motor setup with a 131.0-kilowatt battery that provides 580 horsepower (approximately 429.6 kW) and 1,050 Nm of torque. Which in other words means that this beast takes off like Usain Bolt when it hears the starting gun.
Although Ford doesn't (yet) plan to make the Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear available to the public, Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasizes that such demonstration vehicles are crucial for the public perception of the brand. In the style of Ken Block, he says that these vehicles are necessary "for the creation of digital content and simply for entertainment."

The Switchgear was unveiled only in its off-road version at the 2024 Ford Performance Grand Show in Charlotte, North Carolina. For now, Ford seems to be focusing more on off-road adventures than on-road comfort. As Farley says, “We want to own an off-roader.”

Ford F-150 Lightning Switchgear is every green adventurer's dream, dressed in carbon panels. This concept may never hit our roads, but it gives us a glimpse of what could be if electric mobility and wild off-road fun came together. It's like a cross between an electric knight and an off-road warrior, waiting for its moment to rule the roads… and off-road. Get ready, the future is electric and – if it's anything like Switchgear – it's going to be incredibly fun!