Ford's first all-electric pickup, the F-150 Lightning, has finally started hitting driveways in the United States, and owners are finding an unexpected accessory in the delivery box.
One of the Lightning's most impressive features is its two-way charging capability, which means it can power other electric Ford models or even an entire home. However, according to recent posts on the Lightning Owners forum (opens in a new tab) (as spotted by InsideEVs (opens in a new tab)), the automaker is also providing customers with an adapter to charge stranded Teslas.
The J1772 adapter, which is "compatible with all Tesla vehicles", Ford would not have previously included as a standard accessory to ship with the F-150 Lightning - Tesla itself sells a nearly identical connector (opens in a new tab) for €50 on its own website, although the new owners of the so-called "truck of the future" appear to be welcoming the surprise.
"If I find any dead Tesla's I'll let my Ford Lightning come to the rescue," joked one forum user, while another wrote: "I'll be adding a 'Tesla Rescue Squad' sticker."
Take a look at an image of the adapter in question below:
Of course, it's unclear if Ford is actually mocking its automotive rival, which remains the biggest name in the electric vehicle market, with the inclusion of this accessory, but it's hard to see the move as a marketing ploy. subtle (Does Ford really care about giving their customers the ability to recharge cars from competing manufacturers?).
Ironically, it would probably be more beneficial for Teslas to be equipped with Ford-compatible charging capabilities, as the former have access to a vast network of proprietary charging stations that offer drivers more charging options than any other electric car manufacturer. .
Still, we're inclined to think that Ford's inclusion of the adapter is nothing more than an ironic nod to Elon Musk's company. And in any case, it's far from the highlight of the F-150 Lightning.
Borrowing its name from an earlier performance-focused iteration of the best-selling F-Series, Ford's electric pickup can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, thanks to a 555-hp four-wheel-drive powertrain. , and offers drivers a whopping 775 lb-ft of torque.
Naturally, Lightning is also an extremely powerful machine. The standard variant with 18-inch wheels offers a maximum payload of 907 kg, as well as a towing capacity of up to 4536 kg. To add some perspective, that means it could comfortably tow a full-grown hippo behind it, or two Tesla Model 3 and a half...