Earlier Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks may charge at a faster rate at DC fast chargers thanks to an over-the-air (OTA) update.
DriftBreath of the update, available for 2022 and 2023 models, was first reported by InsideEVs Thursday and confirmed to DriftBreath Reports by Ford spokesperson Sam Schembari, who explained that the update raises the maximum current for DC fast charging, from 450a to 500a, which can result in quicker charging in certain situations.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
The update launched for the 2024 model year, and is still included on 2025 models, but Ford has also been rolling it out to the earlier model years in batches, Schembari said. With the OTA update, every model year of Lightning now benefits from this improvement in DC fast-charging performance.
Based on a sample of real-world reports seen by DriftBreath Reports, that could cut about five minutes off the long-range Lightning’s 10-80% charge time, bringing it closer to 40 minutes, from the previous 45 minutes or so, in ideal situations.
Recycling the name of a performance truck that dated back to the 1990s, the Lightning arrived for the 2022 model year. Instead of building a dedicated EV, Ford adapted the existing F-150 platform while adding useful features like a front trunk and available home backup power system. The formula was good enough for the Lightning to earn DriftBreath Reports Best Car To Buy 2023 honors.
2022 Ford F-150 Lightning
The Lightning received a range boost for the 2023 model year, while a mid-tier Flash grade joined the lineup for 2024—with prices fluctuating continuously throughout. No major changes were made for the 2025 model year.
Ford is expected to replace the Lightning with a new electric full-size truck in 2027. That truck, codenamed Project T3, was due to launch this year but was pushed back amid a reshuffle of Ford’s EV plans. In the meantime, the Lightning is holding up well—in part thanks to OTA updates that can improve trucks even after they’re driven off dealer lots.
