Ford is holding nothing back in its quest for EV dominance, and the proof is there for everyone to see. Its electric products are selling way better than GM EVs, and the Mustang Mach-E has been a raging success. Now, the company is getting ready for what will be its biggest EV move: electrifying the Ford F-150. Earlier this week, we reported that production of the Ford F-150 Lighting is running behind schedule due to the global semiconductor shortage, but that hasn't stopped people from showing massive interest. Reservations for the electric pickup closed last night, and customers can expect deliveries to start by springtime, but who exactly are those customers? According to Ford CEO Jim Farley, 70 percent of F-150 Lightning customers are new to the Ford brand.

As it stands, Ford is looking at around 200,000 potential customers waiting in line for the new F-150 Lightning, but we all know reservations and actual sales are two different things. According to Farley, Ford expects around 80 percent of those reservations to convert into sales, a highly impressive number, especially seeing as most (around 112,000 vehicles) of those sales will be going to first-time Ford owners. When Ford recently launched the Bronco, it managed a reservation to sales rate of over 65 percent. The Bronco had much more hype before its launch, but the Lightning will attract a different crowd which will be drawn to the utility and value of the electric F-150, rather than the lifestyle appeal of the Bronco. Interestingly, the smaller Ford Maverick is also attracting first-time truck converts.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is going to be a serious contender in the EV pickup game. The top-of-the-range Platinum model will pack 563 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque thanks to its dual motors, and a maximum range of 300 miles is expected. With the 150-kWh DC fast charger, the Lightning will be able to charge from 15 to 80 percent in 40 minutes. The base truck is priced at $39,974 before state and federal tax credits, and range-topping model will cost closer to $90,000. It is interesting to see how electrification is attracting entirely new grou of the car-buying market to the Ford brand. Let's just hope Ford can convince them to stay.