Ford has built the most popular pick-up truck in American history with the F-150 and today it launches a new all electric model which may very well change motoring in the United States (US).

The F-150 remains the best-selling vehicle in America for the last 43 years and over the last three years, 2,486 of these trucks have been sold daily. The F-Series generates over US$40 billion in year-in sales, 30 per cent of Ford’s total revenue, taking it up there with the iPhone.

“It is impossible to overstate the economic significance of the Ford F-150 to Ford and to the US economy. The Ford F-150 is the single highest volume vehicle sold in the US and has been for years,” said market analyst Jon Gabrielsen.

The F-150 is renowned for its durability and reliability and capable of towing between 5,000 to 8,500 lbs.

This new electric F-150, called Lightning, will be the second mass produced electric vehicle from the American car maker.

Commenting on the new electric F-150, US President Joe Biden said: “The future of the auto industry is electric. There is no turning back.”

It will be made from aluminium, not steel, and will be an all-wheel drive. The price is expected to start from US$40,000. The battery packs should be capable of handling around 300 miles of range per charge.

American carmakers have signaled their intent to be leaders in the electric vehicle industry and to seriously render the internal combustion engine obsolete in the near future.

It may well be the case than in less than two decades, there will be as many electric F-150s on American roads as there are those with traditional gas engines.

The new F-150 should hit the market in 2022.

“There’s a lot at stake here, not just for Ford but really for the country. This could be the point when people really notice electric vehicles. Ford is not the only one hoping there’s a big pool of would-be buyers who aren’t interested in a Tesla or a Nissan Leaf but would hopefully spring for an electric version of their favourite pick-up.

“It’s the number one selling vehicle in the country just across the board; it’s also the number one selling vehicle among African-American communities. Then when you think about rural communities… there’s an opportunity for this community to be part of this conversation,” said Darren Palmer, Ford’s head of battery electric vehicles.