Ford Started Work On The F-150 Lightning’s Mega Power Frunk In 2018

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is one of the most exciting electric pickup trucks heading to the market and one of its most intriguing features is its ‘Mega Power Frunk.’

Like many other electric vehicles on the market, the lack of a front-mounted engine has allowed Ford to develop a front trunk area for the F-150 Lightning. This frunk provides 400 liters (14.1 cubic feet) of cargo space and a maximum payload capacity of 400 lbs.

Watch Also: 2022 Ford F-150 Lighting’s Driving Range Allegedly Underrated, May Travel Over 450 Miles On A Full Charge

Ford started work on the frunk in February 2018 when Team Edison, the automaker’s dedicated battery electric vehicles incubator, sat down with Ford truck and fleet customers in California to discuss how they would use such a feature. A prototype for the frunk was made out of cardboard and hot glue and used in meetings to help customers visualize the cargo area.

Truck customers said they’d love to be able to fit two golf bags in the storage area while fleet owners said the space could be used to haul bags of concrete and charge their electric tools at construction sites.

Ford’s engineers soon got to work making the frunk a reality, opting for an asymmetrical design that would allow it to carry two golf bags. The Mega Power Frunk was also designed with lamps, four electrical outlets, and two USB chargers. It also has 2.4 kW of power that can be used for everything from power tools to laptops, speakers, and other devices.

A key request from customers was for the opening of the frunk to be at waist height. As such, Ford decided to incorporate the grille into the hood to make this a reality. The frunk is also water-resistant, cleanable, and has a drainable floor, meaning it can be filled with ice and drinks.

“The F-150 Lightning pickup’s Mega Power Frunk is one of those features that reshape what vehicles can provide for customers,” F-150 Lightning chief program engineer Linda Zhang said in a statement. “Its sheer size, ample power supply, drainable floor and open and close system that opens with the touch of a button make it frunking awesome!”