To get a knowledgeable answer about whether the 2022 is a good model year, you might want to look at a Lightning forum--seems to be more anti-EV sentiment than knowledge here. I don't have a Lightning, but I do have a Mustang Mach-E and it's a great car. I like the Ford electric platform. I would definitely consider a Lightning if I was looking for an around town truck, particularly with the way gas prices seem to be heading. If you install a home charger, you will find that your fueling costs are WAY lower than a gas-powered truck even if gas prices head back down. And I personally would not worry about battery replacement costs. The battery is warrantied for 10 years but should last a lot longer than that. Plenty of electric vehicles have batteries that have lasted for many more years without too much loss of capacity.

Good luck with your decision. You should at least drive one some time just for a kick--the takeoff torque is absolutely amazing. 0-60 in 4 flat. You don't *need* to blow that sports car next to you at the stoplight off the line, but you can!

 

I am not sure how an EV is a money pit, I bought a used 2012 model s Tesla in 2017 and have basically put no money into it other than tired. And no battery degradation as of today. I recently bought a 2024 lightning (in February of '25) and love it. My old dodge ram was getting 12-14 miles a gallon. The lightning is rated at an equivalent of 65-70 miles a gallon. Also when there is a power outage, I can use my truck for backup power.

 

In my opinion the problem with the lightning is we don’t know the long-term reliability and the parts market. For my gas F150 if I need a part, I can find it and 10 variations from motor craft to MOOG anywhere online. None of the aftermarket parts suppliers are going to waste their time on a vehicle with so few made and it’s discontinued already. So in five years, good luck finding shocks, blend door actuators, taillights, door handles, or whatever else might go bad on that vehicle unless you get it from Ford directly at full cost and who knows how long the backlog is going to be. So you better have a backup vehicle cause your truck might be down for a while.

To me the lightning is a toy for people who have plenty of money to burn.

 

New ones around me are minimum $15k off sticker. A 2022 with 50k is about to have only battery warranty left. I'd cough up the cash for a new(er) one if I were going to try one.

 

Might be like the 48V riding mower I just bought. Bought it for $950 and the guy gave me four new 12V/100ah LiFePo4 batteries worth $800 with it....and I recouped $40 scrapping the 280lbs of SLAs in it.

 

Thank you baby Jesus for Carvana.

 

FWIW, Ford has committed to 10 years parts and service availability for the Lightning, so that might help reassure some people.
Ford Lightning Forum