Ford F-150 Lightning takes on Tesla Cybertruck with new multi-functional frunk workstation

The Ford F-150 Lightning may soon get a frunk accessory that greatly increases its usefulness over the Cybertruck’s two-seater frunk. (Image source: US Patent Application Publication)

The Tesla Cybertruck made some waves with a frunk that doubles as a bench for two people, despite the electric pickup’s disappointing storage volume. Not to be outdone, a recent Ford patent takes the concept of a multi-functional frunk to the next level by converting it into a work surface alongside the ample storage space.

Since the launch of the Tesla Cybertruck, there have been non-stop comparisons between it and Ford’s F-150 Lightning, and for good reason. Both are mid-size electric pickup trucks that start at around the $60,000 mark. Where the Ford F-150 Lightning has the Tesla Cybertruck beaten hands down is the frunk, with nearly double the volume of the Cybertruck’s.

A new Ford patent, creatively named the “Front Trunk Including Moveable Platform,” hopes to extend the F-150 Lightning’s frunk advantage even more by turning the substantial storage space into what it calls a moveable platform. Ford’s design sees the frunk split into two parts, with the front section replaced by a moving platform and the back now converted into three storage cubbies.

The design pretty much leaves the use case up to the imagination, but it’s easy to envision the pull-out platform serve as everything from a work bench — a use case proposed by the patent itself — to a cooking surface or even a bench to rest your weary bones on.

While it seems like the drawer would make a perfectly serviceable bench or countertop for overlanders, the feature set described in the patent hint that Ford intends for the accessory to help get “real work” done. The platform is designed in such a way that when it is all the way deployed, it triggers the suspension to lock out, creating a stable work surface. 

Ford even goes on to explain that the frunk add-on would have additional USB Type-C and 240-V outlets to get more work done.

It’s unclear whether Ford’s latest accessory will actually go into production, although the patent documents are fairly detailed, indicating Ford is at least considering it. It would also not be surprising to see Ford release a product like this, in light of just how competitive the electric pickup truck space is getting.

Now that all the available electric pickup trucks have usable range solid ground clearance, reasonable amounts of storage, and unreasonable levels of performance, it’s to be expected that brands would want to start getting more aggressive when it comes to features.

Buy an Envelope Style Automotive Elastic Frunk Mesh Cargo Net for Ford F-150 Lightning, or get into virtual driving with the Logitech G923 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox and PC from Amazon.

Ford seems to intend the F-150 Lightning frunk add-on as a work surface, given all of the practical space and features it contains. (Image source: US Patent Application Publication)

Julian van der Merwe – Magazine & Specialist News Writer – 508 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2022

My interest in tech started in high school, rooting and flashing my Motorola Defy, but I really fell down the rabbit hole when I realised I could overclock the i7 930 in my Gigabyte pre-built PC. This tinkering addiction eventually lead me to study product design in university. I think tech should improve the lives of the people using it, no matter the field. I like to read and write about laptops, smartphones, software and trends in technology.

Julian van der Merwe, 2023-12-19 (Update: 2023-12-19)

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