Ford says the upcoming battery-electric F-150 will be cheaper to own and more powerful than the current petrol-powered pickup.

Ford also confirmed construction of the new Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre at Dearborn, Michigan, where it will build the all-electric F-150 by mid-2022.

The electric F-150, which is undergoing tens of thousands of hours of testing, will be more powerful than any F-150 available today.

Ford will also debut new technology on the electric F-150 that allows mobile power generation so customers can use their trucks as a power source for places from campsites to job sites when needed.

While the company wouldn't provide specific figures, Ford's president of the Americas and International Markets Group, Kumar Galhotra, said the lifetime cost of ownership of the electric F-150 will be roughly half that of the current-generation vehicle.

The lower estimate is based off zero petrol and oil usage, low electric charging rates, lower maintenance costs and increased vehicle uptime, Ford said.

In the absence of an engine, Galhotra also promised a "giant" front trunk, which would mark the first time the F-150 offers significant enclosed storage space.

The new details are part of Ford's effort to position the F-150 EV as a purpose-built work vehicle that can provide numerous benefits to fleet operators as well as traditional retail customers, says AutoNews.

The F-Series has dominated pick-up sales in the USA since 1977 and is Ford’s most popular vehicle but will face increased competition from EV makers Tesla, Rivian, Nikola and others in the coming years.

"While other electric pickups are competing for lifestyle customers, the all-electric F-150 was designed and engineered for hardworking customers that need a truck to do a job," Galhotra told reporters ahead of the Rouge Electric Vehicle Centre announcement.