While parts of Downtown Memphis went without power Friday morning, Ford Motor Co. provided a strong electric presence outside the Memphis International Auto Show.

Show attendees were given the opportunity to test drive two of Ford’s electric vehicle offerings — the Ford Mustang Mach-e and Ford F-150 Lightning located right outside Renasant Convention Center.

A Commercial Appeal reporter and photographer rode along with Kel Kearns in an F-150 Lightning, Ford’s first-generation electric truck. Kearns, an Australia native, is the Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center plant manager for Ford’s BlueOval City project in nearby Stanton.

Ford will produce the company’s second-generation EV truck at BlueOval City, a $5.6 billion project currently under construction. About 3,200 people will be employed at the Electric Vehicle Center and another 2,500 at the BlueOval SK Battery Plant, which will produce EV batteries for Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

The 10-minute drive highlighted the F-150 Lightning’s “instantaneous speed,” mainly its ability to go from 0 to 60 mph in the blink of an eye as opposed to a traditional gas-powered car’s more gradual buildup to higher speeds. Along with the ride's smoothness (and complete quiet throughout) the truck provides a small glimpse into what eventually could be produced at BlueOval City.

The F-150 Lightning is produced at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Michigan, and began shipping to customers in May 2022.

After the brief ride along throughout Downtown Memphis, Kearns spoke with The Commercial Appeal about his time living in Memphis so far, the challenges ahead for BlueOval City and overall excitement for the project. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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What has it been like living in Memphis? Have you been able to catch any sporting events while you’ve been here?

Kearns: I’ve had an awesome time in Memphis since I’ve been here about eight months. Big difference to everywhere else I’ve been. Everyone has been so welcoming, so I’ve been invited to so many events.

I’ve been to Grizzlies matches probably three times with different people to enjoy the experience, to talk about different things. I’ve been to a baseball game. I’ve also traveled out to Knoxville and saw my first American football game, so that was pretty cool. Tennessee vs. Kentucky. Been able to see a number of sporting events and learn about all the different places in the city to go and eat and find the gems and really great restaurants and bars and what Memphis has to offer.

Coming off the BlueOval City Live event a couple of weeks ago, how are you feeling after reaching the latest milestone moment?

Kearns: That was a great milestone and a great opportunity to get people to the site to see that it’s actually happening. We’ve been talking about it and presenting to people but it’s a very different thing to be able to be on site and to see the progress that’s (being) made and the enormity of the project.

The second part of it was also really great to celebrate with all those people in the community that have helped make it happen. We had mayors of all the different counties and people from government and people from our partners, Walbridge (general contractor), everybody that’s been part of making it happen so far … Now we’re looking forward to finishing construction and starting the launch phase.

One of the details that came out of BlueOval City Live was Ford’s plan to produce 500,000 EVs at the Stanton site each year once full production begins. What is it like being part of an undertaking like this?

Kearns: This is our second-generation all-electric vehicle. It’s also gonna be the first time we’re building electric vehicles at scale. We have three electric vehicles on the market, which are doing really well. The (F-150) Lightning, the (Mustang) Mach-e and E-Transit. We’re going to the next level building at scale for all Americans.

How important is it for Ford to pass information along to others to let them know EVs can be beneficial to them and address their concerns regarding EVs?

Kearns: For all of us, it’s a learning experience. We’re going through a revolution. One of the biggest changes to the auto industry since it started. It’s a lot of new things for all of us to learn.

Me personally, I got my first electric car, I’ve got a Mustang Mach-e and I’ve been driving that around for the last few months in Memphis and learning that experience. Getting to feel the benefits of the performance and electric vehicle itself but also how to live day to day. Where to charge it, what frequency to charge it. Planning trips and seeing what the infrastructure is now and also hearing about how that infrastructure is changing over time. It’s an interesting experience as we all go through that.

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How are you feeling about the process regarding building your team for the Electric Vehicle Center?

Kearns: For me personally, that’s the exciting thing, because I’m the operational lead and I’ll be watching and running the plant. Building a team in an all-new plant as a greenfield site is a great opportunity to create a new culture, to pull together people that have different skills and abilities and maximize the opportunities from diversity. Build an awesome team that’s high-performing and we’ll be celebrating together I'm sure when that first customer vehicle runs off the line in 2025.

Omer Yusuf covers the Ford project in Haywood County, FedEx, tourism and banking for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached via email Omer.Yusuf@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @OmerAYusuf.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ford F-150 Lightning test drive with BlueOval City plant manager