A new generation of electric pickup trucks are ready to hit our roads. Automotive manufacturers have announced that we should be seeing all electric pickup trucks for sale this year, and many more models are slated for release in the coming years.
Electric pickup trucks are a little different from their EV stable mates, because they have to carry around extra payload and cargo, and potentially tow other vehicles sometimes. This requires them to have even more powerful battery packs that output higher power figures to deal with the extra load.
Of course, this means a higher overall weight which will reduce their range considerably. The work around to this is advanced technology that packs more power into lighter battery packs and automakers are confident that the problems have been resolved.
Mainstream companies like Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla and Toyota as well as start-ups like Rivian are all set to release these all-electric pickup trucks in the coming years.
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A list of the best electric pickup trucks to hit our roads
Here is a roundup of the most exciting electric pickup trucks that are scheduled for release very soon. The list includes major auto manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, Tesla, Rivian, GMC, and Toyota. Electric pickup trucks are fast becoming a reality, and many more models are planned from now till 2024.
Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla has taken everything we know about pickup trucks and turned it upside down. It gets a sharp wedge shape design in a shiny stainless steel body shell. That is unlike the box shaped, tall body shape of conventional pickup trucks. The cyber truck is a step away from the segment’s fortress blueprint. Tesla’s all electric pickup trucks are also scratch proof, dent proof and supposedly bulletproof.
The towing capacity of the Cybertruck is said to be 6300 kg and has a driving range of 500 km on a single charge. That puts the Cybertruck on the top of the list in terms of driving range and power ratings.
Performance of the Tesla Cybertruck is also very impressive with a 0-100 km/h time of 3 seconds. Coupled with an adjustable suspension setup that can provide up to 16 inches of ground clearance, the Cybertruck is certainly a fast and capable electric vehicle, unlike any EV on the road.
All this data means that the Tesla Cybertruck will be a capable off roading machine, fast on the road and stronger than any toughened-up SUV you can find. Plus being all electric its good for the environment as well. A winner on all counts.
Although Tesla announced that the Cybertruck would hit the roads in 2022, this debut has been pushed back a little bit, but we should be seeing this electric pickup truck very soon.
Also Read: Top 5 Small Electric Cars In India
GMC Hummer EV
A couple of years ago, GMC announced that they would be resurrecting the Hummer nameplate in an all-electric version which started to gather a lot of hype given the popularity of the previous editions of the Hummer and their excursions on the battle front.
Unfortunately, the old generation of the Hummer had been known for its excess and inefficiency as a gas guzzler and was the target of several environmentalists in the 90’s. All that seems to have been swept under the rug, because as an all-electric pickup truck, the GMC Hummer will have Greenpeace activists using the zero-emission vehicle as official transport.
No doubt, the new Hummer EV is capable of doing what its older siblings could do and a lot more. In fact, the GMC Hummer EV is being christened a super truck partly due to its extremely powerful 1000 bhp tri-motor, that produces 1000 ft lbs of torque. The configuration is one electric motor on the front axle and two electric motors on the rear axle.
The enormous motor means that the Hummer EV can handle a payload of 600 kg and can haul a towing capacity of 3400 kg. It is quite a beast. And to make the vehicle even more capable is a driving range of 530 km on a single charge. It even has a never seen before feature called crab mode which will allow the vehicle to move diagonally at low speeds.
The Hummer is definitely not your average electric pickup truck, and certainly a vehicle that is going to live up to its legendary nameplate.
Rivian R1T
The Rivian R1T holds the status of being the first battery powered electric pickup truck to be put into production. The vehicle made quite a storm during its debut, with people enamoured by its sleek design and powerful motor.
The Rivian is a start up by Irvine, California based company and is built upon its trademark skateboard platform that has four electric motors, one at each wheel producing a combined power output of 800 bhp and 900 ft lbs of torque.
The body looks futuristic with an unconventional front end, but what is really impressive is its 800 kg payload capacity and towing capability of 5000 kg. A phenomenally powerful truck with serious towing prowess and a driving range of 500 km on a single charge.
Not only can this truck tow immense loads, it is also extremely capable off-road being able to traverse the toughest and most remote terrain with ease.
Rivian also has an SUV scheduled for launch, called the R1S, but it looks like the R1T will have to prove its worthiness before we can see the next model from Rivian released.
Chevrolet Silverado EV
Chevrolet, in close competition with Ford, released an all-electric pickup truck called the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
This electric pickup truck was designed for work at a construction work site, familiar territory for a pick up truck that has to haul construction material and tow equipment such as forklifts and bulldozers.
The Silverado EV is powered by two electric motors which will produce 664 bhp and 780 ft lbs of torque. Impressive figures that rival most other electric pickup trucks in this segment.
It has a payload of capacity of 590 kg and can tow a weight of 4500 kg around town. Not exactly a weak motor by any standards, it has a driving range of 643 km.
The Chevrolet Silverado shares no body panels with its internal combustion counterpart, the Silverado 1500 and looks nothing like it.
The electric pickup truck has bi-directional charging which means it can top up another EV that is left stranded somewhere on the road. It also has a multi flex tailgate which increases cargo capacity.
The Silverado makes use of General Motors’ Ultium battery components for electric vehicles giving it a long driving range of 643 km. The electric pickup truck is slated for release in 2023 and Chevy is hoping to capitalise on this lucrative segment of vehicles.
Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 internal combustion variant is the best-selling pickup truck in the US at the moment. And the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck will look to reign in customers that are accustomed to the Ford’s build quality, reliability and toughness.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is not the first electric vehicle to come out of Detroit’s biggest car manufacturer, that would be the Mustang Mach-E which is a sort of crossover SUV electric vehicle.
Trucks are serious business for Ford, and they want their electric pickup to live up to its internal combustion sibling’s reputation. Although the Ford may not be big on horse power (563 bhp) like some of its rivals, it makes up for it in payload capacity of 907 kg and a towing prowess of 4500 kg. It comes with two electric motors, one on each of its axles.
Ford wants to tell its customers that this is a pickup truck that can be taken to a work site and handle all the tasks of hauling around materials with ease. Some of the features that make the Ford even more useful include a generator that can be used to power up the battery of a run-down EV or it can even power a house for a couple of days. That’s how robust the battery pack is.
Ford will just have to find a way to keep up with the demand for this electric pickup truck when sales begin, because they know they have a best seller on their hands.
Lordstown Endurance
A new name in the electric pickup truck segment, the Lordstown Endurance has been accepting bookings for its futuristic looking EV, and the start-up has released all the details on its upcoming pickup truck.
It is stated that the Lordstown Endurance will have a driving range of 400 km on a single charge and will be equipped with a 109-kWh battery. With a horsepower figure of 600 bhp, this is one powerful electric pickup truck, capable of towing up to 3400 kg.
The Lordstown Endurance will be sold as a fleet vehicle, but it is going to be offered to individual customers as well. Its top speed would be governed to 120 km/h.
Production of the Lordstown Endurance electric pickup truck has been delayed several times due to the company having financial trouble, however, they have said that production will go on and sales should begin in the latter half of 2022.
Canoo Pickup Truck
The Canoo electric pickup truck features an unconventional cab forward design that does away with a front trunk or frunk.
The design ensures that the Canoo looks like no other electric pickup truck on the market today. Canoo tells us that the pickup truck is very versatile thanks to its cab forward design because it frees up space to add bed side gates in addition to tailgates.
The company has said that the quirky EV is going on sale in early 2023. The electric pickup truck is expected to come equipped in both rear wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The Canoo will get a driving range of 320 km on a full charge and the electric motor is rated at a powerful 500 bhp.
Alpha Wolf
The Alpha Wolf is not only the least expensive electric pickup in the US market, it is also maybe the coolest looking pickup truck EV you can find. It is a small, tough vehicle that punches much above its weight thanks to its retro futuristic design and affordable price.
Range is one of the most important factors when it comes to an electric vehicle. The Alpha Wolf scores big on points here because it gets a 442 km range on a full charge coming from an 85-kWh battery pack. This range is comparable to much bigger electric pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning.
It is fairly quick with a 0-100 km/h time of 6 seconds and a towing capacity of 1350 kg which is quite commendable for a truck of this size. It comes in four-wheel drive or front wheel drive configurations.
Where the Alpha Wolf wins is on its style and design, with its boxy front and circular headlamps that look oh so old school. It also gets roof mounted lights on its single cab.
The Alpha Wolf is slated for release in 2023, and the industry is eager to see the on-road prototypes which should be out any time now.
Also Read: A Complete Guide on Electric Cars
Conclusion
The electric pickup truck race is a hotly contested one, which started off with the Rivian R1T and subsequently saw mainstream manufacturers jump on the pick-up truck EV band wagon.
The segment has yet to see a considerable number of vehicles on our roads, and even then, it will be a long shot to the ultimate number one position, due to competition from all ends.
The best electric pick-up truck will have to have an outstanding towing and payload capacity if it wants to sell in significant numbers. This is of course without sacrificing driving range or having too bulky battery packs that add weight to an already oversized vehicle.
With the aforementioned electric pickup trucks leading the way, we can expect to see many new models in the coming years that are certain to push the segment to its limit with technologically advanced and versatile electric pickup trucks.
