A former Chevy truck owner from Middle America watched the Silverado EV announcement with some interest. He had already made reservation deposits for the Rivian RT1 and F150 Lightning, but production delays meant that decision was far from final. 

Like most big product releases, the Silverado EV unveiling was more of a hype video than something designed to influence a purchase. But, after the event ended, he thought about it for a few days, read some of the initial press reactions, then eventually made another EV truck deposit for the Silverado.

That guy in Middle America is me. I am the one who is eagerly awaiting their first EV truck so this comparison is a review of everything I have learned, a summary of lots of things that I have read or watched, and many of the things you should know before making your EV truck decision. 

Did I forget the Tesla Cybertruck? While the Cybertruck is not a finalist for me, it is an important EV truck with some revolutionary features so I have included it in this plug-in adventure in case you find it on your wishlist – you would not be alone.

Why Are EV Trucks So Exciting? 

Our CEO, Scott Case, said that 2022 was the year of the EV truck in his prediction article for InsideEVs over a year ago, but trucks are still going strong. If EVs are to become the mainstream – the everyman vehicle that we want them to be – trucks are a necessary market segment to convert. Scott explains,

“The top selling vehicle model across 30 states in 2021 was the Ford F-Series, and the numbers we’re talking about are 5X what the Model Y has done”

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EV adoption in the US has been slow, particularly in the fly-over states where I live. Average travel distances are longer, charging infrastructure is less developed, and all-wheel drive is almost essential given the 12-inch snowfalls that we see in the winter. These long-range EV trucks check the logistical boxes that a two-door hatchback with 150 miles of range (in ideal conditions) would not for a lot of people in the Midwest. 

PS - if you're particularly interested in the towing capabilities (tested and advertised), you can read more about that.

Candidate 1: Chevrolet Silverado EV 

Chevy’s Silverado has been around since 1999 and is due for a shake-up. The first model year of the Silverado EV is 2024 and can be expected to hit dealer lots sometime in 2023. Advance reviews of its towing and handling are in, and many people are impressed.

Though production details are still TBD, the upcoming 2024 Silverado EV is getting a lot of attention. Some say it’s the true successor to the Avalanche, especially since the RST trim features a folding midgate that extends the truck bed from 5 ft 11 in to an expansive 10 ft 10 in. The truck also features a short overhang that allows for better visibility and more cabin room, but takes advantage of the underhood space with a front trunk of 10.7 cu ft. The top-line RST trim boasts an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 sec, but it is built more for utility than to impress.

The truck’s most talked about feature is the high-tech Ultium Platform. The battery is designed to use less cobalt, a particularly expensive mineral, and to be flexible and modular enough to be used in many different EVs. When used in conjunction with GM’s Ultium Home systems, customers can take advantage of bidirectional vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging tech. Chevy claims a fully charged Silverado EV can power a home for up to 21 days.

• Base Price: est. $52,000
• Max Range: 400 mi, up to 450 mi for the WT trim
• Battery: 200 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging up to 350 kW, can add 100 mi in 10 min
• Bidirectional Charging: V2H, can power a home for up to 21 days when used with the Ultium Home Platform
• Special Features: Ultium Platform
• Reservations: Sign up for updates on Chevrolet’s website, 170,000+ reservation holders
• Available: Fall 2023

That is the promotional video from GM’s announcement of the Silverado EV at CES. 

Candidate 2: Ford F150 Lightning

The Ford F-series has been the best selling pickup truck in America since 1977 and hopes are high that it’s popularity will carry over to the electrified version. These trucks have been on the road for a bit over a year.

MotorTrend’s 2023 Truck of the Year, the Ford F150 Lightning has a classic design, almost identical to the gas version of the truck, meant to appeal to drivers who prefer the familiar Ford aesthetic over the edgy, modern styles common in electric vehicles. The truck is lightning fast, going from 0 to 60 mph in a mere 4 sec. It’s a smooth ride, too, with excellent suspension and handling. The underhood storage of its Mega Power Frunk is massive, 14 cu ft, and comes equipped with four 120V outlets and 2 USB outlets. There are an additional two 120V outlets in the cab and up to four in the bed, along with an available 240V outlet as part of the Lightning’s Pro Power Onboard. With the Ford Charge Station Pro, a fully charged Lightning’s V2H capabilities can power a home for 3 to 10 days. That means parked or on the road, truck drivers can keep electronics and power tools running.

• Base Price: $59,974
• Max Range: 320 mi
• Battery: 131 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging up to 150 kW, from 15-80% in 36 minutes
• Bidirectional Charging: V2H, can power a home for 3 to 10 days when used with Ford Charge Station Pro
• Special Features: Pro Power Onboard for charging power tools or electronics
• Reservations: Over 200,000, Pro trim sold out for 2023
• Available: Order now on Ford’s Website, delivering Fall 2023

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This is a short promotional video that Ford created.

Candidate 3: Tesla Cybertruck

Lots of Cybertruck details are still in flux, despite being one of the first EV trucks to open reservations in 2019. Starting price tags are still a big question mark, but rumors are that range should exceed that of the Silverado at 500 miles. It’s also safe to assume that anything under the Tesla brand will accelerate faster than its competitor. The current working theory is 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds and top speed of 130 mph.

No truck looks quite so much like a spaceship as the Tesla Cybertruck. Its futuristic style may be off-putting to traditionalists, but its unconventional frame and Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel exoskeleton with Tesla armor glass will appeal to anyone who wants to be ready for the apocalypse. The fastest Cybertruck can go from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 sec and boasts a range of 500 mi. If it lives up to the hype, the Cybertruck will be able to tow up to 14,000 lbs, outclassing its competitors. It also features adjustable air suspension, providing up to 16 in of clearance. The Cybertrucks will use Tesla’s new tabless 4680 cylindrical battery cells. The batteries increase energy density and improve the power-to-weight ratio while lowering the cost. Tesla Giga Texas has already produced enough 4680 battery cells to power 8,000 Cybertrucks, but when those trucks will be released - or whether there will be yet more delays before the hotly awaited vehicle reaches consumers - remains to be seen.

• Base Price: est. $40,000
• Max Range: 500 mi
• Battery: 4680 Li-ion
• Charging Speed: est. DC Fast Charging up to 1 MW, at least 200 mi in 15 min
• Special Features: Ultra-Hard 30X Cold-Rolled stainless-steel exoskeleton and Tesla armor glass
• Reservations: Preorders open, over 1.6 million reservation holders
• Available: 2023 or 2024

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This promotional video is a few years old, so some details have likely changed.

Candidate 4: Rivian R1T

Rivian is the new kid on the block, both literally and figuratively. This new automotive brand was the first market with electric trucks, starting customer deliveries in late 2021.

The first electric pickup truck ever sold, the Rivian R1T has already made a name for itself as a versatile, easy to handle vehicle. It’s about the size of a midsize truck but offers heavy duty performance. The R1T can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 3 sec and has a range of up to 400 mi. The truck comes equipped with four 120V outlets and six USB-C outlets, as well as adjustable air suspension, providing 8 to 14 in of clearance. The standout feature of the Rivian R1T is its storage. It has over 62 cu ft of storage space, including the unique gear tunnel that adds 11.7 cu ft of storage between the passenger cabin and the truck bed. Rivian planned accessories built specifically to fit the gear tunnel, like a pull-out camp kitchen, but those plans have been put on hold while the company focuses on delivering more trucks. Probably the best thing about the Rivian R1T compared to its much-talked-about competitors is that it is actually available to purchase right now.

• Base Price: $73,000
• Max Range: 400 mi
• Battery: 128.9 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging at 200 kW, up to 140 miles of range in 20 minutes
• Bidirectional Charging: Not yet, but there is an over-the-air update planned
• Special Features: Over 62 cu ft of storage, including the gear tunnel
• Reservations: Over 114,000 pre-orders
• Available: Ready in 2 to 16 weeks, depending on configuration, though some customers have been waiting years‍
  

Since Rivian has already started deliveries, there are a million test drive videos on YouTube. Maybe more. I selected this one because it is a quick intro that is helpful before we go into the details. 

EV Truck Battery & Range: Rivian vs Ford vs Tesla vs Chevy

The best descriptors for the batteries and powertrains in this generation of EV would be big and fast. Half of these electric trucks have battery configurations that are more than twice the size of a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, the best-selling EV, and could exceed its 0-60 time in some models. Rivian’s R1T clocked 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

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* Estimates or untested promotional values

I’ve included max charging speed because the max range reflects EPA estimates in favorable conditions. But fill the truck bed with camping supplies and attach a boat trailer, and actual range will drop considerably, sending you back to the charging station more often.

An EV that can charge at 350 kW is lightning (lowercase L) fast and matches the fastest charging times recorded from production cars. The downside? It can be hard to find fast charge stations that can provide that speed. It’s kind of like owning an 8K television today: impressive technology but it is rare that you will take full advantage of it. The best way to think of it is that these electric trucks are either meeting or surpassing the charging standards of most electric vehicles today and should not be any cause for concern. Because we care, this our chance to remind you that relying exclusively on fast charging is not good for longterm battery health. 

Comparing Electric Truck Design & Style

Each of these electric trucks looks surprisingly unique. While the Ford and Chevy have the most traditional half-ton pickup truck aesthetic, even those two brands took their truck exteriors in different directions. 

The F150 Lightning certainly feels the most familiar to American truck consumers, at least on the outside. That’s not an accident. Ford is electrifying its F-Series category leader, rather than trying to create an electric truck category. You can see that in the advertising, which promotes new electric features instead of introducing a totally new product line. 

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On the inside, Ford’s F150 Lightning has a lot of the things that you would expect from an F-Series truck, with some things that you would not, like a 15-inch vertical center screen. Reflective of modern Tesla-inspired instrumentation that is also found in the Mustang Mach-E, the Lightning feels like a bridge between the past and future with lots of familiar tactile buttons to support the large digital center command center. 

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The Silverado EV has perhaps the most familiar truck interior, but took the exterior in a direction that could appeal to its existing EV audience as a bigger, more recreationally-focused option, while also catching the eye of early adopting electric truck buyers. For anyone who misinterprets Chevy being late to the EV truck game as being an EV laggard, GM is an undisputed EV leader among major car brands. Only GM and Tesla have sold enough electric vehicles to outgrow their US federal tax credit. 

To illustrate how GM is meeting in the middle to appeal to the most people, doesn’t the Silverado EV kind of look like a cross between the Bolt (left) and the gas-powered 2022 Silverado (right)? 

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The Silverado’s workhorse mindset is visible in features like folding rear seats, which extends the pickup bed into the cab, and creates a bit of the soft-top Ford Bronco atmosphere for people in the front seat. I can almost feel the wind in my hair. 

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Tesla’s Cybertruck is clearly a lone wolf in this group. Well, in all groups. If the F150 job-site workhorse is on one end of the spectrum, the Cybertruck is on the other. It’s a totally different look that Elon Musk has referenced a few times. While the initially jarring exterior appears that it would be sharp to the touch if not handled with care, the interior should be very familiar to Tesla drivers. 

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The promotional models are free of nearly all physical buttons, feature the familiar single display, and continue to push auto design into the future. The recently-released sizing specs for the Cybertruck also put it much closer to "long car" than "work truck." Coming in under nineteen feet, it should fit in a standard, twenty-foot home garage. Nonetheless, the bed length promises to be half a foot longer than the F-150 Lightning's and 1.5 feet longer than the RIvian's.

You can put me on record promising that the vehicle that you’re driving in 20 years will look a lot more like the picture above than the quarter-ton truck in your garage today. 

Other Trucks: On the Market and Up & Coming

GMC Hummer EV

Big, bold, and brash, the GMC Hummer EV lives up to the standards set by its predecessors. Its distinctive look and 0 to 60 mph acceleration in 3.3 sec will draw in customers who love its flashy style. For those who want to be closer to nature, the truck’s Infinity Roof has four modular Sky Panels that can be removed and stored in the eTrunk, leaving the cabin open to the sky. Like the Chevy Silverado EV, the GMC Hummer EV also uses the Ultium Platform. The truck’s most unusual feature is the CrabWalk, which allows the Hummer EV to maneuver around obstacles diagonally. While not the most powerful EV truck, the GMC Hummer EV has incredible off-road capability and flare, for those who can handle the price tag.

• Base Price: est. $108,300
• Max Range: 355 mi
• Battery: 205 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging up to 350 kW, 100 mi in 10 min
• Bidirectional Charging: Will be available in the 2024 model
• Special Features: CrabWalk allows diagonal driving
• Reservations: Over 90,000 reservation holders 
• Available: Reservations are currently full and deliveries are slow

GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1

The GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 combines the best features of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the GMC Hummer EV into one impressive and luxurious pickup. Like the others, it uses the Ultium Platform, and it can power a home for up to 21 days when used with Ultium Home. The truck can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 sec and features adjustable air suspension. Like the Silverado EV, the GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 features a folding midgate that can extend the truck bed to a whopping 10 ft 10 in. The Sierra Denali also takes advantage of the Hummer EV’s innovative CrabWalk, allowing it to maneuver diagonally around obstacles. It truly has all the best features coming out of GMC and Chevrolet, which is probably why reservations for the remarkable truck filled up in less than an hour.

• Base Price: $107,000
• Max Range: 400 mi
• Battery: 200 kWh Li-Ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging up to 350 kW, 100 mi in 10 min
• Bidirectional Charging: V2H, can power a home for up to 21 days when used with the Ultium Home Platform
• Special Features: CrabWalk allows diagonal driving
• Reservations: There's a waitlist, but reservations are full
• Available: Early 2024 for reservation holders

Ram 1500 REV

Ram’s first EV truck, the Ram 1500 REV takes the style of the traditional Ram trucks and moves it into the electric future. It boasts an acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 sec and an adjustable air suspension that will allow the truck to ford up to 24 in of water. The truck features an impressive weatherproof 15 cu ft frunk allowing for copious storage. What sets the Ram 1500 REV apart is its ability to compete with the best of the best when it comes to power, with a range up to 500 mi, a towing capacity up to 14,000 lbs, and a max payload of 2,700 lbs. Only the Tesla Cybertruck makes similar claims. The Ram 1500 REV’s bidirectional charging abilities will also make it a choice pick for those who want their truck to double as a generator at home, on the road, or at work.

• Base Price: est. $58,000
• Max Range: 500 mi
• Battery: 229 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging up to 350 kW, 110 miles in 10 minutes
• Bidirectional Charging: Yes, V2G, V2H, and V2V
• Special Features: Top of the line range, towing, and payload capacity
• Reservations: Initial reservations closed after only 5 days, but reservations are now open
• Available: Late 2024

Canoo Pickup

Designed with work and adventure in mind, the Canoo Pickup mixes futuristic style with a retro aesthetic to make a one of a kind EV truck. Though it can’t compete in terms of range, the Canoo Pickup shines in terms of utility. Canoo, a start-up company, was even awarded a U.S. Army contract for its innovative vehicle. The truck features a pull-out bed that can extend up to 8 ft, as well as multiple flip-down tables and powered work benches. The truck bed is fully illuminated and, what’s more, completely modular with space dividers and wall chucks that make it easy to store all kinds of gear. Though some specs remain unknown, including the final price tag, the Canoo Pickup, with its practical design and unique look, seems ready to shake up the EV truck market.

• Base Price: est. $50,000
• Max Range: 200+ mi
• Battery: 80 kWh
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging, 80% charge in about 30 minutes
• Special Features: Modular, extendable, illuminated truck bed
• Reservations: Available for pre-order
• Available: Possibly late 2023

Alpha Wolf

A compact truck with big style, the Alpha Wolf is sure to find its niche in the EV truck market. For one thing, it’s more affordable than any of its competitors. The truck has a small profile yet can still go from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 sec. It comes with some flashy accessories, like DMOS Compact Delta Shovels. One of its most convenient features is the Mountain Top Cargo Slide, allowing for smooth, easy storage in the truck bed. While the Alpha Wolf has yet to hit America’s roadways, it’s heavy-duty look but compact profile is sure to appeal to truck lovers who don’t want to break the bank.

• Base Price: $36,000
• Max Range: 300+ mi
• Battery: 85 kWh Li-ion
• Charging Speed: DC Fast Charging, up to 80% capacity in 30 minutes
• Special Features: Mountain Top Cargo Slide and included DMOS compact delta shovels
• Reservations: Waiting list is open
• Available: Possibly 2024

Toyota Tacoma EV

Though rumors abound that a new Toyota Tacoma EV is in the works, the company has only gone so far as to confirm they are developing an EV truck. There’s no mention of a Tacoma EV on Toyota’s website, but that hasn’t stopped speculation. Many are optimistic the new Tacoma EV (if that is its name) will bring Toyota into competition with other automakers that have already gotten into the EV truck game. No specs have been released and there’s no knowing what special features the truck may have. Fans of the gas and hybrid Tacomas, however, are eagerly awaiting the newest edition to Toyota’s lineup.

• Base Price: est. $50,000
• Available: Possibly 2024, maybe 2025

Dimensions:

While Tesla and Chevrolet may make adjustments to their production models, the Ford, Hummer, and Rivian details are fairly concrete at this point. All models other than the F-150 Lightning are height-adjustable with air suspension. The Silverado bed length is marketed to extend to 10.8 ft by folding down Multi-Flex Midgate.

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Payload and Towing:

This is an area where the standards have already been set for American pickup trucks. Any truck, whether powered by an electric motor or a combustion engine, has to meet basic expectations to thrive. 

* Estimates or untested promotional values

Compare those figures to a 2021 Silverado 1500 on the road today that can tow 8,000 to 12,000 pounds depending on the combustion engine. That puts these electric trucks in the mix, with promises from GM to double the Silverado EV’s towing capacity in the future. 

Despite some promising towing tests, it’s important for any potential EV trucker shopper to understand that maximum range could be slashed in half with something connected to your trailer hitch. That’s probably fine for infrequent road trips or seasonal migrations, but not appealing for people who regularly tow hundreds of miles. 

Trying to Choose Just One EV Truck

Going into my decision, I assumed that it would be tough to choose only one because the trucks have so much in common. For example, all of them can check the boxes that I need to check with an electric truck.

• All-wheel drive for harsh winter conditions
• 300-mile range for weekend trips to the lake
• 10,000 pounds of towing to haul the ski boat two times a year
• Similar price points when equipped with the features that I want
• All of the creature comforts that I expect as a recreational truck owner
  

But I would be really surprised if, after reading this, one has not jumped out ahead of the others on your wishlist. One certainly did for me. After looking through the features, verifying government incentives, measuring my 1950s garage, and thinking about how I spend my weekends, I have selected a finalist. 

But I’m still not going to cancel my reservations on the others. Not yet, anyway.