The Electric Truck Buying Guide: What You Need to Know

Times are changing, and electric vehicles are becoming more popular than ever. Consumers seek relief from high gas prices, and automakers push to reduce private transportation’s dependence on fossil fuels. While electrification efforts started with hatchbacks, sedans, and even crossover SUVs, it was only a matter of time before the wave hit one of America’s best-selling vehicles: pickup trucks.

The idea of an all-electric pickup makes sense. The abundance of low-end torque and instantaneous output provided by electric motors seem like a perfect fit for utility vehicles, especially when towing or off-roading. But battery technology has been slow to develop. Pickup buyers have traditionally been resistant to comparatively modest changes. And automakers have struggled to find the right formula for electric trucks to work — until now.

Nearly every major truck manufacturer — and a few upstarts — are launching or planning to launch electric trucks in the coming years. Here’s a handy guide to give you a heads up on coming to market.

Rivian R1T (2022)

Will Sabel Courtney

Blazing the trails for the segment is the highly anticipated Rivian R1T. Following what seemed like ten tumultuous years, the California-based startup beat everyone else to the punch, offering the world’s first-ever all-electric pickup truck with adventurous branding, innovative storage options and (in top-spec) a quad-motor system pushing out more than 800 horsepower and 900 lb-ft of torque.

Horsepower: 838

Torque: 908 lb-ft

EPA Range: 314 miles

Towing Capacity: 11,000 lbs

Starting MSRP: $67,500

Production Date: In Production

GMC Hummer EV SUT (2022)

GMC

Heralded as one of the biggest automotive launches for the 2022 model year—both literally and figuratively—GMC’s Hummer EV SUT celebrates the return of the famed macho-truck brand. Revealed in October of 2020, it serves as the flagship model ushering in a whole new generation and lineup of all-electric luxury SUVs and trucks by General Motors.

Distinctive features include a 0-60 mph time of about 3 seconds in Watts to Freedom mode, the ability to crab walk and, yes, a tri-motor system putting out 1,000 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft of torque.

Horsepower: 1,000

Torque: 1,200 lb-ft

EPA Range: 329 miles

Towing Capacity: 7,500 lbs

Starting MSRP: $108,700

Production Date: In Production

Ford F-150 Lightning (2022)

Ford

One can’t discuss pickups without the Ford F-150, which also happens to be America’s best-selling vehicle, full-stop. The Dearborn-based automaker announced its efforts to make an all-electric F-150 in May of last year for a launch in spring 2022. Like the standard F-150, Ford will over the F-150 Lightning in various trims and configurations. And like the standard F-150, it will start under $40,000. It can also supply backup power to your home and has an expansive storage frunk.

Horsepower: 563

Torque: 775 lb-ft

EPA Range: up to 320 miles

Towing Capacity: 10,000 lbs

Starting MSRP: $39,974

Production Date: Spring 2022

Chevrolet Silverado EV (2023)

Chevrolet

Chevrolet is coming after the Ford F-150 Lightning with an electric version of the Silverado, the Silverado EV. Revealed at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show in prototype form, the Silverado EV looks a bit like a traditional Chevy truck (particularly the Avalanche). But under the hood sits a detuned version of the Ultium-supplied powertrain setup as the GMC Hummer EV SUT and a claimed range of up to 400 miles.

Eventually, the Silverado EV will match Ford with a starting price below $40,000. But for non-fleet buyers, the first-edition RST model will start at $105,000.

Horsepower: 664

Torque: 780 lb-ft

EPA Range: 400 miles (estimated)

Towing Capacity: 10,000 pounds

Starting MSRP: $105,000

Production Date: Fall 2023

Tesla Cybertruck (2023)

FREDERIC J. BROWN

Tesla unveiled the highly-anticipated, controversial and unconventional Cybertruck back in 2019. We’re still waiting for the final production version — originally tapped for 2021. It has now been pushed back to 2023 and may be substantially different from the original truck. Tesla is still promising an adjustable air suspension, a 3,500-pound payload capacity, up to 500 miles of range and a 2.9-second 0-60 mph time on its website.

EPA Range: up to 500 miles (estimated)

Towing Capacity: 14,000 lbs

Starting MSRP: TBD

Production Date: Early 2023

GMC Sierra EV (2023)

GMC

The GM electric pickup lineup would be complete without the Chevrolet Silverado’s more luxurious cousin, the GMC Sierra, getting the same treatment. And GMC has confirmed that is on the way with the GMC Sierra EV. We don’t know whether the Sierra EV will track the Silverado EV’s performance figures. But we do know it will use the same platform as the Silverado EV and Hummer EV SUT and get the brand’s super-lux Denali treatment.

Production Date: 2023 (projected)

Ram Electric Pickup (2024)

Ram

Ram has not been the most eco-friendly truck brand. But they are pivoting in a big way with an all-electric pickup, which should arrive in 2024. The new truck will run on Stellantis’s STLA Frame platform and may be capable of up to 500 miles of range. The brand is planning a version with a gasoline range extender. And while ram has not confirmed the name, the new truck may be called the “Ram Revolution.”

Ram has promised its electric pickup truck will exceed the capabilities of its competitors. A report suggests one of those competitors it plans to out-do could be the GMC Hummer EV SUT.

Horsepower: More than 664

Torque: More than 780 lb-ft

EPA Range: Up to 500 miles

Production Date: 2024

Toyota Pickup EV (2025)

Toyota

Toyota unveiled a lineup of 16 new electric vehicle concepts. One, tucked in the back corner, was the Pickup EV. We don’t know what Toyota is going to call this truck yet, and we don’t know whether the next-generation Tacoma will offer an electric variant. But if Toyota did announce it was building an electric Tacoma, it would be hard for a truck to look more like one than this. The looks, alas, are about all we know about Toyota’s electric pickup so far.

Production Date: 2025 (estimated)

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Toyota

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