The electric pickup race is heating up. The stakes are high because pickup trucks are a popular segment in the US. While the market for ICE pickup trucks is already carved out, the same cannot be said for electric models.
With GM finally revealing the Chevy Silverado EV at CES 2022, the coast is now clear to compare it with other electric pickup trucks. In this article, we put the Chevy Silverado EV side by side with the Ford F-150 Lightning.
Design
Chevy is the bolder one here, building the Silverado EV from the ground up as an electric vehicle. As a result, while you will recognize it as a Chevy truck, it has enough distinctiveness to stand out.
Ford, however, went with what its customer base is familiar with by making the Lightning very identical to the gas-powered F-150. There are several practical benefits to this choice. First, it makes design faster, probably explaining why Ford is ahead in the development process. Second, many accessories meant for the ICE F-150 will work with the Lightning. Also, the old and new share many parts.
What do the F-150 Lightning and Chevy Silverado EV have in common?
Both models are four-door and come with the latest tech in the cabin. You will get a touch screen in a roomy interior. The two trucks come with a twin electric motor system that will output enough power to get you to where you are going.
However, if you want to get into details, the Lightning produces 563 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque, while the Silverado promises 664 hp and 780 lb-ft.
The two trucks will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds.
The Silverado will last 400 miles in terms of range, while the Lightning promises 300 miles. The Chevy charges faster, accepting up to 350 kW, unlike the Lightning that maxes out at 150 kW. Both trucks will let you draw power from the battery to power your devices.
The Lightning can take up 2,000 kg of payload, while the Silverado is limited to 1,300 kg capacity.
Pricing
Not surprisingly, the two trucks are in the same price range. In fact, the base models are separated by only $70. Both are around $40,000. However, these are the basic models, and you can end up paying close to $100,000 depending on the extra features you select.
The first Lightning trucks will come this year, while the Silverado is slated for 2023.
Conclusion
Ford and GM have been making excellent pickup trucks for decades. Their first stabs at battery-powered trucks are good enough to make the customer base happy. There really is no clear winner yet. Perhaps once they hit the roads and we start hearing from customers, we can get a better assess which of these vehicles is the better value.
