The electric pickup truck market is about to take off. We’ve seen electric cars grow in size and capability over the years, so it’s only fitting that pickup trucks join the electric club. Both Ford and Chevy have announced their own electric pickup trucks releasing in the near future. While information is still being released for both pickup trucks, we know enough to predict how they will stack up. Let’s dive into what we know now about the two rival electric pickup trucks, what we expect from their release, and what the Ford and Chevy EV options currently look like.
What We Know Now
Both Ford and Chevy have released electric vehicles in the past, so this isn’t new territory for either car brand. With it being some of the first all-electric pickup trucks in the market, more people are watching. As of now, Chevy has not released very many details surrounding the Chevy Silverado EV. Ford, on the other hand, released more details on the Lightning, as it’s set to release in 2022. How do the public facts about both electric pickup trucks compare now?
Chevy could have released any type of information about their upcoming Chevy Silverado EV, but they chose to release their estimated range. The Silverado EV estimates a more than 400-mile range on a full charge. Chevy makes this possible by using the advanced Ultium battery technology in the upcoming Silverado EV. This is vital information to the average pickup driver because it proves the Silverado EV can keep up with busy work schedules. Chevy’s current electric vehicle options offer up to 259 miles of range, so this is certainly an upgrade from what they offer now.
We also know that Chevy plans to release a variety of options for the Silverado EV, which is in line with their current Silverado. This is good news to Silverado lovers because they will likely find a Silverado EV that matches their wish list and needs. These will be for both retail and fleet versions, so anyone can purchase the new Chevy Silverado EV.
Ford released detailed information about their Ford Lightning because it plans to release in 2022. The estimated range for the 2022 Lightning is 230 miles with the standard-range battery or 300 miles with the extended-range battery. This is obviously quite a bit lower than the Chevy estimated range for the Silverado EV, but the 2022 Lightning can still last a long time on a single charge. The Ford Lightning also has the ability to use the truck’s electric power as a backup power source for your home.
The charging solutions for the 2022 Ford Lightning make it easy to charge wherever you are. Ford is a part of a growing network of public chargers, and there are options for at-home charging too. The home charging solutions for the 2022 Lightning include the Ford Charge Station Pro, which can reach a full charge overnight. The standard at-home charger is the Ford Mobile Charger, which only utilizes a 120V or 240V outlet. While Chevy hasn’t released much about their charging solutions for the Silverado EV, knowing the facts about their current chargers helps us know what to expect.
What We Expect
There’s a lot we can expect from the Chevy Silverado EV and the Ford Lightning. Both vehicle brands know how to make excellent quality electric cars. As electric vehicles continue to grow in size, so do the expectations and features. With limited information available for the Silverado EV, we have to draw from what Chevy offers for its current lineup to understand more what the Silverado EV could feature.
Ford released what their charging solutions will be for the 2022 Ford Lightning. Chevy has very similar solutions for charging on their current electric vehicles, so we expect the Silverado EV will offer the same, if not better, charging abilities. Currently, Chevy offers two levels of at-home charging for their electric vehicles. Level 1 charging is standard and only requires a 120V outlet, with about 4 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 2 charging uses a 240V outlet and can charge about 25 miles of range per hour.
We can expect both the Silverado EV and the Ford Lightning to be about even when it comes to charging abilities. With the Silverado EV’s higher estimated range, though, drivers will likely be able to go farther and longer in this electric pickup truck. Beyond batteries and charging, there are big expectations for how these pickup trucks will perform.
The Chevy Silverado is one of the most powerful pickup trucks on the market today. We expect that same performance in the Silverado EV. The current Silverado lineup is one of the leaders in performance and capability in its segment, so the Silverado EV should not fall behind what Chevy built.
The 2022 Ford Lightning also expects to be highly capable. Currently, the estimated towing capacity for the 2022 Lightning is 10,000 lbs, and the payload capacity is estimated at 2,000 lbs. These stats rival gasoline pickup trucks, which will boost the appeal of the new electric pickup trucks. As far as performance goes, the 2022 Lightning plans to excel, too, with a targeted 563 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque. While we don’t know the performance and capability stats for the Chevy Silverado EV, we can expect they will rival the Ford Lightning based on what we know the current Silverado can accomplish.
Current Electric Options
Electric vehicles are nothing new to both Chevy and Ford. For years now, the two car brands consistently release and improve their electric vehicles. The electric vehicles currently on the market for Chevy and Ford gives a good indication of the launching pad for these two new electric pickup trucks. Chevy currently offers the Bolt EV and the Bolt EUV as all-electric cars. Ford currently has the Mustang Mach-E as its all-electric vehicle.
The Chevy Bolt EV and EUV are all-electric cars that can meet a variety of needs. The larger Bolt EUV is built like an SUV to give drivers the components of the SUV they love while still achieving optimal efficiency on an all-electric battery. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is powerful like the Mustang and one of Ford’s most technologically advanced vehicles. It’s priced quite a bit higher than Chevy’s electric vehicles, which could put it out of reach for the average driver. Both Chevy and Ford’s current electric vehicles pave the way for these new electric additions.
Who Wins?
With limited information, it’s tough to say which electric pickup truck will come out on top. We have high expectations for both the Chevy Silverado EV and the Ford Lightning. Both of these all-electric pickup trucks will likely rival each other in every category. The Ford Lightning is set to be released as a 2022 model year truck. The Chevy Silverado EV doesn’t have a release date yet, but we can only expect it will come in hot after the 2022 Ford Lightning.
What we do know is that the pickup truck industry will never be the same with more car brands entering into the market with electric pickup trucks. These two leaders, Ford and Chevy, will definitely lay down a firm foundation. Then, we can truly put them to the test to see who reigns supreme!
