The very notion of an electric truck is a new and somewhat bizarre concept. Pickup trucks are supposed to be robust, raucous machines that grunt and growl as you put them to work doing things that no other class of vehicle can. So where does a pickup truck that’s an EV fit in? The answer is quite simple: Once you see just how much torque a set of electric motors can throw out at a moment’s notice, it’ll start to make sense. Sure, you lose out on the soundtrack of a standard gasoline or diesel engine, but performance figures don’t lie, and it’s becoming very clear that electric propulsion is the future in every classification. So, welcome to the age of the electric pickup truck.
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- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Engine
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Electric
- Base Trim Transmission
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Single-speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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600 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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521 lb.-ft.
- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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Four-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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570 HP
- Base Trim Fuel Economy Equivalent (city/highway/combined)
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59/47/53 mpge
- Base Trim Engine
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EV
- Base Trim Transmission
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Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
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645 HP
- Base Trim Torque
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785 lb.-ft.
Characteristics Of Electric Pickup Trucks
Here is what sets the electric truck apart from its combustion-engined counterparts:
- Powertrain and transmission: While all-electric trucks are a new concept, the primary defining characteristic is the electric powertrain. Anywhere between one to four motors is possible, and outputs are truly incredible. These EV monsters have single-speed automatic transmission systems.
- Performance: Engine outputs alone don’t say much, but these burly brutes are capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph at speeds that rival or even beat sports cars and can be on par with EVs from Tesla.
- Capability: Every pickup in the heavy-duty industry has impressive towing and hauling capabilities, so it is only natural that an electric truck needs to meet or beat these figures to be considered worth the money. This shouldn’t be a problem, as the Rivian R1T, which can manage over 11,000 lbs, proves. Additionally, these behemoths also have the ability to go off-road.
- Appearance: Last but definitely not least, a pickup needs to live up to the image. These are bold, rugged vehicles that work hard and play hard. While the new EV variants definitely still tout this aesthetic, they have adapted it to incorporate many of the elements we expect from futuristic electric cars. These include sharper lines, solid grilles, lightweight wheels, and bolder lighting.
What To Consider Before Buying An EV Or Electric Pickup Truck
So far, only a select few brands have shown us examples of electric pickups, but more are definitely on the way. From the models we have already seen, we can tell that there are some definite advantages to going electric, but there are some drawbacks, too.
Pros
- Instantaneous torque delivery
- High outputs from motors
- Amazing MPGe figures for such heavy machines
- Much friendlier on the environment
- Impressive off-roading capacity
Cons
- Not of a lot of options available yet
- A heavy vehicle has a shorter all-electric range
- Charging still takes longer than refueling gas
- The price of one of these silent brutes is quite high
Sources: Rivian, Ford, GMC, Tesla
