Noah Grimmer's Perspective on EV Pickup Trucks
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has largely been defined by sedan passenger vehicles, but a new contender is making waves in the automotive world: the electric pickup truck. As this category has increasingly grown, it has picked up controversial opinions.
While electric pickup trucks offer a clear advantage, it’s important to address their challenges. Battery life, range limitations, the still-evolving charging infrastructure, and the high up-front costs all contribute to consumer hesitancy. These factors lead to a key question: Are electric pickup trucks a worthwhile investment?
First, let's address the common concerns associated with electric pickup trucks and EVs in general. The limited charging infrastructure leads to range anxiety and upfront costs may scare potential buyers away. Despite these hurdles, electric pickup trucks are rapidly evolving. Technological advancements and industry innovations are addressing consumer concerns, making electric pickups a more viable and appealing option for both work and play.
As the charging infrastructure expands across the United States, range anxiety is expected to diminish, bringing electric vehicle ranges closer to those of traditional internal combustion engines (ICE). While the initial cost of EV pickup trucks remains higher than ICE vehicles, the long-term savings offset this upfront expense.
The direct benefits of electric pickup trucks outweigh those of their conventional counterparts. EVs inherently offer advantages such as fuel and maintenance savings, environmental benefits, government incentives, and increased storage space. Electric pickup trucks take these benefits further with additional enhancements.
Towing Capabilities and Power: The 2024 Chevy Silverado ranges from 305 to 420 horsepower, while the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV boasts between 510 and 754 horsepower. Similarly, the Ford F-150 Lightning delivers over 100 more horsepower than its internal combustion engine (ICE) version.
Storage Space: Storage is a key feature of any pickup truck, and electric pickups have transformed both the cab and bed to optimize space. Notably, the new GMC Sierra EV Denali offers an innovative six-function MultiPro Tailgate and MidGate, significantly expanding cargo.
Image by General Motors