Aside from boosting economies and helping us get from point A to B, transportation systems are among the biggest contributors to poor air quality and climate change. About 15% of global carbon emissions (8 billion tons CO2) come from them, three-quarters of which are produced by road vehicles. These figures are expected to increase along with the growth of population and economies, creating an urgency to move to sustainable transport systems.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the solution that governments and automakers are promoting to address transportation’s sustainability challenges. Thanks to their low-carbon technology, EVs have a significantly lesser environmental impact than their petrol- or diesel-powered counterparts. No wonder several countries are already transitioning to these zero-emission vehicles.
If you’re in the market for an EV–an electric pickup truck, to be exact–you’re in luck. Progress in the electrification technology of trucks and buses has improved by leaps and bounds, so you’ll never run out of options. But with so many brands vying for your attention, which one should you choose?
We’ve rounded up 6 of the best electric trucks that you should check out. Each of these brands offers sustainable vehicles that promise increased mobility while reducing your carbon footprint.
1. Ford Motor Company
Ford has a long history of making reliable vehicles, and that didn’t change much when the brand dabbled into electric vehicles. The Ford-150 Lightning is the brand’s flagship fully electric pickup, which it introduced in 2021 as part of its 14th lineup of F-series pickups.
Replacing the V-8 engine with a 580-horsepower electric powertrain, the F-150 Lightning can run an estimated 300 miles per charge, making it a practical choice for longer trips. The Extended Range model pushes that even further with its EPA-estimated driving range of 320 miles. This truck also impresses with an all-wheel drive powered by its dual motor setup and solid towing capability, pulling up to 10,000 pounds of weight.
Apart from its all-electric pickup trucks, Ford also offers the E-Transit, a zero-emission commercial cargo van.
2. Rivian
Irvine-based automaker Rivian is known for its autonomous and electric vehicles. Founded in 2009 by Robert Scaringe, Rivian got its name from the Indian River in Florida, where its founder grew up.
The introduction of its 100% electric pickup truck, the Rivian R1T, commanded the attention of investors, analysts, and consumers with its sleek design and powerful acceleration, handling, and towing. It also features a skateboard chassis, which not only helps reduce the cost and complexity of its production but also makes it configurable.
Depending on its battery and engine configurations, the Rivian R1T can cover up to 410 miles. That makes this truck a reliable drive for extended road trips.
3. General Motors
General Motors takes great pride in its 100-year automaking experience. It’s good to know that as one of the most well-known car makers in the world, it’s using its platform and reputation to push for an all-electric system for the future of the transportation industry.
The GMC Hummer EV Pickup is one of the brand’s vehicles that’s crushing it in the EV market, and it’s easy to understand why. Aside from being a head-turner with its rugged yet sleek appearance, this pickup truck doesn’t skimp on performance. Despite being all-electric and nearly five-ton bulk, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. It also has a maximum driving range of 381 miles, though that goes down if the truck is outfitted with the extreme off-road package, which puts additional mud terrain tires, axles, and underbody armor.
In addition to the GMC Hummer EV Pickup, GM offers other EV models built on a proprietary flexible battery architecture called Ultium.
4. Chevrolet
Chevrolet is another long-time car maker that’s making waves in the EV market. Its two fully-electric vehicle models, the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV are well-received by owners, though Chevy’s parent company, GM, recently pulled the plug on the production of Bolt EV.
Chevrolet has an all-electric pickup truck on the way, the Silverado EV. From what we know so far, it’s a direct contender to Ford’s F-150 Lightning. Sure, it holds the popular Silverado name, but it’s not a repurposed version of its combustion-engined cousin. Rather, it’s built from scratch with an all-electric platform that gives it an equally stunning performance and capability minus the emissions.
According to Chevrolet, the Silverado EV has a maximum towing capability of 10,000 pounds without losing its ability to hitch up roads with ease. The fully-charged RST version offers 440 miles of EPA-estimated range, which is beyond the standard range of any competitor. It also provides multiple charging options, which makes it easy to plug in and charge up.
5. Tesla
Tesla has always been at the forefront of vehicle innovation. This is evident from its line of electric vehicles, which proved to be a hit among car buyers and analysts. The Model S, in particular, received an almost perfect score of 99 out of 100 from Consumer Reports’ 2013 review for its energy efficiency, acceleration, handling, ease of use, capacity, and fit and finish. The Euro NCAP also awarded it as the EV with the best safety performance in 2022.
Although we find the Tesla Cybertruck too Mad Max-esque for our taste, we think it deserves a spot on our list for its potential to outperform other vehicles in its class. Its all-steel body looks very durable, and it’s said to be capable of driving up two 340 miles and towing up to 11,000 pounds.
According to Tesla, the Cybertruck will come in two AWD configurations for the 2024 drop: A 600-hp dual-motor model and a three-motor model with an output of 834 horsepower. A third configuration–a single-motor rear-wheel-drive–is slated for release in 2025.
6. Stellantis (RAM)
Stellantis has been around for over 5 decades, and it has brought brands like Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, and Fiat across the world. Although its vehicles aren’t always the first that comes to mind when buying a first car, Stellantis continues to make some of the best vehicles around. That’s definitely true for its electric vehicles, which explains why they’re gaining a strong foothold in the European market.
For its followers in the USA, Stellantis is set to release the electric-propelled Ram 1500 REV in Q4 of 2024. Primed for all-around performance, this pickup truck has an estimated driving range of 350 miles when its standard 168-kilowatt-hour battery pack is fully charged. It can also launch to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a maximum towing capacity of 14,000 pounds.
Even More Brands with Electric Trucks in the Pipeline
Aside from the brands we’ve outlined above, there are other notable car manufacturers that have announced that they’ve got electric trucks in the works. Here are a few we believe would materialize soon:
- BYD – The Chinese automaker with an origin as a battery manufacturer recently dethroned Tesla as the world’s leading EV maker. Showing no signs of stopping in dominating the EV market, BYD will be releasing a plug-in-hybrid pickup truck called Shark, although it won’t be available in the USA.
- Fisker – Fisker’s CEO, Henri Fisker, first hinted of the brand’s EV truck back in 2020. A few years later, the Fisker Alaska or Kayak for the European market is now on the brand’s website with a starting price of $45,400 before incentives.
- Toyota – Back in 2021, Toyota previewed a fleet of new EVs that it plans to launch by 2030. That includes a pickup truck that looks like the EV version of its Tacoma.
Why Buy an Electric Vehicle?
With zero tailpipe emissions and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline vehicles, there’s no doubt that an EV is a better option if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint. Beyond that, it can offer you other benefits, including:
- Cost savings. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, and with fewer moving parts and no oil changes, you can save more in the long run driving an EV.
- Future-proofing. As we’ve mentioned, more countries are pushing for all-electric transportation systems. That means more support and incentives and better electric truck charging infrastructure will be available to EV owners or would-be owners.
- Performance. The technology and standards for electric vehicles keep evolving. This can mean better overall performance for EVs, especially in the areas of range, capacity, and safety.
Closing Thoughts
With more emphasis being given toward sustainability, owning an electric truck makes a lot of sense. It looks and performs well like a regular gasoline-powered truck but without producing emissions that contribute to global warming.
So, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to your current drive, consider the brands and truck models we have mentioned. Do your share in changing the transportation/automotive industry for the better by making a responsible vehicle choice.
