The most popular pickup trucks in America have entered the electric age, with battery-electric models arriving relatively soon. The Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV, following in the footsteps of the Rivian R1T pickup truck, give all of the full-size truck utility customers expect with none of the vehicle emissions.
Prices are expected to range from $40,000 for work trucks to $60,000 for technological marvels. The all-electric versions of America’s bestselling truck for 45 years and its near-perennial runner-up haven’t been fully revealed, but here’s what we know so far.
Design and Styling: Chevy Silverado EV vs Ford F-150 Lightning
The Silverado EV will be identical to the gas Silverado just in name, sharing its Ultium chassis with the GMC Hummer EV. The Lightning and the Silverado EV both weigh around 8,000 pounds, so it won’t be as big or hefty as the Hummer EV. Both trucks will be available with short beds and crew cabs. Both vehicles have a solid front end with a frunk that raises from the bumper to maximize storage capacity.
The electric Silverado is an inch longer than the gas counterpart, and Chevy claims it will feature the largest cab of any full-size truck.
The EV smooths out the huge jagged ends of the gas Silverado, and because to its ingenious bed storage, it takes on Avalanche proportions from the C-pillar to the back bumper. Up front, an optional light bar actually fits the tiny LED DRLs over the bowtie emblem, and the charge outlet is on the driver’s side.
The F-150 pickup is somewhat longer and higher than the gas-powered F-150, but its dimensions are nearly identical. It has individual rear suspension, a steel body-on-frame architecture that is unique to the Lightning, and a high-strength aluminum alloy body, comparable to the gas F-150. The Lightning’s C-clamp headlights bridge a single LED lightbar across the front, beyond the charging port in the driver’s side front fender. A single light bar also spans the tailgate, as there are no tailpipes below.
Range and Power: Chevy Silverado EV vs Ford F-150 Lightning
Ford provided more detailed information than Chevy, owing to the fact that the Lightning hit dealerships. The dual in-board motors are driven by either a 98-kwh battery pack with a range of 230 miles or a 131-kwh battery pack with a range of 300 miles. The motors in either package can produce up to 775 lb-ft of torque, with the regular range producing 426 horsepower and the bigger pack producing 563 hp. According to Ford, the extended-range Lightning reaches 60 mph in the “mid-4-second range,” which is faster than a Raptor and has greater maximum torque than any other F-150. Lightning has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds and a maximum payload of 2,000 pounds.
The front and rear motors in the Chevrolet Silverado Pickup Truck, or WT, provide 510 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque, respectively. It will be able to tow up to 8,000 pounds and carry a payload of up to 1,200 pounds thanks to standard all-wheel drive and steel suspension. Chevy didn’t say how big the battery was in the base model. Because its propulsion unit is the same as the First Edition GMC Hummer EV, the top RST First Edition trim that arrives later has additional information. With a 24-module, 200-kwh battery pack and an expected range of 400 miles, it produces 664 horsepower and 780 pound-feet.
Chevy claims a 0-60 mph pace of less than 4.5 seconds and a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, but the payload is only 1,300 pounds, which is much less than the Lightning. It will have a four-inch range air suspension and rear-axle steering.
The Silverado EV’s batteries will be capable of charging at up to 350 watts, allowing it to add 100 miles of range in 10 minutes, according to Chevy. Ford hasn’t yet been able to equal that with the Lightning. According to Ford, the extended-range version retrieves up to 54 miles of range in 10 mins and goes from 15% to 80% in roughly 41 mins when charged with a 150-kw DC fast charger.
The Ford F-150 Lightning comes with SYNC 4 connectivity on a 15.5-inch center touchscreen in Lariat or Platinum trim. The size of the digital instrument panel is 12 inches. Along with the Amazon Alexa assist, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included. All of these functions, as well as others, can be improved over the years via Ford Power-Up over-the-air software updates.
The Silverado EV, not to be outdone, comes with a 17-inch center screen, an 11-inch driver instrument screen, and a 14-inch head-up display. Ultifi, a new Linux-based system that isolates the vehicle’s software from the hardware to allow rapid and frequent software updates, is being used for the first time by the company.
Safety Features: Chevy Silverado EV vs Ford F-150 Lightning
Both the F-150 Lightning and the Silverado EV rely on similar safety features. Both include hands-free drive (Blue Cruise and Super Cruise, respectively), various basic driver aid features, and even a charging system that can power your home in the event of power failure.
Pricing: Chevy Silverado EV vs Ford F-150 Lightning
For the time being, Ford has a significant advantage. It starts at $41,669, which includes destination charges, and that’s before the federal tax credit of $7,500. The truck is also available in a range of trims and battery configurations, and it is already in manufacturing.
For the 2024 model year, Chevrolet will only offer a single trim level to normal consumers. It’s the RST, and it’s loaded with options, resulting in a starting price of $105,000. This does not include the destination charge, which has most likely not been determined yet. It also won’t be available until late next year. If you can wait, The 2025 versions will start at $39,900 without destination, which is roughly comparable to the base Lightning’s MSRP.
