Why Are Electric Pickup Trucks Important?
Electric pickups make sense in many ways. Their electric motors produce massive amounts of torque, which makes them well-suited to off-road use, heavy payload carrying, and trailer-pulling duties. Because their size makes it easy to carry large batteries, most will have ranges of 300 or more miles between charges.
Electric vehicles are typically less costly to maintain than those with internal combustion engines, so the maintenance costs they incur over their life span should be lower than that of a gasoline vehicle.
According to a 2019 report from AAA, the typical American driver averages 51 minutes and 31.5 miles on the road per day. Because pickups tend to be used frequently for commercial and business use, they can be on the road for several hours and clock many more miles each day. Every hour they're on the road, they're using cheap electricity instead of gasoline, making their operation less expensive for owners. While they're running, they don't spew environmentally damaging greenhouse gases from their tailpipes.
In many cases, power from an electric truck's battery pack can be used for worksite tools, eliminating the need for costly and polluting gasoline-powered generators. Every truck listed here, except for the Tesla Cybertruck, qualifies for the full $7,500 Federal Electric Car Tax Credit.
Of course, the new crop of electric pickups will come with steep price tags, and there are environmental costs involved in the mining of the materials used in batteries. Every form of power generation also comes with its own environmental impact, such as greenhouse emissions from coal-fired power plants.
2021 Tesla Cybertruck
The Tesla Cybertruck made quite a splash when it was unveiled in 2019. The slab-sided metal pyramid design looks like nothing else on the road, and the performance specs quoted by Tesla are impressive. Top-spec models are claimed to go from zero to 60 mph in less than 2.9 seconds.
Depending on the model you choose, you can expect a Tesla-estimated range of between 250 and 500-plus miles. The base model has a single motor and rear-wheel drive. Uplevel trims have two- or three-motor drive systems and all-wheel drive. The top-trim tri-motor Cybertruck is expected to have a towing capacity exceeding 14,000 pounds.
The Cybertruck's 6-foot-6-inch bed, or Vault as Tesla calls it, is flanked by a pair of angled "sail pillars" with integrated storage. Including the front trunk – or "frunk" – the Cybertruck has more than 100 cubic feet of exterior cargo room. Included air suspension can make loading and unloading easy by raising the truck's front and lowering the rear.
There's seating for as many as six in the truck's crew cab. Like most Tesla models, the dash is nearly switch-free, with all major vehicle functions controlled through a massive 17-inch touch screen.
2021 Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla expects production of the Cybertruck to begin in late 2021, with single- and dual-motor models expected to ship first. They'll be followed in late 2022 by the high-performance tri-motor Cybertruck. You can reserve a place in line by making a $100 refundable deposit on the Tesla website.
Pricing for the single-motor Tesla Cybertruck starts at $39,900. The dual-motor model starts at $49,900, while the tri-motor will cost you at least $69,900. Tesla's so-called Full Self-Driving package is a $10,000 option. It should be noted that while the Full-Self Driving package provides several advanced driver-assistance technologies, it is not a substitute for drivers to remain engaged with what's going on around the vehicle.
The Cybertruck will be upgradable via over-the-air updates, which can correct issues and add additional features. It will be made in a new manufacturing facility the company is building in Austin, Texas.
To learn more about the Tesla pickup, read our Tesla Cybertruck preview.
2022 GMC Hummer EV
The Hummer name is returning to the General Motors family with the introduction of the all-new 2022 GMC Hummer EV. While the original Hummer was an affront to environmental responsibility, the new GMC Hummer EV is a battery-electric crew cab pickup aimed at outdoor enthusiasts.
The 2022 GMC Hummer EV, which the company refers to as a "Supertruck," is the first model General Motors will offer using its Ultium battery and electric drive system. GMC boasts top-trim models of the pickup will produce 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque. Its four-wheel steering system will allow the truck to move diagonally in a crab-walk fashion.
When equipped with the Watts to Freedom option, the truck can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about three seconds. GMC estimates that the Hummer EV will have a maximum range of more than 350 miles. It will support extremely powerful DC fast-charging stations, with the ability to add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
GMC will offer the Hummer EV with a large crew cab and a very short pickup box. An SUV version of the truck is expected, as well.
2022 GMC Hummer EV
The first version of the 2021 GMC Hummer EV is set to arrive in the fall of 2021 as a 2022 model. You're too late to get one of the Hummer EV Edition 1 launch models, however, as reservations for the $112,595 truck quickly sold out.
Next to arrive will be the GMC Hummer EV3X in fall 2022, which will be priced from $99,995. In spring 2023, the Hummer EV2X will arrive at a price of $89,995. Finally, the cheapest model in the lineup, the $79,995 Hummer EV2, is expected in spring 2024. Each of the successive models will have less standard equipment than the one before.
GMC will build the Hummer EV in their new GM Factory Zero manufacturing facility in Hamtramck, Michigan. Its Ultium batteries will come from a Lordstown, Ohio facility that's a joint venture between GM and LG Chem.
To read more about GMC's first electric pickup, read our 2022 GMC Hummer EV preview story.
2021 Rivian R1T
Compared to the GMC Hummer EV and Tesla Cybertruck, the 2021 Rivian R1T is a much smaller, more conservatively designed entrant in the battery-electric pickup market. However, that doesn't mean its performance, range, or innovation will be any less revolutionary.
All models of the R1T will employ independent electric motors at each wheel. The company predicts the R1T will have a zero-to-60-mph time of three seconds and a towing capacity of up to 11,000 pounds when properly equipped. It will also be able to ford water 3 feet deep.
Like most of the electric trucks coming out over the next few years, the Rivian electric pickup will have a crew cab and a short cargo box. That doesn't mean you won't be able to haul cargo, though. The R1T will have a sizable front trunk where the engine would be in a gas-powered vehicle. It will also have an innovative "gear tunnel" behind the cab and in front of the rear wheel wells, spanning the width of the truck. The gear tunnel can be accessed at either end. It can house optional accessories, such as an available portable kitchen with an electric stove that's powered by the truck's battery.
The R1T will use Rivian's all-new skateboard platform, which will also underpin the Rivian R1S SUV and other unannounced models.
2021 Rivian R1T
The sold-out $75,000 2021 Rivian R1T Launch Edition is expected to arrive in customer's driveways in June 2021. It will be followed by $75,000 Adventure Package and $67,500 Explore Package models starting in January 2022.
The Launch Edition, Adventure Package, and Explore Package models come standard with a battery pack that Rivian predicts will have 300-plus miles of range. Upgrading to the 400-plus-mile-range Max battery pack tacks an additional $10,000 onto each truck's price tag. White or silver paint comes standard. You have to pay a premium for any other color.
Sometime after the first trucks are delivered, Rivian expects to introduce a shorter-range model that can go 230-plus miles on a single charge. Along with the shorter range, it will have a lower price.
The R1T will be manufactured at a former Mitsubishi Motors plant in Normal, Illinois.
Bollinger B2
Many of the electric pickup trucks introduced to this point are loaded with electronic gadgetry and exteriors designed to showcase that they're something different. Startup automaker Bollinger Motors is going the opposite direction, with a battery-electric pickup truck so free of embellishments that its simplicity is stylish.
The aluminum-body Bollinger B2 features a four-seat crew cab and a 6-foot-long pickup bed that can carry larger cargo than most rivals. Its no-frills cabin is surrounded by greenhouse-like flat glass panels all around. The cab's roof can be fitted with either glass or aluminum panels. Because there's no gasoline engine up front, the truck's designers created a tunnel that extends from the front trunk through the passenger compartment. Even with the tailgate up, you can carry a 16-foot-long load that's protected from the weather.
Propulsion is supplied by a pair of electric motors that can crank out 614 horsepower and 666 pound-feet of torque. Bollinger estimates the B2 will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The company estimates the truck's range to be 200 miles on a single charge. It has a Combined Charging System (CCS) port for DC fast-charging.
The Bollinger B2 employs portal axles with a gearbox at each hub, creating 15 inches of ground clearance. A two-speed transfer case allows for both highway cruising and low-speed, severe off-road driving. Its projected payload capacity is 5,000 pounds, while its towing capacity is expected to be 7,500 pounds.
Bollinger B2
The Bollinger B2 has the highest price tag of any electric truck introduced to date. Both the B2 and its Bollinger B1 SUV sibling are priced at $125,000. The B2 chassis cab with no bed is priced at $110,000. The company plans to begin production in late 2021.
Unlike most electric pickup trucks planned for production, the Bollinger B2 is a Class 3 model exempt from many of the passenger-vehicle regulations that light-duty truck makers must follow. It doesn't have to have airbags, for example, though the company plans to install stability control. No crash-testing is required, but the company is performing computer simulations to measure structural integrity.
While the company is designing the vehicle themselves, they plan to use an outside manufacturer to build the truck. No announcement has been made about who their partner will be or where the truck will be produced.
Lordstown Motors Endurance
The 2021 Lordstown Endurance is a five-seat crew cab pickup aimed more for commercial than private-party buyers. Instead of discussing lightning-fast zero-to-60 mph times, Lordstown Motors is talking about an 80 mph top speed and a 250-mile range that easily fits the needs of most fleet drivers.
Still, the truck is projected to have 600 horsepower and a 5.5-second zero-to-60 mph time, which are both excellent for a pickup truck. It's expected to be able to recharge in 30 minutes from a DC fast-charging station and tow as much as 7,500 pounds.
The truck employs a motor at each wheel, with a design that's far less complex than most competitors. That should lead to ease of maintenance and lower total cost of ownership – two things that fleet managers love. The design allows for finite control of power delivery to each corner, providing optimal all-wheel-drive traction in less-than-perfect conditions. Its battery pack will be installed between the frame rails under the cab.
Lordstown Motors Endurance
When a company such as General Motors decides to pull the plug on a 6.2-million-square-foot factory, it's a massive blow to the community. When GM ceased production of the Chevrolet Cruze, it shuttered its huge plant in Lordstown, Ohio. However, they helped automotive startup Lordstown Motors acquire the facility.
It's where the all-new 2021 Lordstown Endurance pickup truck will be built, with a projected start of production in the fall of 2021. You can place a pre-order for the truck by making a $100 deposit at the company's website. Prices for the Endurance battery-electric pickup start at $52,500.
Ford F-150 Electric
Unlike most electric pickups on this list, the Ford F-150 Electric is expected to be built on a platform shared with the company's gasoline and hybrid trucks. The Ford F-Series has been the most popular vehicle in America for decades.
According to Ford, the battery-electric F-150 will employ a pair of electric motors and is expected to produce more horsepower than any other truck in the 2021 Ford F-150 lineup. The F-150's current horsepower leader is the twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine, which produces 430 horsepower.
Owners will also be able to tap into the truck's battery pack to power electrical devices such as worksite tools and campground equipment. Like many electric vehicles, the F-150 Electric will feature a large front trunk in addition to its pickup bed.
Ford F-150 Electric
Ford is spending $700 million to expand facilities at their sprawling Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan to produce the Ford F-150 Electric. It is expected to arrive at dealers in mid-2022. The company has not yet released any information about pricing or range.
Ford predicts the electric F-150 will require significantly less maintenance than the gasoline-powered F-150. They are estimating a 40% reduction in the cost of ownership over the truck's lifetime.
Rumors and More
In addition to the electric pickups that have been announced, there are several others rumored to be on the way. On the next few pages, we'll look at those models that may or may not make it to the market.
Chevrolet Electric Truck
General Motors plans to add 30 electric vehicles by 2025 in markets around the globe. One of those new vehicles will be a Chevrolet battery-electric pickup truck. They've gone so far as teasing a Chevy-badged electric concept pickup in the background of a recent investor conference.
According to a recent General Motors sustainability report, the Chevrolet electric pickup is expected to have a range of up to 400 miles on a single charge. It will likely use the same GM Ultium battery and drivetrain technology used in the GMC Hummer EV, though without the Hummer's extreme performance.
There are many unknowns with the Chevy electric pickup. One is whether its GMC sister-division will get a version, as they do with every other Chevrolet pickup.
Ram Electric Pickup
Ram and its Stellantis parent company look to be late to the electric pickup party. However, a company executive confirmed in October 2020 that an electrified Ram pickup is in the works. It's unknown whether the truck will be a fully battery-electric model or a plug-in hybrid-electric pickup.
To date, the company brought a few plug-in hybrid vehicles into the American market, including the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe. The only full battery-electric vehicle they've offered is the now-defunct Fiat 500e.
Fisker Alaska
The first all-new model in electric-vehicle startup automaker Fisker's lineup will be the Fisker Ocean crossover SUV. Early in 2020, Fisker tweeted, seemingly unintentionally, a similarly sized pickup with the name Alaska emblazoned on the tailgate. The tweet was quickly deleted.
More recently, Fisker founder Henrik Fisker tweeted a rendering of a lifestyle truck that he claims will be the lightest and most efficient pickup truck you can buy.
Fisker expects to ship the relatively affordable Ocean SUV by late 2021, so it's unlikely a pickup truck would come to market before 2022 or later. If it does, and it follows in the Ocean's footprints, a Fisker pickup could be smaller-sized and priced lower than other electric pickup trucks.
Karma Pickup
Karma Automotive, a builder of high-performance electric and plug-in hybrid sports sedans, has announced that their newly-developed E-Flex platform can support an electric or extended-range hybrid pickup truck. Whether they will build one or not is an open question. The chassis can also underpin an SUV.
In 2019, Karma teased a pickup at the Los Angeles Auto Show with a brief glimpse of a shadowy rendering of a four-door crew cab with a short pickup bed. If they do proceed with the development and production of a truck, deliveries to customers would be years away.
It's also possible that Karma could provide the platform and let other automakers build vehicles on top of it.
Nikola Badger
As recently as September 2020, it looked like production of the Nikola Badger pickup was on the fast track. Designed to be powered by batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, the Badger was to be built under a strategic partnership with General Motors.
The Badger was to have impressive performance specs, with 906 horsepower, up to 600 miles of range on a single charge, and a zero-to-60-mph time of about 2.9 seconds.
Now, just months later, the GM production deal is dead, according to Motor Trend. Nikola's embattled CEO has resigned, and at least one investor, Bosch, has reduced its investment in the company. Along the way, it was discovered that a video purporting to show off the technology of Nikola's Class 8 freight truck was actually set up by rolling a non-functional vehicle down a long hill.
It's still possible, though increasingly unlikely, that the Badger will ever make it to production.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
While you can place deposits down now on many of the trucks shown here, none will be available to buy for some time. If you need a pickup today, check out our rankings of full size trucks and compact trucks to find the best trucks you can get today.
When you've found the truck that meets your needs and budget, head over to our new car deals page to find the best new car financing and cash back deals in the marketplace. Our lease deals page shows special offers with low monthly payments and little due at signing.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage, the U.S. News Best Price Program is vital to new car buyers and lease customers. In addition to connecting you with local dealers offering pre-negotiated pricing, the program helps you find dealerships with complete online buying processes and home delivery options.
No car purchase is complete until you have the right auto insurance. Our auto insurance hub is the best place to find the coverage you need, money-saving car insurance discounts, and the proper coverage for your new car, truck, or SUV.
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Pickup Trucks: The Future is Electric
No segment of the automotive landscape is moving toward an electrified future faster than the pickup truck marketplace. In the next few years, at least six new battery-electric models are expected to be available to consumers. Even more are rumored.
That doesn't count the mild hybrids and full-hybrid trucks that are already here.
Some new trucks will come from the country's legacy automakers, such as Ford and GMC, while others will come from manufacturers that you've never heard of, including Bollinger Motors, Rivian, and Lordstown Motors. Because of delays typical in the design and production of all-new vehicles – and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic – you should consider all predictions of when the trucks will arrive as optimistic estimates.
On the following pages, we'll look at the raft of all-new electric pickup trucks that will soon be traveling America's roads. We'll start by discussing why they make sense, then look at models automakers have formally introduced. We'll finish by discussing several others that are rumored to be on the way, as well as one formerly promising model that's unlikely to ever see the light of day.