Electric pickup trucks: A complete guide

The pickup truck market is a colossal force in the automotive industry, consistently representing more than 20% of annual vehicle sales in the United States. With total U.S. vehicle sales reaching approximately 16 million units in 2024, the sheer volume of pickups sold underscores their cultural and economic significance. These "big haulers" are not just workhorses; they are also monumental profit drivers for automakers. Data from J.D. Power reveals a consistent trend: pickup truck prices have escalated by an average of 3% every year since 2009. By 2024, the average American shopper was paying upwards of $60,000 for a new pickup, a testament to their desirability and the extensive array of luxury and convenience options now available. This consistent demand and high average transaction price translate into robust profit margins, making the segment fiercely competitive and highly lucrative for manufacturers.

The evolution of the pickup truck from a basic, long-lasting work vehicle to a versatile family hauler and even a mobile boardroom has been remarkable. Modern pickups are often loaded with premium features, advanced safety systems, and sophisticated interiors that rival luxury sedans. Electric trucks are not merely following this trend; they are accelerating it, serving as technological showcases for their respective brands. Leveraging the inherent advantages of EV platforms, such as flat floors and compact drivetrains, electric pickups are reimagining traditional truck design. Features like adaptive air suspensions provide exceptional ground clearance for off-roading while also allowing for easier loading and improved aerodynamics. Clever storage solutions, including spacious "frunks" (front trunks), gear tunnels, and innovative midgates, optimize every inch of available space, demonstrating what’s truly possible when designers are freed from the constraints of internal combustion engines.

The success of early entrants into the electric truck market provides compelling evidence of this paradigm shift. The Rivian R1T, for example, has garnered critical acclaim, winning The Car Connection’s Best Pickup Truck To Buy 2025 award. Its accolades stem from its blistering acceleration, adventurous off-road prowess, refined handling, and superlative telematics system, which collectively offer an experience far removed from conventional pickups. Two years prior, Ford significantly improved upon its bestselling F-150 model with the F-150 Lightning electric pickup, which earned The Car Connection’s overall Best Car To Buy 2023 award. These vehicles are not just great trucks; they are evolutionary, setting new benchmarks for performance, utility, and technological integration in the segment.

While pioneers like Rivian and Ford established an early lead, other major players have been working to catch up. General Motors and Tesla intensified their efforts in 2024, with GM introducing the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Tesla finally delivering the Cybertruck (though the GMC Hummer EV pickup had already made its debut). Ram, however, faced further delays, announcing in December that its highly anticipated Ram REV electric pickup truck would be pushed back until 2026. Despite the excitement surrounding these new models, the overall market penetration for electric trucks (including delivery vans) remains relatively modest. In 2024, electric trucks accounted for 132,993 sales, representing 11.7% of all EV sales – a slight increase from 10.2% in 2023. However, this still translates to less than 1% of the approximately 16 million total vehicles sold in the U.S. market that year. This raises pertinent questions about whether the growing electric pickup segment can maintain its momentum amidst potential political headwinds and economic pressures.

A significant factor influencing the adoption of electric vehicles, including pickups, is the federal EV tax credit. For 2025, the revised federal EV tax credit of $7,500 applies to SUVs and trucks that cost less than $80,000. Crucially, these vehicles must have their final assembly in North America, and at least 60% of their battery pack components must also be sourced from North America to qualify. Income limits also apply, typically up to $150,000 for a single filer, ensuring the credit benefits a broader range of consumers. A notable improvement in recent years is the ability to absorb this credit into the sticker price at the point of purchase, eliminating the need for buyers to wait until tax season to receive the benefit. This immediate reduction in cost is vital for offsetting the higher upfront price of many electric trucks and making them more accessible to the average buyer. For more detailed information on income limits and other qualifying factors, prospective buyers are encouraged to visit the IRS page dedicated to clean vehicle credits.

Below is an overview of key electric trucks, from those currently on sale to those under development. Prices, like estimated range, are subject to change as the market matures and technology evolves.

Rivian R1T

R1T models and prices:

• Dual-Motor Standard Pack: Starting around $73,000
• Dual-Motor Large Pack: Starting around $79,000
• Dual-Motor Max Pack: Starting around $89,000
• Quad-Motor Large Pack: Starting around $87,000 (discontinued for new orders, but earlier models exist)

R1T specs and range:

• Dual-Motor Standard Pack: 533 hp, 610 lb-ft torque, 270 miles range (est.), 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Dual-Motor Large Pack: 533 hp, 610 lb-ft torque, 352 miles range (est.), 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Dual-Motor Max Pack: 533 hp, 610 lb-ft torque, 420 miles range (est., with aero wheels), 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Quad-Motor Large Pack: 835 hp, 908 lb-ft torque, 328 miles range, 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds (earlier models).
• Towing capacity: Up to 11,000 pounds.
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,760 pounds.

Launched before its R1S SUV sibling, the Rivian R1T was the first mass-produced battery-electric pickup truck to hit the market, a feat that immediately earned it Motor Authority’s Best Car To Buy 2022 award. Its continued excellence saw it clinch The Car Connection’s Best Pickup To Buy 2025, solidifying its position as a benchmark for electric utility vehicles. California-based Rivian offers the R1T with various configurations, including dual-motor all-wheel drive as standard and up to three battery pack options. The base Dual Standard model, weighing around 7,000 pounds, still achieves a remarkable 0-60 mph sprint in 4.5 seconds. Opting for the Dual Large or Dual Max packs, especially with the Performance upgrade, can slash the 0-60 mph time to a blistering 3.4 seconds. The All-Terrain pack further enhances its off-road credentials with additional skid plates, specialized tires, and a full-size spare. The Dual Max is the range champion, capable of an estimated 420 miles on a single charge, though this is optimally achieved with the $2,200 aero wheels.

Beyond its speed, the R1T is incredibly capable, boasting an impressive towing capacity of 11,000 pounds. Its adaptive air suspension allows for nearly 15 inches of ground clearance, making it supremely adept at off-roading. With over 50 different drive mode configurations, it adapts seamlessly to various terrains and driving conditions. Though its overall length is comparable to a mid-size truck, its width is closer to a full-size, providing a roomy, luxurious crew cab. The short 54-inch bed is complemented by excellent cargo solutions, most notably the innovative Gear Tunnel located between the cab and the bed. This weather-sealed pass-through can hold up to 300 pounds of gear and features power doors that double as a convenient seating area, perfect for changing boots after an adventure. The R1T excels as both a daily driver and a weekend getaway vehicle, offering silent, emission-free off-roading as an added bonus to its electric powertrain.

Ford F-150 Lightning

F-150 Lightning models and prices:

• Pro: Starting around $55,000
• XLT: Starting around $65,000
• Flash: Starting around $70,000
• Lariat: Starting around $80,000
• Platinum: Starting around $95,000

F-150 Lightning specs and range:

• Standard Range Battery (98 kWh): 452 hp, 775 lb-ft torque, 240 miles range.
• Extended Range Battery (131 kWh): 580 hp, 775 lb-ft torque, 320 miles range (XLT, Lariat), 300 miles (Platinum).
• Towing capacity: Up to 10,000 pounds.
• Payload capacity: Up to 2,000 pounds.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is a revolutionary take on America’s best-selling vehicle for decades. Available in Pro, XLT, Flash, Lariat, and Platinum trims, the Lightning retains much of the familiar F-150 architecture, from the spacious crew cab to the 5-foot-6 bed, allowing for accessory compatibility with its gas-powered counterparts. Power comes from dual in-board motors, fed by either a standard-range 98-kWh battery pack offering an estimated 240 miles of range or an extended-range 131-kWh pack capable of up to 320 miles. Both configurations generate a formidable 775 lb-ft of torque, with the standard range producing 452 hp and the larger pack boosting output to 580 hp. The Lightning boasts a towing capacity of up to 10,000 pounds and a payload maximum of 2,000 pounds, making it a highly capable work truck.

One of the Lightning’s standout features is its massive 14.1-cubic-foot "frunk" (front trunk), which can carry up to 400 pounds. This secure, waterproof, and easily accessible storage area can double as a cooler or a powerful mobile generator. Furthermore, when equipped with Ford’s innovative Home Integration System, the F-150 Lightning can act as a crucial backup home power source during outages, demonstrating an unparalleled level of utility. This feature, combined with its familiar design and robust performance, makes the Lightning a compelling proposition for traditional truck buyers looking to transition to electric. Ford has successfully built upon its bestseller, enhancing its capabilities while embracing a sustainable future.

GMC Hummer EV Pickup

Hummer EV Pickup models and prices:

• 3X: Starting around $106,000
• Edition 1 (Sold Out): Original price around $112,595

Hummer EV Pickup specs and range:

• 3X (3-motor): 1,000 hp, 1,200 lb-ft torque (est.), 329 miles range, 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds.
• Towing capacity: Up to 11,000 pounds.
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,300 pounds.

The return of the Hummer as an all-electric vehicle is a powerful symbol of the automotive industry’s transformation. Once an emblem of excess and a target for environmentalists, the new GMC Hummer EV pickup embodies zero tailpipe emissions while maintaining an extreme persona. This truck is a technological showcase, featuring four-wheel steering for its unique "Crab Walk" diagonal driving mode, an adaptive air suspension system that can raise ground clearance to an astonishing 15.9 inches, and GM’s advanced Super Cruise hands-free driving system. Its distinctive four-panel removable roof can be stowed in the frunk, offering an open-air driving experience.

Under the hood, the Hummer EV boasts a formidable three-motor system delivering an incredible 1,000 horsepower and an estimated 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Despite weighing over 9,000 pounds, it can rocket from 0-60 mph in approximately 3.0 seconds. Its immense torque also enables it to tow up to 11,000 pounds. With an estimated range of 329 miles, the Hummer EV pickup is all about showcasing extreme capability and exclusivity, appealing to those who desire a blend of raw power, advanced technology, and a commanding presence on or off the road.

Chevrolet Silverado EV

Silverado EV models and prices:

• WT (Work Truck): Starting around $40,000 (fleet-focused)
• 3WT: Starting around $74,900
• 4WT: Starting around $79,800
• RST First Edition: Starting around $106,695

Silverado EV specs and range:

• WT (Work Truck): 510 hp, 625 lb-ft torque, 393 miles range (4WT), 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds.
• RST Max Range: 664 hp, 780 lb-ft torque, 460 miles range, 0-60 mph in under 4.5 seconds.
• Towing capacity: Up to 10,000 pounds (RST), 8,000 pounds (WT), future 20,000 pounds (Max Tow).
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,440 pounds (RST), 1,200 pounds (WT).

The Chevrolet Silverado EV, while sharing a name with its gas-powered counterpart, is an entirely distinct vehicle built on GM’s advanced Ultium battery and motor propulsion system, similar to the GMC Hummer EV. Initially offered as a crew cab with a 5-foot-11 bed, the Silverado EV weighs approximately 8,000 pounds. The Work Truck (WT) variant, designed for fleets, features front and rear motors producing 510 hp and 625 lb-ft of torque, with standard all-wheel drive and a steel suspension. It’s capable of towing up to 8,000 pounds and carrying a payload of 1,200 pounds. The 4WT version boasts an impressive 393-mile range.

The top-tier RST Max Range model elevates performance significantly, delivering 664 hp and 780 lb-ft of torque from a 24-module, 205-kWh battery pack. This configuration provides an estimated 460-mile range and can achieve 0-60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds, while also towing up to 10,000 pounds. The RST features an adaptive air suspension with four inches of adjustment and rear-axle steering for enhanced maneuverability. A standout innovation is the Multi-Flex Midgate, which opens up the cabin to the bed, akin to the old Chevy Avalanche. This allows items up to 9 feet long to fit inside. When combined with the Multi-Flex Tailgate’s bed extender, the Silverado EV can accommodate items up to an astounding 10 feet 10 inches in length, dramatically expanding its cargo utility.

GMC Sierra EV

GMC Sierra EV models and prices:

• Denali Edition 1: Starting around $108,695 (Sold Out)
• Elevation: Expected to be more accessible (price TBD)
• AT4: Expected to be more accessible (price TBD)

GMC Sierra EV specs and range:

• Denali Edition 1: 754 hp, 785 lb-ft torque, 440 miles range, 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds.
• Towing capacity: Up to 10,500 pounds.
• Payload capacity: Up to 1,300 pounds.

The GMC Sierra EV is nearly identical to the Chevrolet Silverado EV beneath the surface, sharing the same Ultium platform and many of its innovative features. However, it’s positioned as a luxury electric truck, initially offered only in the high-end Denali Edition 1 trim, with plans for more approachable Elevation and AT4 models in the future. The two massive battery packs feed two permanent magnet motors, providing standard all-wheel drive and a robust 785 lb-ft of torque. The Denali Edition 1 boasts 754 hp and can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, all while delivering a more sophisticated experience than even the flashier Hummer EV Pickup.

The Sierra EV includes an adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering, and an impressive 10,500-pound towing capacity. Its large crew cab features a midgate that opens up from the inside, extending the 5-foot-11 bed to 9 feet 1 inch. When the 6-way power tailgate’s bed extender is deployed, the total bed length stretches out to an exceptional 10 feet 10 inches, mirroring the Silverado EV’s class-leading cargo versatility. The Sierra EV aims to combine the brute force and utility expected of a GMC truck with the refinement and advanced technology of a premium electric vehicle.

Tesla Cybertruck

Cybertruck models and prices:

• Rear-Wheel Drive: Starting around $60,990 (available 2025)
• All-Wheel Drive: Starting around $79,990
• Cyberbeast: Starting around $99,990

Cybertruck specs and range:

• Rear-Wheel Drive: 250 miles range (est.).
• All-Wheel Drive: 600 hp, 7,435 lb-ft torque, 340 miles range, 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
• Cyberbeast: 845 hp, 10,290 lb-ft torque, 320 miles range, 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
• Towing capacity: Up to 11,000 pounds.
• Payload capacity: Up to 2,500 pounds.

The Tesla Cybertruck, with its polarizing stainless-steel wedge design, is arguably the most radical departure from traditional pickup truck aesthetics. Its unique exoskeleton construction contributes to its ruggedness, while its "vault" bed offers 100 cubic feet of secure storage and measures 6 feet 4 inches in length. This futuristic truck is designed to carry up to 2,400 pounds and tow an impressive 11,000 pounds. The Cyberbeast variant promises blistering acceleration, capable of hitting 60 mph in under three seconds, living up to Tesla’s reputation for high performance.

Its angular vertical ends and triangular points, along with a massive single-blade windshield wiper, ensure it looks like nothing else on the road. While its raw power and futuristic dashboard interfaces align with CEO Elon Musk’s vision, the Cybertruck has faced scrutiny regarding its real-world practicality and off-road capability, despite an air suspension that can raise ground clearance to 17 inches. Production challenges and a slow rollout have also marked its journey, but its distinct design and performance continue to generate significant discussion and capture public imagination.

Ram 1500 REV

Price: TBD
Expected delivery: 2026 (delayed from 2025)

The Ram 1500 REV, initially previewed by the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV Concept in early 2023, represents Ram’s highly anticipated entry into the full-size electric pickup segment. Its delayed launch until 2026 suggests the brand is taking extra time to refine the production version. The concept showcased a long and lean design, featuring two electric motors for all-wheel drive, though specific battery pack sizes or voltage architecture (400-volt or 800-volt) were not disclosed.

The concept highlighted several innovative features: an extended crew cab (4.0 inches longer), rear suicide doors, and the absence of a B-pillar for an expansive opening. The configurable cabin design allows for a third row of jump seats and a removable mid-gate option that can even place the jump seats outside the main cabin. A unique center tunnel, reminiscent of a driveshaft tunnel, runs from the bed through the cabin into the frunk, enabling the transport of exceptionally long items – up to 18 feet in length. The Ram 1500 REV promises to blend Ram’s signature blend of rugged capability and luxurious comfort with cutting-edge electric vehicle technology and unparalleled cargo flexibility.

RIP: Electric trucks that never made it

The journey to electrify the pickup truck market has not been without its casualties, highlighting the immense challenges faced by new entrants and the capital-intensive nature of automotive manufacturing.

Lordstown Endurance

Price: $65,000 (initial target)
Expected delivery: Lordstown shipped the first batch of trucks to fleet customers in December 2022, but production ceased.

The Lordstown Endurance aimed to carve out a niche in the mid-size electric truck segment, distinguished by its unique four in-wheel hub motors, which collectively generated 550 horsepower. Lordstown initially estimated a 193-mile range from its 109-kWh battery unit, with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph. It was designed to haul a maximum payload of 1,050 pounds and tow up to 8,000 pounds.

However, Lordstown Motors was beset by significant financial woes, including a high-profile SEC inquiry into executives selling shares before bad news broke. Despite initial enthusiasm and a factory acquisition by iPhone maker Foxconn, the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy. While an initial batch of 500 Endurance trucks was built and delivered to fleet customers in late 2022, plans for mass production never materialized. The Lordstown Endurance serves as a stark reminder of the intense capital requirements, regulatory hurdles, and market pressures that can lead to the downfall of even promising EV startups.

In conclusion, the electric pickup truck segment is rapidly evolving, moving beyond initial skepticism to offer compelling alternatives to traditional gas and diesel models. While challenges like higher initial costs and reduced range when towing heavy loads persist, the undeniable advantages of electric trucks—cleaner operation, quieter rides, superior acceleration, advanced technology, and innovative utility features—are increasingly resonating with consumers. As more established automakers refine their offerings and charging infrastructure continues to expand, the electric pickup is set to become an even more prominent and transformative force in the automotive landscape, ushering in a new era of powerful, versatile, and sustainable trucking.