SAN ANTONIO – Ford Motor’s new F-150 Lightning is an electric pickup. This may seem obvious, given that it looks like a truck and has electric motors and a battery instead of a motor, but it has to be said.
Why? Because the successful battery-powered pickup is a critical step in the transition of EV for Ford and the industry as a whole.
While industry leader Tesla has proven that consumers will buy electric cars and Rivian Automotive has shown that there is a demand for electric vehicles for lifestyle, the F-150 is the most significant test to date on whether electric cars can switch from vehicles. eligible, and niche trucks to a product that will attract more mass buyers.
The electric pickup market, although still largely unproven, will be important for investors to monitor in the coming years. Trucks have traditionally had large profit margins, accounting for about 20 percent of vehicles sold in the United States, according to automotive intelligence company Edmunds.
LMC Automotive expects the electric pickup market in the United States to grow from about 25,000 vehicles this year to 1 million or so by 2030. Five electric pickup models are expected to be available on the market this year and are expected to jump to 21 over the next decade.
Ford’s F-150 Lightning is the first traditional electric pickup. This is not a GMC Hummer EV “super truck”. This is not Tesla’s “Cybertruck”. This is not a Rivian R1T “adventure vehicle”. This is an electrified pickup truck.
The advantages of the F-150 Lightning are similar to the Hummer EV and Rivian R1T, but these electric pickups – the only ones currently sold in the US – are not created equal. The three move differently and will appeal to different buyers as sales move beyond early consumers to more general, curious EV buyers.
F-150 Flash
The Lightning lives up to the F-150’s name in both function and form, acting as a bridge between the traditional pickup that people know and the new EV. It shares much of its design and parts with its traditional brother, in addition to powertrains, some design settings and an additional 15.5-inch control screen.
Its price is also like a traditional pickup, ranging from about $ 40,000 to more than $ 90,000. This is similar to Ford’s current range of large four-door pickups and in line with average prices of about $ 61,000 for a full-size pickup, according to Cox Automotive.
An electric pickup for the tables is something that Ford was in a unique position to introduce to the market. Its F-Series, including the F-150, is America’s best-selling car in 40 years and the best truck in 45 years.
The company set out to make an electric version of the F-150 pickup and succeeded. The car runs like a full size truck. But electrification brings the added benefits of essentially instantaneous torque, increased storage through a massive front rack or “jeans” where the engine would traditionally be – and removes the burden of having to refuel.
Lightning drives the F-150 properly and that’s not a bad thing. Ford and other carmakers are increasingly transforming heavy-duty pickup trucks into comfortable vehicles capable of moving smoothly on and off the road.
The car’s large battery provides even better ride, as it keeps the car more grounded and provides a closer 50-50 weight ratio for better balance. In addition, it provides a smooth towing experience, as EVs do not require a change in transmission speeds, which is especially noticeable when towing loads.
Although Lightning is capable of driving on hills or even slightly uneven terrain, it does not match the Hummer or R1T in this respect – but it is by design. This is a truck designed for mass buyers, not a niche segment. Ford may offer such a more durable vehicle at some point, but it doesn’t.
The F-150 Lightning is capable of up to 580 horsepower and 775 foot-pound torque. Consumer models with the highest 131-kWh battery start at around $ 72,500 and have a range of up to 320 miles on a single charge. Its towing capacity is up to 10,000 pounds – between that of the Hummer and R1T. Vehicles with smaller batteries and a mileage of 230 miles are cheaper, but also offer lower performance.
Electric Ford F-150 Lightning
Andrew Evers / CNBC
One of Lightning’s most unique advantages over the Hummer and R1T is its ability to generate electricity on board. Ford has charged the vehicle with sockets and a two-way charging system that can power a work site or home in the event of a power outage for up to 10 days, depending on power consumption.
Ford began shipping the F-150 Lightning earlier this month to select fleet buyers and more than 200,000 reservation holders. The company has not announced when it will reopen its order bank, as it plans to increase production to 150,000 cars by mid-2023.
R1T
Rivian R1T has a slight advantage in the first place in the market of electric pickups; production began last fall, but is growing slowly. The R1T is capable of both performance and off-road, accelerating from 0-60 mph in about three seconds as a sports car, but can climb rocks or large hills like an SUV.
Its interior and exterior, with vegan leather and real wood, are as chic as Tesla rather than off-road rough. It’s also a much smaller vehicle – about 16 inches shorter, in fact – than the F-150 Lightning, making it more comparable to a Ford Ranger or Jeep Gladiator.
This speaks to how Rivian positions its products as “adventure vehicles”. This is how Jeep has described its SUVs for years, making Rivian a bigger threat to the Stellantis SUV brand than the F-150.
For now, Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe agrees, telling CNBC in a recent interview that each of the three pickups is “quite a different product.” Costs between the Rivian R1T, Hummer and F-150, he said, are extremely low: “It is clear that the purpose and objectives are different.”
Edmunds reports that buyers most often see a comparison of the R1T crossover Ford Mustang Mach-E and other electric cars, rather than other pickups.
However, Scaringe hinted at plans for a full range of vehicles in Rivian, which could theoretically include a larger truck.
Rivian R1T electric pickup
Source: Rivian
The starting price for the R1T ranges from $ 67,500 to $ 85,000. Currently available vehicles have up to 314 miles on a single charge with a “large” battery of 128.9 kWh. Versions with four-engine performance are combined to produce 835 horsepower and 908 foot-pound torque. The car can tow up to 11,000 pounds – an important indicator for many pickup owners.
Hummer
There is a reason GM resurrected Hummer, a brand infamous in the 1990s and 2000s for its excessive, gas-consuming vehicles. Whether you loved Hummers or hated them, you know them. This means that GM has maintained the brand’s reputation while the new EV remains true to being formed for the brand, and it is doing so.
The Hummer EV pickup looks like an upgraded version of its descendants. He is big, bright and extremely capable.
Instead of absorbing gas, it drains a lot of energy. The electric Hummer is reported to be the least efficient electric truck of the three with 47 MPGe, electric vehicle mileage equivalent to miles per gallon. This compares to 70 MPGe for both the R1T and the F-150 Lightning. But again, this is a Hummer, so what did you expect?
Hummer’s off-road capabilities also stand out from the other two pickups, which explains its lower efficiency and weight of over 9,000 pounds.
This Hummer can climb rocks with ease, while proving a smooth road experience and exceptional hands-free driving with GM’s Super Cruise system. It also features removable roof panels that can fit in the trunk of the vehicle, and many other special and hidden features, including a “crab walk” mode and faster charging than other trucks.
GM threw away everything there was to Hummer in terms of off-road and production parts. Its starting price of $ 110,000 is proof of this, compared to the lower-priced options expected in the coming years, which could start at $ 79,995.
GMC Hummer EV Edition 1
Michael Wayland / CNBC
The current high-end Hummer, despite its weight, can reach 0-60 mph in about three seconds with its “Watts to Freedom” or “WTF” mode. It is capable of up to 1,000 horsepower and 1,200-pound engine torque. Its single-charge range is up to 329 miles with a 212.7 kWh battery (of which 205 are usable, GM says). It can tow up to 7,500 pounds, the lowest lift of the three electric pickups.
Unlike the Rivian pickup, Edmunds reports some notable cross-purchases between the electric Hummer and its less robust competitors. Buyers who are interested in the Hummer look at the R1T and Lightning for comparison more than any other model.
However, this crossover still represents only about 9% of those looking for trucks.
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