Pickup trucks have been the best-selling type of vehicle in the U.S. market for several years now. Known for their versatility, practicality, and even cultural significance, pickup trucks have outpaced other categories like SUVs and sedans. As the automotive industry speeds toward electrification even faster than initially expected, the demand for electric trucks is increasing and a diverse range of electric trucks will soon be available on the market.
The ICE pickup truck market has been led by three big names: the Ford F-Series, the Dodge Ram, and the Chevrolet Silverado. All these trucks have been electrified, but many new contenders have emerged as manufacturers compete with each other to dominate this lucrative new market. Established automakers like Tesla and GMC have already unveiled electric trucks, while new companies like Rivian are hoping to make their own mark. Electric trucks can do everything traditional trucks do, including towing heavy loads, going off-road, and hauling cargo, but they come with some unique advantages. Since trucks have reduced size or weight limitations, they can be equipped with huge battery backs that can even be used to power homes during power outages. This tech hasn't been perfected yet, but the potential is definitely there for novel applications like this. Here are the best electric trucks in 2023!
10 GMC Hummer EV - $87,000 (est.)
Hummer is back after being discontinued in 2010, and the GMC Hummer EV is a truck like no other. Unveiled in 2020, the Hummer EV is a mammoth in more ways than one and has an electric powertrain producing 1,000 horsepower and 11,500 pound-feet of torque. Despite weighing over four tons, these insane numbers mean that the Hummer EV can go from 0-60 mph in just three seconds and the huge battery allows for a range of over 300 miles on a single charge. It has a rugged exterior design that begs you to go off the road and comes with a unique CrabWalk mode that allows you to move diagonally by using the four-wheel steering system. It is a bit pricey, though, and the Edition 1 model costs well above $100,000.
9 Lordstown Endurance - $65,000 (est.)
Lordstown Motors is an electric vehicle startup from Ohio focused on producing electric trucks for working people. Competitively priced at around $65,000, the Endurance electric truck is equipped with four in-wheel hub motors for a combined output of 440 horsepower for the base model and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in around 6.3 seconds. The Endurance offers a towing capacity of up to 8000 pounds and the 109.0 kWh battery pack should be good enough for 200 miles of range on a single charge. These numbers are not the most impressive ones on the market, but the Endurance is meant to be a workhorse truck that gets the job done when needed.
8 Canoo Pickup Truck - $35,000 (est.)
The Canoo pickup truck is an upcoming electric truck by EV startup Canoo that looks different from every other truck on this list, but the design may not be for everyone. The Canoo doesn't have a hood or a 'frunk', instead opting for a cab-forward layout that gives it a snub-nosed front end that looks like a pod more than a truck. It also has a modular design that allows you to configure the cabin and cargo area in different ways. Specs-wise, the Canoo Pickup Truck is set to offer 200 miles of range on a charge and a towing capacity of 7700 pounds. It is supposed to enter production in 2023 and is expected to cost between $35,000 and $55,000. It is also set to be used by the U.S. military and a prototype has already been delivered.
7 Alpha Wolf - $36,000
The Alpha Wolf is an upcoming electric truck by California-based EV startup Alpha Motor Corporation that should be available sometime in 2023. The Wolf has a compact retro design which has turned a lot of heads already and the specs are quite promising as well. It will come equipped with a 75 kWh battery pack that should ensure up to 275 miles on a single charge and will be offered in both a single-motor and a dual-motor configuration. The Wolf also offers some unconventional features such as a modular bed system to allow for easy customization. The truck can go from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds with a top speed of 105 miles per hour, while the towing capacity is rated at 3,000 pounds.
6 Chevrolet Silverado EV - $39,900
The Chevrolet Silverado EV is the all-electric version of the popular Silverado pickup truck by Chevy. Unveiled by GM in April 2022, the Silverado EV shares the same Ultium platform and powertrain as the Hummer EV but is more of a traditional implementation of what a truck should be. Starting at just under $40,000, the Silverado EV packs quite a punch thanks to the dual-motor setup which can produce up to 664 horsepower. It also comes equipped with a huge battery pack that can be as big as 200 kWh and provides a range of up to 400 miles on a charge. Towing capacity is rated at 8000 pounds for the base WT model and 10,000 pounds for the top-of-the-line RST variant. Overall, the Silverado seems like a well-rounded package for those who need a no-nonsense electric pickup truck.
5 Dodge Ram Revolution EV - $58,000 (est.)
Following its competitors Ford and Chevy, Dodge finally revealed an all-electric version of the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck. Dubbed the Ram Revolution EV, or Ram REV, the truck won't be available for the 2023 model year and the exact price hasn't been revealed yet, but it is expected to start at around $58,000. The Ram REV will be offered in two battery pack configurations, with the larger one having enough juice for up to 500 miles on a single charge. Since the Ram REV was unveiled quite recently, this number hasn't been tested in the real world yet but a 229 kWh battery just might be enough to achieve that. The Ram REV will also be able to tow up to 14,000 pounds and the 654-horsepower electric motor system should be able to propel it from 0-60 mph in about 4.4 seconds.
4 Tesla Cybertruck - $50,000 (est.)
The Tesla Cyberrtruck is by far the most notorious electric truck on this list. First unveiled in 2019, it was set to go into production in 2022, but that has since been delayed till the end of 2023. The Cybertruck has a blocky, space-age design that has been dividing opinions for the last three years and the top-of-the-line model is supposed to be able to provide a range of up to 500 miles on a single charge, along with having a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 2.9 seconds and a towing capacity of 14,000 pounds. Controversy has followed the Tesla Cybertruck everywhere it goes, from the initial window scandal to the lone windshield wiper not doing a great job of cleaning the windshield. It was initially priced at less than $40,000, but the final price won't be known until it officially becomes available on the market.
3 GMC Sierra EV - $55,000 (est.)
The GMC Sierra EV is yet another electric truck by GM being released under a different name and brand. An electric version of the popular Sierra pickup truck, the Sierra EV will be placed somewhere between the practical Silverado EV and the over-the-top Hummer EV, both in terms of price and performance. It is also based on GM's Ultium EV platform and the only version offered for the 2024 model year will have an all-wheel-drive electric setup producing 754 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque along with having a large battery pack that should be good enough for up to 400 miles of range on a single charge. Its exterior design is similar to the ICE version of the Sierra pickup truck and the towing capacity is rated at 9500 pounds for the only model revealed so far.
2 Ford F-150 Lightning - $59,974
The Ford F-Series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for many, many years and Ford intends to keep that going with the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck. Starting at around $60,000, the F-150 Lightning was one of three electric trucks already available to consumers and testers in 2022 and is offered in six different trims with the most expensive one going for nearly $100,000. It is offered in two battery and electric motor configurations: a standard 98 kWh battery coupled with a 452-horsepower dual-motor setup with 230 miles of range and an Extended Range battery with 131 kWh and a 580-horsepower dual-motor setup capable of providing 320 miles of range on a single charge. Towing capacity ranges from 7,700 pounds to 10,000 pounds, making the F-150 Lightning a very well-rounded package. Ford has claimed that it can also power your house, but the jury is still out on how effective that is.
1 Rivian R1T - $73,000
Rivian is a new player in the automotive market, but it has already established itself as a formidable competitor. The R1T is Rivian's electric pickup truck which was first unveiled in 2018 and has received glowing reviews since deliveries to customers started. The R1T makes 835 horsepower from its quad-motor setup and is one of the fastest electric trucks tested so far with a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds. It is offered with three different battery capacities and the largest Max battery pack is touted to provide a range of 400 miles. The R1T also offers an impressive 11,000 pounds of towing capacity, making Rivian the company to beat right now in the nascent electric truck market.