Comparison of the F-150 Lightning with the Silverado EV from Chevrolet
Which Full-Size Electric Pickup Is the Best?
The Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ford F-150 Lightning square off in a vintage Detroit redux. Customers will be able to take delivery of the first model, the F-150 Lightning, in the spring of 2022. Full manufacture of the Silverado EV won’t begin until 2024.
Crew Cab, Only Short-Bed
The pickups are outfitted as crew cabs with four doors and five seats, and their cargo beds measure between five and eleven feet. They will have two electric drive motors, one for each drive axle, standard all-wheel drive, and four-wheel independent suspension.
Ford F-150 Lightning in 2022
The carmaker was able to cut costs and expedite the development process by sharing several important components, the interior, and aluminum sheet metal of the Lightning EV with the gas-powered Ford F-150. The big EV battery is positioned between the steel frame rails in a classic body-on-frame design. The cab and bed, like every other full-size F-150 pickup, are two distinct assemblies. At Dearborn, Michigan’s Rouge Electric Vehicle assembly line, production models are already leaving the building.
Silverado EV RST 2024
Very few elements of the gas-powered Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are shared with the all-new body of the Silverado EV. Interior space is increased by its cab-forward passenger compartment and shorter nose. The Ultium EV battery pack significantly increases rigidity and becomes a structural part of the chassis, joining the steel Silverado cab and bed as one unit.
Strength and Efficiency
It’s anticipated to be an exciting performance. The Lightning will have a staggering 775 pound-feet of torque and either 426 or 563 horsepower when it launches. It’s hardly hyperbole to say that the 426-hp version’s performance estimations for 0-60 mph acceleration are in the low to mid 4-second range, while the 563-hp version’s performance figures are similar to those of the Mustang Shelby GT500.
With 510 horsepower and 615 lb-ft of torque for fleet use and a top-of-the-line RST variant with up to 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque when operating in Wide Open Watts mode, Chevrolet has not yet revealed all of the specifications for the Silverado EV. There will be additional, more popular, cuts after this. For the higher output RST model, Chevy predicts that the EV truck will reach 60 mph in approximately 4.5 seconds.
Range and Battery
Depending on the trim level of the truck, the F-150 Lightning can be equipped with one of two large lithium-ion propulsion batteries: a 132-kWh extended-range battery that can go up to 300 miles, or a standard-range 98-kWh battery with a 230-mile range.
Only the 200 kWh Ultium battery, an optional feature on the Silverado EV that Chevrolet claims can power the large pickup up to 400 miles on a charge, has been made public. Similar to the Cadillac Lyriq premium SUV, the basic battery for the most of trims will probably be a 100-kWh unit that should provide 250–275 miles of range in the larger Silverado EV.
Fast-Charge Stations vs. Home Charging
This kind of battery size necessitates having a 240-volt AC power source available for home charging. For the larger 132-kWh battery, Ford offers two mobile chargers: an 80-amp Charge Station Pro that takes eight hours to fully charge, and a 32-amp charger that can do so in 19 hours. The larger Lightning battery can be charged from 15% to 80% capacity in as little as 41 minutes at a 150 kW DC public fast-charge station.
With the bigger capacity Ultium battery in the Silverado EV, AC home charging with a high-amp 240-volt charger will be even more crucial. Although the Silverado EV’s home charging speeds for a full recharge have not yet been announced, according to Chevrolet, the vehicle can handle public DC fast chargers up to 350 kW. Additionally, by utilizing a technology that allows the battery pack to be switched from 400 to 800 volts for DC charging, the time it takes to reach 80% can be almost halved.
EV Vehicle as a Source of Power
In addition to powering these EV pickups, the large battery they run on can also be used to run construction equipment, supply light and entertainment at a campsite, or run a household in the event of a power outage. With one 240-volt outlet in the bed and 120-volt AC outlets in the cab and front trunk, Ford claims the Lightning’s 9.6-kW Pro Power Onboard system can cover most household electrical demands for three days or more. A comparable 10.2-kW EV Powerbase system with 10 off-board AC outlets will be available in the Silverado EV.
Cargo & Hauling
When fitted with the higher output electric motors, both EV pickups will be able to tow up to 10,000 pounds. But when it comes to payload, the Lightning has a clear advantage because it can carry up to 2,000 pounds, but the Silverado EV can only carry up to 1,300 pounds.
Large Cabins with Special Features
These electric truck pickups have a largely level floor for a spacious cabin and a sizable (14.1 cubic feet and 400-lb capacity in the Lightning) frunk for storing tools, minor building supplies, luggage, and much more. This is because there is no engine, transmission, driveshaft, fuel tanks, or exhaust system to take up space. Additionally, Super Cruise for the Silverado EV and Blue Cruise for the Lightning will provide semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control for hands-free driving across hundreds of thousands of kilometers on restricted-access highways in the United States and Canada.
The top-tier Silverado EV RST variant will come equipped with high-end technologies that were first seen in the GMC Hummer EV truck, like rear steering that can enhance both low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability, and electronic air suspension with adjustable ride height for varied terrain. Additionally, General Motors’ five-way multi-configurable tailgate and a midgate panel that opens between the cab and bed to provide over 10 feet of cargo loading capacity will be included with the Silverado RST EV.
What Is The Price?
With a complete range of trims that includes the fleet-focused Pro ($41,669), moderate XLT ($54,669), well-equipped Lariat ($69,169), and top-of-the-line Platinum ($92,569), the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is already leaving the factory. Chevrolet will launch the Silverado EV Work Truck in the spring of next year; it is expected to cost $41,595. Fall 2023 will bring the top of the line $106,695 RST, while early 2024 will bring the other trims, including the Trail Boss.
What to Purchase
As the Silverado EV is a 2024 model, the earliest you can take delivery of it will be in the spring of 2024, two years from now, with the exception of the base Work Truck variant and the six-figure RST, both of which Chevy claims are already sold out. The only options available to you if you’re looking for an electric full-size truck sooner are the F-150 Lightning and the R1T from EV startup Rivian.
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