In America, the Ford F-150 Lightning is emerging as the car to beat in the electric pickup truck segment. It is practical, just like the conventional internal combustion engine F-150 it’s based on, and has multiple sub-variants that cater to a broad segment of buyers with prices starting from $55,000. The base model, the F-150 Lightning Pro, is also extremely capable with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds and an EPA-estimated 240 miles of range. While there are several competitors in the electric pickup truck segment like the Hummer EV and the Rivian R1T, they are priced significantly higher than the F-150 Lightning and can be out of reach for the majority of new electric vehicle buyers. But, there is another interesting electric pickup truck that is often sidelined but might just give the Ford F-150 Lightning the competition it needs in this segment. This would be the Chevy Silverado EV. Chevrolet has already carved out a niche for itself in the electric vehicle market with the Chevy Bolt EV, which is currently the most affordable new EV you can buy in the United States. Reservations for the Silverado EV are already taking place on the Chevrolet website and if the spec sheet is anything to go by, then Chevy’s electric pickup truck will prove to be an interesting alternative to the F-150 Lightning.
10 The Silverado EV Is Powerful And Offers Better Range
The Ford Lightning is offered with a choice of two batteries; the Standard Range battery (98 kWh) and Extended Range battery (131 kWh). With the Standard Range battery, it can produce 462 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque, and with the Extended Range battery, you have 580 horsepower and 775 pound-feet of torque at your disposal. With the Standard Range battery, you'll get a range of around 240 miles, and with the Extended Range battery, you'll get about 320 miles of range.
With the Silverado EV, you get an estimated 510 horsepower and 615 pound-feet of torque in the base Work Truck model, and a massive 750 horsepower and 785 pound-feet of torque in the Silverado EV RST trim. All this power can move the Silverado EV from a standstill to 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. The Silverado EV is estimated to have about 400 miles of range, although we're yet to hear the exact EPA figures.
9 It Boasts A Better Towing Capacity
The Ford Lightning Pro will have a towing capacity of about 5,000 pounds with the standard range battery, and it can be increased to about 7,700 pounds with the extended range battery found on the Ford Lightning LARIAT. Opt for the Max Tow Package and you'll be able to tow up to 10,000 pounds. The Platinum trim can tow up to 8,500 pounds. These are impressive towing capabilities, but the Silverado EV has better numbers. The base model Work Truck has the capability of towing up to 8,000 pounds and the RST model will be able to pull up to 10,000 pounds of weight. Chevy says that it is currently working on improving its battery capacity and motors, and in the near future will have a Silverado EV model that can tow up to 20,000 pounds.
8 The Multi-Flex Tailgate Is Much Superior
The Multi-Flex tailgate in the Chevrolet Silverado EV allows for multiple functions depending on how it has been positioned. This is useful for persons working in heavy cargo delivery businesses or in construction sites. The whole tailgate can be opened via the key fob, a switch inside the truck, or a button on the tailgate. This allows maximum area for cargo. There is an inner gate fitted within the main tailgate and this can be independently lowered to allow you to reach further into the truck bed. The Inner gate can also fold down into a large step when the main tailgate is opened allowing easy accessibility into the truck bed. The inner gate also has a retractable flap that can conveniently prevent second-tier items from sliding out of the bed. It can also be used as a temporary work table when in the field. The F-150 Lightning also has a power tailgate with a measuring strip and retractable steps but is not as customizable or as multi-functional.
7 The Silverado EV's Bed Is Bigger And Better
As standard, the Silverado EV has a fractionally larger truck bed with a length of almost six feet. The 2022 F-150 Lightning, on the other hand, has a truck bed of about 5.5 feet. Both beds can be extended by about two feet by lowering the tailgate. But, the Silverado goes even further with its collapsible mid-gate. Chevrolet brought back the collapsible/removable mid-gate from the Chevy Avalanche. The mid-gate is the section that separates the cabin from the truck bed, and this can be folded down or completely removed to provide more space in the back for larger items. With the tailgate lowered and the mid-gate removed, Chevy says that the Silverado EV will have a total truck bed length of 10 feet and 10 inches.
6 Better Features Like All-wheel Steering And Air Suspension
The F-150 Lightning and the Silverado EV are full-size pickup trucks. Their size helps in cargo space practicality, but they can also be difficult to maneuver around towns and in tight parking spaces. Luckily, Chevy thought about this and fitted the Silverado with all-wheel steering. When cornering, the rear wheels move in the opposite direction as the front wheels and this significantly reduces the turning radius of the large truck. This makes it more nimble around cities. The F-150 Lightning does not have this feature. Higher trims of the Silverado EV like the RST come with four-corner adaptive air suspension. According to Chevy, this feature lets you comfortably glide over the terrain that comes your way by automatically adjusting the suspension to the road conditions, resulting in a smooth ride. It can even adjust its height so that Silverado EV users can conveniently get in and out of the vehicle. The top F-150 Lightning, the LARIAT, and Platinum trim use coil-over suspension which is generally not as comfortable or as smooth as air suspension.
5 The Silverado EV Looks More Futuristic
The Silverado EV is a big, but beautifully designed pickup truck. It is essentially based on the Hummer EV, but it departs from the bulkiness and right angles of the Hummer and adopts much smoother aerodynamic lines. The RST model will come standard with uniquely striking 24-inch wheels and the front daytime running light give the pickup truck a presence of its own. The blue color used in the press car is perfect for the EV. On the other hand, the F-150 Lighting simply copy-pasted the styling of its fossil-fueled predecessor. There are a few cosmetic changes to make the Lighting look like an EV, but for the most part, when placed side by side, the F-150 and the F-150 Lightning look almost identical. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the Silverado EV narrowly wins in the styling department because of its uniqueness.
4 Chevy’s Ultium Battery Technology Is A Game Changer
Chevrolet says that the goal of Ultium battery technology is to put as many people as they can into their electric vehicles by providing faster charging and EVs with longer ranges. The batteries will use new technology to help improve how much charge they can hold, boosting the range. The new technology in the battery cells help reduce charging time. The cells inside the battery modules can be arranged vertically or horizontally to integrate into any design - vertically for trucks and SUVs, or horizontally for cars and crossovers. Chevy claims that using a fast charging 240 volts outlet, the Silverado EV can add up to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes and that on a full charge, the pickup truck can power a standard family home for up to 21 days. The F-150 Lightning can also be used as a battery to power your home in case of a power outage and Ford estimates it can provide a standard home between three and seven days of electricity depending on the usage.
3 GMC’s Super Cruise Is Arguably More Advanced Than Ford's BlueCruise
As standard, Silverado EVs will have autopilot and safety features like automatic emergency braking which will assist in the prevention of front and pedestrian collisions. It will come with SuperCruise for hands-free driving across 400,000 miles of roads in the U.S. and Canada, which is a lot more advanced than Ford's BlueCruise at the moment. The vehicle will also alert the driver of a potential front-end collision. The Silverado also comes standard with lane keep assist. This feature uses a brief, steering wheel turn to alert you when it detects you may be unintentionally drifting out of your lane lines. Drivers will also receive additional Lane Departure Warning alerts if needed. At speeds above 25 mph, the Silverado EV can automatically turn the vehicle's high beam headlamps on and off according to surrounding traffic conditions. These cruise control and driver assist features are also available in the F-150 Lightning lineup, but you have to upgrade to the $96,000 Platinum trim to access Ford's BlueCruise feature that allows the car to be driven on autopilot.
2 Silverado EV's Google Built-in And Ultifi Technology
Chevy’s electric pickup truck will come with Google built-in capabilities like their top-class voice recognition and maps. The integration will make it easy for Silverado users, both on Android and iOS, to seamlessly sync their Google accounts to their cars to easily and quickly personalize their infotainment systems. Ultifi is General Motors’ software platform that will bring software-defined vehicle experiences and services across all their sub-brands, including Chevy. It will enable seamless delivery of upgrades, personalization options, and new and exciting apps to drivers on demand, plus regularly pushed software improvements.
1 The Chevy Silverado EV Is Cheaper Than The Ford Lightning
Chevrolet plans to first release the base model of the Silverado EV called the Work Truck (WT). This is a stripped-down, basic version with steel wheels and blackened front and rear bumpers, and wheel arches. The Work Truck is designed for fleet companies and construction site workers. Chevy intends to undercut Ford’s base model, the already-in-market 2022 F-150 Lightning Pro by pricing the Silverado EV at just over $40,000. This will make it considerably cheaper and more desirable for the target market. The Ford F-150 Lightning starts at around $55,000. Tax credits and state rebates will reduce the price of these electric vehicles significantly, but first-time EV buyers will find that the base Silverado EV offers more value for money.