Only 1 Electric Truck Has a Price Tag Under $50,000
Until recently, smaller electric vehicles have been the focus rather than larger trucks. While many electric trucks are currently in development, only a few are in production for consumers right now. These are becoming popular EV options, though. Of those few available, only one electric truck has a price tag under $50,000: the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning. However, it may not remain at that price for long.
Electric trucks that are currently being developed
The list of electric trucks currently in development includes the Alpha Motors Wolf, Atlis XT, Canoo Pickup Truck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford Ranger EV, Lordstown Endurance, Ram 1500 EV, Rivian R2, Tesla Cybertruck, Electric Toyota Tacoma, and the Volkswagen Scout EV.
Of this group, a few are expected to have starting prices of less than $50,000. The Alpha Motors Wolf is planned to start at $36,000, says Kelley Blue Book. The Atlis XT should start at $45,000. The Tesla Cybertruck was expected to have a starting price of $39,990, but that figure was announced several years ago and may change, as other Tesla models have faced price hikes over the last year.
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and GMC Hummer EV are among the few electric trucks today. The 2023 model year F-150 Lightning is unavailable for new orders because of high demand. With a starting price of $46,974, according to Edmunds, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning is more affordable than its EV competitors. The GMC Hummer EV starts at $112,595, and the Rivian R1T starts at $74,075, says Car and Driver.
Starting in the fall of 2022, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning will have a range of 240 miles, an increase from its previous 230 miles. It gets an EPA-rated 68 MPGe combined rating and uses 49 kWh per 100 miles. It takes 11.9 hours to recharge its 98 kWh battery from empty to 100% using a 240V power source.
The F-150 Lightning’s electric motor generates 426 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. It comes with four-wheel drive and can tow up to 7,700 pounds and haul up to 2,000 pounds. In addition to its truck bed, the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning has 14.1 cubic feet of enclosed cargo space in its front trunk or frunk.
However, even the 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning plans to increase the starting price to $51,974, so buyers looking to pay less than $50,000 may soon have to wait for the next group of electric trucks to arrive.
The Tesla Cybertruck should (but might not) cost less than the Ford F-150 Lightning
The Tesla Cybertruck is supposedly going to cost much less than the Ford F-150 Lightning. However, it’s been delayed multiple times, so it’s uncertain whether or not its originally reported pricing will still be the same. Tesla may decide to increase the price above the starting amount of $39,990 announced in 2019. Production was originally scheduled to start in 2021 but has been delayed until 2023.
Still, the Cybertruck should have excellent capabilities once it is produced, says Kelley Blue Book. It’s expected to have a range of 500 miles and be able to tow up to 14,000 pounds. It will be able to seat six people and still have a pickup bed/box of 6.5 feet. It’s also expected to have a ground clearance of 16 inches. The Cybertruck should have single-, dual-, and tri-motor model options, and the top model will be priced above $70,000. Additionally, that top model should also zip from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds.
