Tesla once accounted for the majority of the electric vehicle total market share. Today, the market is very different as several automakers have competitive electric powertrain options, including Nissan, Chevrolet, and Ford. Tesla is much newer than other automakers. It doesn’t have decades of experience and history on its side. What it does have, is novelty and shock value. Ford made a major move toward the electric future of its company by introducing the Ford F-150 Lighting electric pickup truck. Tesla’s Cybertruck can and will easily outshine Ford’s new electric truck.

Why Tesla will win the electric truck war

Tesla is relatively new to the pickup truck game. Ford, on the other hand, is almost synonymous with powerful work trucks. Ford sold millions of pickup trucks throughout the years, but electric vehicles are essentially an entirely new vehicle class. Ford must balance managing the expectations of gas-powered Ford truck loyalists and the expectations of consumers that are excited about the electric future.

The Palo Alto, California-based electric vehicle and clean energy company has existed for under two decades. It does not have the same rich history and brand loyalty that an automaker like the blue oval brand possesses but the brand rarely fails to impress. Tesla is a unicorn in the automotive industry, and its first electric truck didn’t have to live up to expectations other than being innovative.

The Tesla Cybertruck was built to reflect the direction that the automotive industry is moving toward rather than where it currently stands. Tesla lives in the future almost more than it lives in the present, often to its detriment. The company has been known to oversell certain features and modes, but when they deliver on even a fraction of their promises their vehicles become unique and provide driving experiences exclusive to the automaker.

Tesla will win the electric truck war because while Ford is playing catch-up, Tesla has already shown consumers a vehicle that is completely different from the norm. In this age of rapidly evolving technology, “new” often wins out, even if it isn’t necessarily better.

How does the Tesla Cybertruck compare to the Ford F-150 Lightning?

The Tesla Cybertruck starts at $39,900. The Cybertruck is able to travel for over 250+ miles on a single charge. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in just 6.5 seconds. Its range and speed are impressive, and its price aligns closely with the price of an average new vehicle.

The Ford F-150 Lightning starts at $39,974. The standard range battery pack provides approximately 230+ miles of range on a single charge. It is estimated to go 0-60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds using the 300+ mile battery pack.

As far as practicality, the Tesla Cybertruck beats out the Ford F-150 Lightning by 50+ more miles of range. The Cybertruck is also extremely quick. Ultimately the biggest difference between the two electric trucks happens at the highest trim level.

Which truck is more powerful?

The Ford F-150 Lightning’s final trim level, the Platinum trim, uses the Extended Range battery pack to travel 300+ miles on a single charge. It starts at around $70,000. The Tesla Cybertruck’s Tri Motor All-Wheel Drive model has an estimated range of 500+ miles on a single charge. It can go from 0-60 miles per hour in 2.9 seconds. This model starts at $69,900.

The Cybertruck’s final trim level demolishes the Ford F-150 Lightning in both range and speed. Its cold-rolled stainless-steel exoskeleton is extremely durable and unique. The Cybertruck also includes several features and modes that are exclusive to Tesla vehicles.

The Cybertruck is the more powerful truck. Its exterior and features are more unique than the F-150 Lightning despite Ford’s best efforts. According to InsideEVs, the Cybertruck recently passed over 1.25 million pre-orders while the Ford F-150 Lighting received under 200,000 pre-orders thus far. The F-150 Lightning still has time to rack up pre-orders, but thanks to chip shortages, many consumers aren’t taking chances.

The Ford F-150 Lightning is an interesting experiment and looks like a hit for Ford. Tesla, however, has wowed consumers with futuristic designs and features that make Tesla ownership more enticing. The Cybertruck will squash the F-150 Lightning because it will always appear to be the newer, more fun truck due to its unique design and capabilities.