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If you want a hybrid pickup truck, you now have several options to choose from. But there is still no plug-in hybrid pickup truck. Several automakers may be racing to bring the first one to the market.

What hybrid pickup trucks are available?

The default drivetrain in the compact Maverick hybrid truck is actually a 2.5-liter I4 hybrid engine. Ford also offers a hybrid premium engine option for its F-150, and Toyota just introduced a very similar engine in its hybrid Tundra truck.

Promo photo of a hybrid Ford F-150 pickup truck hauling a boat down a rural road, trees visible in the background.
2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost hybrid | Ford

The Ford Maverick offers some enticing numbers: the four-door compact truck gets over 40 mpg in city driving and starts at under $40k. It’s not a huge surprise that Ford has had to close orders to catch up with demand. The Maverick’s premium engine option is a turbocharged 2.0-liter I4. Only the non-hybrid is available with AWD.

Ford and Toyota both offer a hybrid truck with an electric motor/generator installed between a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 and a 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford brands its hybrid F-150 drivetrain the PowerBoost and has been selling it since the 2021 model year. The Toyota hybrid is called the i-FORCE MAX and has been available in the Tundra since mid-2022.

Of these two vehicles, the F-150 has the larger capacity, lithium-ion battery (mounted beneath the bed). It is not a plug-in hybrid, but future generations with an even bigger battery certainly could be.

Would a plug-in hybrid pickup truck be any good?

Most plug-in hybrids have a large enough battery that you can complete an average commute without using any gasoline. But they also have a gasoline engine for long road trips or for when you need more power.

Closeup of a charger attached to an EV on a city street in a parking space labeled "electric."
EV charging | TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images

The Jeep Wrangler 4xe, for example, offers over 20 miles of all-electric range if you plug it in for a few hours. You could drive this SUV to work, plug it in there, and then drive it home without using any gas (assuming you work less than 20 miles from home).

You could commute in a plug-in hybrid pickup truck in the same way. You could also run some errands on the weekend without using any gasoline. But if you needed more power for towing, or a long-range vehicle for a road trip, you could also use your plug-in hybrid pickup truck for those jobs.

Who will build the first hybrid pickup truck?

It is unclear which hybrid pickup truck will be the first on the market. But several automakers are positioned to pioneer this new segment. Likely candidates range from Ford to Jeep to Toyota to Ram.

Ram 1500 EV mock up by Stellantis shown at the brand's 2021 EV, showing a lithium-ion battery and two motors.
2024 Ram 1500 EV | Stellantis

Ford is already building a hybrid truck. In addition, it is building truck-size lithium-ion batteries for its F-150 Lightning. There is a good chance the next generation of the PowerBoost will offer a plug-in option.

In addition, Jeep has promised to bring its plug-in hybrid 4xe technology to four separate vehicles next year. Today, it only offers U.S. buyers the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee as plug-in hybrids. If one of the upcoming hybrids is the midsize Gladiator pickup truck, Jeep might offer the world’s first plug-in hybrid truck.

Toyota is another competitor. But we likely won’t see a redesign of the Tundra for years. Toyota is currently focused on an all-new Tacoma, including an electric version, set to debut in 2024. This Tacoma lineup could include a plug-in hybrid, similar to the RAV4 Prime.

Finally, Ram is hard at work on the 1500 EV. The brand has promised to transform the segment with a “range-extended” EV. This probably won’t be a plug-in hybrid. It could be an electric truck with a generator (also called a range extender) capable of charging its batteries while it’s driving. Such a truck would offer much of the same functionality as a plug-in hybrid.

Next, learn the differences between a plug-in hybrid vs. a range-extended EV or see what plug-in hybrids are and how they work in the video below:

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Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.