Skip to main content

It looks like GM is going right after the Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Extended Range, the most expensive Ford F-150 Lightning, with the all-new GMC Sierra EV Denali Edition 1. GMC released most of the specs for its first new full-sized electric truck this week, and GMC has the luxury Ford EV truck firmly in its sites. The new announcement comes on the heels of Chevy announcing a $39,990 all-electric work-truck version of the Silverado.

The new luxury trucks directly compete

2022 Ford F-150 Lighting driving on the road
2022 Ford F-150 Lighting | Ford

For buyers of a luxury EV truck, of these two, it looked like Ford had a clear advantage with the Platinum in 2022. Sure, Chevy is promising the new Silverado EV RST package, which at $105,000 promises all the bells and whistles. But it’s just a Chevy. Now, it’s Denali vs. Platinum.

All of that changed this week with the announcement of the new Sierra EV Denali Edition 1. It brings F-150 Lightning Platinum-like luxury, and price, to the table. When the Lighting was launched and delivered to owners a few months ago, the top-of-the-line Platinum Extended Range version came in at $96,874. Basically, both of these trucks are amazing luxury trucks with all the goodies, so think premium leather, aluminum and wood, heated and cooled massaging seats, and killer stereos.

GMC Sierra makes more power than the Ford F-150 Lightning

The 2025 GMC Sierra EV truck in silver on dirt
2025 GMC Sierra EV AT4 | GMC

The big difference is in the power and range specs between the GMC Sierra EV Denali and Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum. The Platinum has 580 horsepower and 775 lb.-ft of torque. It has a 300-mile range. The GMC, however, can 400 miles on a charge and it puts out a lot more power. GMC says the Sierra EV will make as much as 754 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque. The Platinum offers 17.6kW of output power for running anything electric. The Denali offers 10.2 kW.

The work trucks directly compete, too

A Silverado EV work truck in gray on dirt
2024 Silverado EV WT | Chevy

The standard range truck and battery Ford F-150 Lightning Pro work truck makes a max of 452 horsepower and has a total range of 240 miles. A glance at the Chevy’s spec sheet shows that the Silverado EV WT will make 510 horsepower, however, it’ll have a 400-mile range. While we still have to wait for the Chevy, the Ford is getting delivered to reservation holders now.

Because they’re electric work trucks, you’ll expect these to town a haul a lot, and you’d be right. The Ford, with the lighter standard battery, can haul 2,235 pounds, and tow up to 7,700 pounds with the max trailer tow package. Chevy’s WT will offer 8,000 pounds of towing and 1,200 pounds of payload capacity. While the Ford F-150 Lightning’s Pro, or work truck, had started at about $41,700 for the 2022 model, it now costs almost $52,000. Chevy is promising that its WT will start at less than $40,000.

Related

Sierra EV vs. Silverado EV: It’s Now Electric GMC vs. Electric Chevy

Best in Trucks & SUVs
Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.