So, despite the uncertainties of...everything....you're in the market for an electric pickup truck. Good taste ruled out the Tesla Cybertruck even before Elon's right arm had a Viagra reaction, you're not familiar enough with the Rivian R1T to feel comfotable yet, the GMC Hummer EV Pickup just seems a bit...large and the RAM 1500 REV is probably a year away from being on dealer lots.
That brings the battle down to the age-old rivalry...Ford F-150 versus Chevrolet Silverado. But in electrics, that means the Ford F-150 Lightning versus the Chevrolet Silverado EV.
It's been two and a half years since I last drove a Lightning, so I won't attempt a direct comparison. Let's state some basic facts---the Silverado EV has a long bed for an EV truck---five feet, 11 inches. There's also 10.7 cubic feet of lockable cargo space in the frunk (front trunk), which is less than the Lightning.
The Silverado EV's superpower is range. Depending on trim level and battery, it can go as high as 490 miles per charge. The LT Extended Range model I drove is good for 390.
This is major. The Lightning tops out at 320.
The drawbacks? Base price is more than $12,000 higher than the entry-level F-150 Lightning, at $75,195 (including destination). A top-of-the-line RST Max Range begins at $97,895.
That $75,195 above is where we started with our tester, adding $9,800 for the LT Package (enhanced automatic parking assist, all-season blackwall tires, a trailer integration package, 22-inch aluminum wheels, a multi-flex midgate, 19.2 kW-capable AC charging, a tech package, spray-on bedliner and Chevy's semi-autonomous Super Cruise (which requires a subscription to activate. There was also a fixed cabin-length sunroof for $1,500, a soft roll-up tonneau cover for hte bed for $800 and a dual-level charging cord priced at $295. All told, the as-tested price is $84,590.
The Silverado EV is one of the GM electrics where neither Apple CarPlay nor Android Auto can be had. Count me among those for whom that's a deal-killer. But that's not everyone.
If you've made the case for owning a full-size electric pickup and want to reduce range anxiety (those EPA numbers don't accurately reflect what happens when you tow something), the Silverado EV may be your next truck.
