At first, EV trucks seemed like a niche product. Now, popular models like the Chevrolet Silverado and the Ford F-150 are becoming electrified, and the EV revolution is ready to hit the ground running.

When the EV revolution started to take off, automakers began electrifying small hatchback cars. They’ve come a long way since then. Find out what’s happening with popular EV trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, and others.

New in 2024: The Chevrolet Silverado EV

With 440 miles of estimated range, the Chevrolet Silverado EV can take drivers further than competitors. When it’s time to top off the charge, drivers can plug in at home or stop at public fast-charging stations to pick up 100 mi of range in 10 minutes.

The Chevy Silverado EV’s electric motors produce 754 hp and 785 lb-ft of torque, and the impressive electric pickup can make it from 0 to 60 in under 4.5 seconds. It can also tow up to 10,000 lbs, more than enough to meet most contractors’ daily needs.

Because the Silverado EV is brand-new, it has all the most impressive modern features. Buyers can also purchase a GM Energy Vehicle-to-Home Enablement Kit to provide power by using the trucks for up to 21 days during a blackout.

What’s Ford Up to With the F-150 Lightning?

The F-150 Lightning has been around for several years, and the automaker has made only minor changes. The F-150 Lightning’s two electric motors make a combined 452 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. Upgrading to the extended-range battery boosts the power up to 580 hp.

As with the Silverado EV, the F-150 Lightning can tow up to 10,000 lbs, albeit only with the extended-range battery. Expect towing heavy loads to reduce the range. No automaker has yet come up with a way to combat this issue.

The EV pickup can charge from 15 to 80 percent in 44 minutes on a DC fast charger and supply three days of power to the average household as a backup generator.

The Futuristic-Looking Tesla Cybertruck

The Tesla Cybertruck looks nothing like a standard pickup. However, it’s one of the best-known of the EV trucks. The Cybertruck features two electric motors that are good for 600 hp, plus an upgrade to a three-motor setup that puts out 834 hp. Theoretically, the Tesla Cybertruck can tow up to 11,000 lbs and haul 2,500 lbs.

The Cybertruck’s range varies substantially depending on how many motors drivers want, so there will always be a trade-off between range and power. With two motors, it maxes out at 340 miles per charge. Adding an optional range-extender battery pack to the bed bumps that number up to 440 miles.

Additional Competitors Joining the Race

The Silverado EV, F-150 Lightning, and Cybertruck are the best-known of today’s EVs. However, they’re being joined by more newcomers to the field every year. Additional options include the Rivian R1T, GMC Sierra EV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, Ram 1500 REV, and others.

Interested buyers who are still driving gas trucks right now should make a point of discussing what it takes to make the switch to EV with their dealers. That way, they’ll be sure to get the right home charging stations to fit their needs.

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GMC offers the Hummer EV in both SUV and pickup versions and delivers several versions with various powertrain systems. This massive beast is capable, opulent, and carries the Hummer name proudly while being completely different from the H2s and H3s of old. Using a massive battery pack, this GMC can travel for up to 381 miles on a single full charge.

Here are some things you’ll want to know about the GMC Hummer EV.

This is a massive beast

The battery pack in the Hummer EV models weighs as much as a Honda Civic. This massive battery tips the scales at nearly 3,000 pounds, but that’s not even half the weight of this big vehicle. The heaviest version of this GMC is the pickup truck model at the Edition 1 trim, which comes in at 9,640 pounds. The SUV version is a little lighter at 8,900 pounds. That means the Hummer EV could be a Class 3 medium-duty truck based on this curb weight.

Incredible size and road presence

The GMC Hummer EV is extremely wide, which gives it the road presence that you’ll see with this big vehicle. The Hummer name has always been associated with massive vehicles, some of which were too massive for their own good. The new electric versions of these vehicles are the new definition of excess. Still, the Hummer EV isn’t larger than every gas-powered SUV or truck in the market, but it’s pretty darn close.

The Hummer EV proves what an EV can do

This massive electric truck and SUV pair aren’t made to be extremely eco-friendly and green, but they only use electricity to power the motors. Instead of being one of the greenest vehicles in the world, this massive GMC is more of a showcase vehicle than anything else. It shows off what EVs can do by using one of the largest battery packs in the market and offering drivers several amazing features that make it more fun to drive and enjoy. This show-stopper is a lot of fun to see on and off the road.

This EV is inefficient

Yes, the GMC Hummer EV is a fully electric vehicle, but that doesn’t make it efficient. It takes a lot more electricity to charge the batteries in this EV than three smaller models. The batteries are massive at 246.8-kWh, which is more than three 82-kWh batteries for the Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD. The driving range is impressive, but that doesn’t make the Hummer EV efficient. Still, this massive EV is something to admire, and it can handle nearly every situation.

This massive EV has some really cool features

GMC didn’t simply build a massive version of the Yukon and give it a retired name. Instead, they gave this amazing EV lots of great features. The Hummer EV has several surprises in store for drivers. Here are a few of them:

Watts to Freedom

The Watts to Freedom feature is the launch control system that allows this massive EV to use all of its power at once during a rocket-fast acceleration from 0 to 60 mph. This big SUV can hit this market in 3.5 seconds or less, which makes it faster than some sports cars.

CrabWalk

GMC created the Hummer EV to be an incredible off-road vehicle. The addition of the CrabWalk feature makes it much easier to travel at angles around various obstacles on the trails. This feature turns the rear wheels to allow the vehicle to drive at angles to move around obstacles on the trails.

Extract Mode

Some vehicles are built to be high off the ground, and this big GMC electric vehicle is one of them. Of course, some obstacles still might be too big for the Hummer EV at its normal height. The Extract Mode allows the driver to raise the height by six inches using the air suspension, which allows this massive vehicle to travel over taller obstacles in its path.

Extreme Off-Road Package

Adding the Extreme Off-Road Package to this big vehicle gives it more capability on the trails, which ensures it can tackle most of the terrain it might face. This package has 18-inch wheels, 35-inch mud terrain tires, a front e-locker, rear virtual locker, five skid plates, and rock sliders with built-in steps.

The GMC Hummer EV is an incredible electric vehicle, built to be the excessive vehicle that shows what EVs can do.

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Ford and GM have been in the EV market for a few years already, and the Stellantis brands continue to hold back and avoid building electric vehicles. Now, it’s time for the future of the Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, and Chrysler brands to show up with EVs that can be great for future diving experiences.

Let’s dig in and take a look at what these brands bring to the market to move into the future.

Stellantis has an extremely aggressive EV goal

Waiting until 2024 means Stellantis hasn’t embraced electric driving nearly as fast as other American automotive brands. This company created a new initiative called Dare Forward 2030. This new strategy shows the automotive company’s goal of 50% of total US sales and 100% in Europe to be electric by 2030. This is an incredible goal that explains much of what we’ve already seen this company change.

Some of the Stellantis brands will begin offering only electric vehicles soon. Two that will adopt a complete EV lineup are Alfa Romeo by 2027 and Chrysler by 2028.

Fiat brings a new electric 500e

The Fiat 500 was a bust in America, but the electric 500e has already been launched in US markets. This new version of the small Italian electric car should be one of the most affordable and useful city cars in the entire EV market. This car comes with a maximum driving range of 149 miles on a single charge, which can make it a pleasure to experience on the streets of your town. If you want a little car that shows off a fun side and flair for the unexpected, you’ll be glad to take the new Fiat 500e out for a drive.

Ram’s electric truck heads to dealers soon

One of the most hotly anticipated of the Stellantis EVs is the new Ram 1500 Revolution. This new electric truck is built on the STLA Large frame platform and is expected to deliver the most power and capability in the class. This electric Ram includes dual 250-kW electric motors that produce 654 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque. These figures should be enough to enable this Ram to tow up to 14,000 pounds and carry 2,800 pounds of payload.

The new Ram 1500 Revolution will have two battery options. The 168-kWh battery delivers a 350-mile range, while the 229-kWh battery returns 500 miles of driving on a single charge. Using the 800-volt fast charging architecture, this EV truck adds 110 miles of range in 10 minutes.

Dodge returns muscle cars with electric powertrains

The new Dodge Charger Daytona SRT will be the future of electric muscle cars. This new muscular car is one of the most aggressive moves for Stellantis with its new EVs. The Charger Daytona SRT is the replacement for the gas-powered Charger, and it comes with an exhaust noise system and multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting. The new 800-volt Banshee propulsion system will outperform the former SRT Hellcat engine in many ways.

This new electric Charger will feature a new badge that’s been resurrected from the Dodge muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s. This is the three-point Fratzog badge design that was part of these early Dodge muscle cars. This use of the classic symbol shows Dodge’s commitment to performance in its new EVs.

Jeep brings two EVs to America

Jeep entered the electric vehicle market last year with the Avenger, which was only launched in Europe, and will add two new models this year. These two new models will be part of the American EV landscape as well. These impressive Stellantis EVs are the Recon and Wagoneer S.

The Recon will be an impressive small electric SUV inspired by the Wrangler. The Recon will have some of the same Wrangler features, including removable doors and windows. This little EV should have enough juice to handle some of the toughest trails, including the Rubicon Trail.

The new Wagoneer S is a smaller, two-row version of the Jeep Wagoneer. This new model has an all-electric powertrain setup and the upscale packaging you get when you choose a Wagoneer.

These models are just the beginning of the Stellantis EVs that we should see over the next few years. Expect a new Chrysler EV to be the next model released, along with an electric version of the Dodge Challenger. What else would you like Stellantis to add to its EV lineup?

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Right now, there are a few electric trucks and SUVs in the GMC fleet, but there are more coming, and it may be sooner than you think.

The Capable GMC Hummer EV Truck

The GMC Hummer EV truck was the first all-electric GMC to make an appearance at GMC dealers. It offers a unique blend of rugged capabilities and environmental consciousness. The impressive electric powertrain produces 1000 horsepower and sprints from zero to 60 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds. This electric truck can use brute force to make its way over almost any terrain, while the rear-wheel steering system makes it easy to maneuver whether you’re on the trail or in the city. It even features a unique crab driving mode that will move it sideways.

Go Big in the GMC Hummer EV SUV

The GMC Hummer EV SUV arrived on the tail of the Hummer EV truck. While it shares many of the truck’s features and offers similar performance, it’s also more family-friendly, with more space in the cabin for passengers. The all-electric powertrain churns out 830 horsepower and gets up to 11,500 pound-feet of torque. This version of the Hummer will zip from zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Drivers who are wondering about range for this large EV have nothing to worry about. It can go up to 300 miles on a full charge.

The GMC Sierra EV is Coming

Everyone loves the GMC Sierra pickup truck, and when the new Sierra EV arrives at GMC dealers in the near future, they will not only love its features and capabilities but also its efficiency and power. The official name for this new pickup is the GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1. And, with Denali part of its name, this truck is sure to deliver when it comes to upscale features and luxury.

Like the Hummer EVs and the Silverado EV, the Sierra will ride on the Ultium platform with a large battery pack that will help it get up to 400 miles of range. It will have all the latest technology, including GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology, and it will feature GMC’s innovative MultiPro Midgate. This gate serves as a divider between the cabin and the bed that can be lowered when you have long items to move but want to keep the tailgate up.

What’s on the Horizon

While the GMC EV lineup currently features the two GMC Hummer models and the upcoming Sierra Denali EV, there is much more on the horizon. Keep your eyes peeled for a GMC Yukon EV. This full-size luxury SUV will sit at the top of GMC’s SUV lineup, and since it will be built right in the U.S., it could be an affordable option for SUV buyers who want to make the switch to an electric vehicle.

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Read on to learn more about what you can expect from this dynamic Chevy pickup.

The Heart of a Champion

Chevrolet has streamlined the Colorado’s powertrain options to a singular, powerhouse engine: a turbocharged 2.7-liter inline-four. Whether it’s the base WT and LT models with 237 horsepower or the zestier 310 horsepower found in the Z71, Trail Boss, and ZR2 trims, there’s plenty of power for both weekday commutes and weekend adventures.

Towing and Hauling Mastery

With the 2024 update, the Colorado is flexing its muscles in the towing arena. When properly equipped, this beast boasts a maximum capacity of 7700 pounds. This impressive figure not only outdoes previous models but also ensures it stands tall against competitors. You won’t find many other mid-size trucks with this kind of power. Whether it’s hauling equipment or towing a camper for a weekend getaway, the new Colorado remains strong and read, ready to take on tasks with ease.

Interior Technology and Design

Chevrolet has given the Colorado’s interior a significant overhaul. Every model now sports a crew cab with an 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless charging, and an updated center console for a more intuitive driving experience. The newly designed cabin doesn’t just serve functionally; it looks great, too.

Your Trusted Co-Pilot

Safety isn’t just an option with the 2024 Chevrolet Colorado; it’s standard. With the Chevy Safety Assist package, this truck includes a suite of driver-assistance features on every model, such as forward collision warning and lane-keeping assist. This commitment to safety ensures that whether you’re navigating busy streets or remote trails, the Colorado has your back.

Smart Spending: The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado

The 2024 Chevrolet Colorado rolls out with a compelling price tag that aligns with its capabilities. Starting with the Work Truck at $31,095, moving to the well-appointed LT at $33,495, and advancing to the off-road-ready Trail Boss at $38,895, there’s a Colorado for every use and every driver.

For those seeking a more premium touch, the Z71 begins at $41,795, while the rugged ZR2 stands at $48,395. And for the pinnacle of off-road prowess, the ZR2 Bison is estimated to start around $63,000. Each model is priced to offer a range of options, ensuring you can find the perfect Colorado to match both your needs and your budget.

If you’re ready to experience the newest and more impressive version of this popular mid-size pickup truck, stop by your favorite Chevy dealer and ask for a test drive. Be careful, though: once you drive the new Chevrolet Colorado, you may never go back to anything less.

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This electric pickup had so many goodies and features that it felt like an infomercial. Every time the Ram team showed an item, the expectation was they would say, “But wait, there’s more,” before revealing the next item.

Do you want a truck with a long tunnel for cargo? Have you been itching for a truck with three rows of seats? Should a truck have suicide doors, offering a large opening? These are only a few features found in the new electric Ram 1500, but wait, there’s more.

How Much Power Does This New Ram Electric Truck Offer?

The new electric Ram 1500 pickup is expected to hit the market in 2025, which makes it the last of the new half-ton electric trucks from the Detroit Big Three automakers. Power for the new electric Ram pickup comes from two motors, each producing 335 horsepower. The result of these two electric motors working together is 654 horsepower and 620 lb-ft of torque.

An Electric Truck With A Range Extender – Is It Really An EV?

Although details are still scarce, the electric Ram 1500 Revolution XR is expected to be offered with a gas-powered range extender. This feature should be a small gasoline engine that sends power to the electric batteries to increase the driving range of this Ram EV pickup truck.

Electric Towing Challenges

Why would anyone need a range extender in an electric truck? Electric pickups use more driving range while towing a trailer than gas or diesel-powered pickups. The Fast Lane Trucks team performed a test that showed how much range is lost when an electric pickup tows a trailer. Adding a gas-powered range extender to the new Ram electric truck can add power back to the electric system and allow this truck to tow a heavy trailer for longer distances.

Useful Storage Space Or Gimmicky Features

When Ram revealed this new EV pickup at CES, they showed off features in this prototype that might not make it to production. Still, a few items on display could be nothing more than gimmicks, but that’s for consumers to decide.

A Long, Narrow Cargo Tunnel

The first of these is a long cargo tunnel that passes from the front to the rear of the truck through the frunk, firewall, cabin, midgate, and into the bed. The ability to carry cargo up to 18 feet long sounds enticing, but the height and width of only one foot each limits the usefulness of this narrow pass-through.

Third Row Jump Seat

The second unique but questionable feature is the set of third-row seats. These aren’t your traditional seats found in minivans or three-row SUVs. Instead, the new electric Ram pickup features two small jump seats that provide a small space for a couple of kids to ride for short distances. The cabin area of the new Ram EV pickup is only four inches longer than the current gas-powered model.

These jump seats are akin to a pair of folding lawn chairs, which is where they can be more useful. If you love to tailgate at sporting events or go fishing at the lake, these seats can be removed from the cabin and affixed to the bed on top of the tailgate to offer a good place to sit during these activities.

A Unique Rear Suspension Changes The EV Truck Game

Gimmicky features aside, the new Ram electric truck showed items that make it more useful and capable than other electric pickups. One of these impressive new features is an independent rear suspension system with coil springs. This setup creates more space than solid axles and a leaf spring suspension system.

More Space Means Better Driving Range

The added space created by the unique suspension enables the electric Ram pickup to offer a premium on driving range, which is extremely important for truck owners looking for a truck that lasts all day long. This live rear suspension system is preferred for better towing, hauling, and drag racing as well. This new electric Ram 1500 pickup isn’t expected to be at many drag races, but this suspension setup makes it faster than if a traditional suspension was used.

Will the new electric Ram pickup feature the suicide/rear-hinged rear doors of the concept model, or bring a traditional door system? Will two large screens dominate the dashboard, or will there be screens across the entire truck width?

The new electric Ram 1500 pickup is scheduled for the 2025 model year. It will be interesting to see how much of the CES concept model makes it to the production version.

The post Unveiling the Electric Ram 1500 Pickup: A Game Changer in the Truck Market first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

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Electric vehicles are creating a divided feeling in the automotive world. Some people love the EVs and their silent driving, cheap electric power, and clean burning features. Others feel that EVs cost too much, use far too many rare-earth metals, and require new charging stations, which only add to the ruin of the world’s landscape.

Should you drive an electric car, and are they cheaper to maintain and own than ICE models? Let’s explore.

What are we being told?

Most automakers tout lower maintenance costs for electric vehicles while also promising owners won’t need to visit service centers nearly as often with EVs as ICE models. Overall, fewer visits mean you’ll spend more time driving and less time at the service center, but the cost per visit could be greater for EVs. Electric cars are relatively new in Israel, and some owners are learning that these infrequent visits can be costly compared to what they paid per tip for gas-powered vehicles.

Still, the overall maintenance costs could be less for electric vehicles during a specific time period. The best way to learn about this is to compare gas and electric versions of nameplates that offer both types of vehicles. For this comparison, we’ll use the data collected by Car and Driver concerning the Hyundai Kona and Ford F-150, which offer gas and electric versions.

What are the maintenance cost comparisons?

When electric and gas versions of the same vehicles are compared, electric cars are cheaper to maintain. The three-year timeline provided for the Kona and F-150 shows the electric models cutting costs by almost $900 for the Kona and $600 for the F-150. The actual maintenance costs after 45,000 miles of driving are:

• Hyundai Kona: $0.0984 per mile/$4,428
• Hyundai Kona Electric: $0.0794 per mile/$3,573
• Ford F-150: $0.0933 per mile/$4,199
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $0.0794 per mile/$3,573

How much does the fuel cost for each vehicle type?

This is where comparisons become murky, and it’s hard to know how to gauge exactly what it costs to fuel different vehicle types. For the gas-powered versions of these two vehicles, Car and Driver used $3.70 per gallon for regular fuel, which was the national average fuel price at the time of their study. This means the gas-powered versions cost:

• Hyundai Kona: $5,162
• Ford F-150: $8,325

When looking at the electric versions of these two vehicles, the average rate of $0.1546/kWh is used for at-home charging. Of course, there are other factors to consider as well. Some drivers will use public charging exclusively, while others might never need to plug in at a DC fast-charger. We know these public chargers are much more expensive than at-home charging.

Tossing the figures in a bucket to figure out how much it costs to charge the electric versions of the Kona and F-150 for 45,000 miles, the total comes to:

• Hyundai Kona Electric: $2,548
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $4,529

What have we learned?

Are electric cars cheaper to maintain than gas-powered vehicles? In this example, the answer is a resounding “yes.” The difference we find is that EVs don’t have to visit the service center nearly as often as gas-powered vehicles, which is a plus, but those visits can be more costly each time, which is a negative.

Driving EVs is much less expensive than driving gas-powered vehicles, especially in areas where gasoline costs nearly $4.00 per gallon. It’s also much cheaper to recharge electric vehicles at home than out on the road.

Why are some drivers avoiding electric vehicles?

Typically, when you buy a vehicle, you’re familiar with how it drives, what to do to fuel the vehicle, and how to maintain it. Transitioning from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric model creates a challenge for most drivers. Where are the charging stations in your area? If you don’t know the answer to this question, you’ll need more information to change from a traditional model to an EV.

Another reason some drivers aren’t ready to make the change is the need for an at-home charger. Some people live in apartments and don’t have electric chargers at their buildings, while homeowners with garages might avoid an EV because running a 240-volt electric line and plug can be expensive.

Electric cars are cheaper to maintain so far, but we only have a few years and a small sample size. We won’t know everything about EVs until some have lasted for 20 or 30 years to prove they can stay on the road as long as some gas-powered vehicles. Still, EVs are cheaper to fuel and maintain, and they are cleaner to drive, which are only a few of the benefits of EVs.

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America Loves Small Trucks, But Toyota Drags Its Feet

The call for a Toyota rival to the hit Ford Maverick compact pickup grows louder every day. Everyone from Toyota dealers to loyal customers is pleading for a fun-sized truck to compete with the Maverick’s runaway success. Yet despite the overwhelming demand, Toyota remains tight-lipped on any official plans.

Steve Gates, chairman of the Toyota National Dealer Council, is one of the loudest voices urging Toyota to take on the Maverick. With three Toyota and one Ford dealership, Gates has seen the Maverick mania firsthand.

“The quality small truck is Toyota’s DNA,” said Gates. “We hear stories all the time from people who long for another small Toyota truck. I think the volume opportunity is huge without affecting Tacoma and Tundra sales.” According to Gates, the Maverick sells as fast as every Ford dealer makes them available, with no end to the order backlog in sight. But surprisingly, Maverick sales haven’t even dented demand for Ford’s Ranger or F-150.

Toyota Admits Interest But Stays Quiet

Even Toyota’s North America CEO, Dave Christ, acknowledges the Maverick is squarely in Toyota’s sights. “We’ve obviously watched Maverick closely,” Christ admitted. “Could there be an opportunity there? I’m sure the market exists because Maverick’s done reasonably well.”

With Christ openly stating the demand and potential value of a small pickup, why is Toyota holding back? A compact truck built on the new Corolla Cross platform seems like an obvious win. But so far, Toyota is keeping mum on any official plans.

America Clamors for Small Trucks

The roaring popularity of the Maverick at Ford dealer locations across the country proves compact pickups are making a huge comeback. Ford can’t build them fast enough to satisfy demand. Even the Maverick’s only competition, the Hyundai Santa Cruz, sees strong interest, too.

Although the Santa Cruz can tow more and offers luxury features, it comes at a higher cost. The Maverick provides rugged utility and fuel efficiency at an affordable price. That’s why shoppers are looking for an alternative to the massive, costly pickups that currently fill the market. This combination of usefulness, efficiency, and value in smaller pickup packages has sparked a small truck frenzy.

Toyota Missing Out on Hot Market

From dealers to diehard fans, the masses have spoken. They want a Toyota Maverick fighter. Something to compete against the lineup at the local Ford dealer. Compact pickups represent Toyota’s heritage and a potential sales goldmine. Yet Toyota drags its feet instead of jumping on this opportunity.

Maybe Toyota is playing it extremely close to the vest with secret truck plans. All signs point to Toyota missing out by ignoring the red-hot small truck market. America is begging for another compact pickup legend, but is Toyota listening? The window for Toyota to win big with a Maverick rival grows smaller every day.

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Strangely, everything associated with the gas vs. EV conversation doesn’t come down to simple math. During the vehicle’s life, an EV is much cheaper to fuel and maintain, but they come with a much higher initial cost. Gas cars cost less at the dealership but require more maintenance and will cost a lot more to fuel during their lifespan. Is there a bottom line we can follow for these two vehicle types? Let’s find out.

Direct comparisons provide the proof

For this comparison and some solid numbers, we’ll turn to Car and Driver. They compared two vehicles that offer both gas and electric versions. These vehicles are the Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric, and the Ford F-150 and Ford F-150 Lightning. Using these two vehicles offered with both an EV and gas version, we can find the underlying cause of this question. In addition to utilizing these two models, the Car and Driver team used a three-year cost analysis to create hard evidence of what each vehicle costs.

How much did each vehicle cost?

The starting point for cost analysis between an electric car and a gas car has to begin with price. Using the base trim of the two Hyundai SUVs and the XLT trim for the F-150s, we find that the starting purchase price of each vehicle is:

• Hyundai Kona: $22,595
• Hyundai Kona Electric: $35,295
• Ford F-150: $40,960
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $54,769

As you can see, the electric versions are much more expensive than the gas-powered models.

How much does each vehicle cost to fuel?

Using the three years of ownership an average of 15,000 miles-driven per year, each vehicle would drive for 45,000 miles during the testing time. The gas price used is $3.70 per gallon, but understanding the cost of charging electric vehicles is much more complicated.

Electric vehicles can charge at home and at public charging stations. Typically, the cost of using public chargers is much higher than what’s spent at home. Using the $0.43/kWh for DC fast charging and $0,15/kWh for at-home charging, we’re coming closer to a solid number. If electric car drivers charge at home 80% of the time and only 20% at public chargers, the calculations become clearer.

Overall, the cost to fuel these four vehicles during the first three years of ownership is:

• Hyundai Kona : $5,162
• Hyundai Kona Electric: $2,548
• Ford F-150: $8,325
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $4,529

These figures assume the EVs are charged to 100%, but most EVs only charge to 80% at public charging stations, which is not part of this calculation.

EV maintenance costs are much lower

The first three years of a vehicle’s life should be the most affordable in terms of overall maintenance and repairs. Still, gas cars are more expensive to maintain than electric cars. The figures for these four vehicles might surprise you because there’s not as wide a difference than some might expect.

The cost to maintain these vehicles is:

• Hyundai Kona: $4,428
• Hyundai Kona Electric: $3,573
• Ford F-150: $4,199
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $3,573

Which vehicles are cheaper to own?

Using fuel costs, maintenance costs, and depreciation over the three years of owning these four vehicles, the cost of ownership is:

• Hyundai Kona: $19,385
• Hyundai Kona Electric: $21,426
• Ford F-150: $26,505
• Ford F-150 Lightning: $23,840

Depreciation adds quite a bit to these figures. An item that hasn’t been considered yet is the Federal EV Tax Credit of $7,500, which would only be applied to the electric cars and not the gas cars.

From this figure, not counting the starting price of each vehicle, the Ford F-150 Lightning is much more affordable to operate than the gas-powered Ford truck. Conversely, the Hyundai Kona is more affordable than its electric counterpart.

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, the figures for this comparison don’t produce a clear winner when trying to understand whether electric cars are cheaper to operate than gas cars. Also, the starting price wasn’t considered in the final calculation. If you toss those numbers in the mix, gas-powered vehicles are more affordable to operate during the first three years of ownership. Still, during time on the road, fuel and maintenance costs favor the EVs over gas-powered vehicles.

Although the goal was to find a clear picture, much like the conversations surrounding EVs vs gas cars, the results using two models are still clear as mud. Finding the right solution could mean performing your own comparison based on the vehicle considered.

The post Is an Electric Car Cheaper Than a Gas Car? first appeared on Ride4Watts.com.

The post Is an Electric Car Cheaper Than a Gas Car? appeared first on Ride4Watts.com.