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​Is It Time to Buy an Electric Pickup Truck ​

​Take a closer look at three EV truck options from Ford Rivian and General Motors​

Rivian R1T PATRICK T. FALLON/Getty Images America's love affair with pickup trucks isn't headed to Splitsville any time soon. ​
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. The excitement over the arrival of fully electric pickup trucks is palpable. And it's not just consumers who are eager for these (EVs). Automakers also hope the new EVs become big sellers, based on general consumer interest in trucks. ​ Last year, the top three vehicles sold in the U.S. were pickup trucks, according to Edmunds. And of the sold in the U.S. in 2021, roughly 13 percent of them were pickup trucks, according to Edmunds. So why has it taken so long to ​​ Trucks strike right at the Achilles’ heel of EVs: the heavier the vehicle, the bigger the battery it needs, which in turn adds more weight and more expense. A 2021 gas engine Ford F-150 Supercrew, for example, weighs over 5,000 pounds compared with an electric 2022 Chevy Bolt compact car, which weighs just under 3,600 pounds. Batteries, the most expensive component in an EV, had to get better with improved energy density in order to handle the heft of pickups with payload.​ Now, after years of testing and upgraded battery technology, manufacturers are ready to deliver pickup EVs that can go 300 miles on a single charge. This year, at least three major models from GM, Ford and newcomer Rivian are hitting the streets. And models are planned from Dodge and Tesla. ​

​Electric truck features​

Electric trucks offer a lot of advantages over traditional gas-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) rivals. EVs deliver more power off the line, making them zippier than any gas guzzler. Many boast sports-car acceleration, adjustable suspension and unique handling characteristics thanks to independent electric motors.​ With their low-end power, electric pickups also have tremendous towing capacity, 10,000 pounds and up. In fact, Ford and Telsa have already staged towing battles online, such as the controversial . The bottom line: EVs could easily match or exceed the hauling capacity of even top traditional pickups, so you don't have to make compromises in cargo or towing capacities.​​ Better still, EVs are virtually silent. In fact, EVs are so quiet they are required to emit electronic sounds at low speeds to alert pedestrians of their presence. ​

Electric truck drawbacks​​

If you’re a fan of thundering truck exhausts, however, you're going to be disappointed. These four-wheelers are designed to be quiet and smooth to drive.​ More important, shoppers may be put off by the sticker price. EVs still command a price premium of several thousand dollars over traditional gas-powered vehicles, but that gap is beginning to narrow.

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Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For New Cars Please Select Make Please Enter ZIP Code Shop For Used Cars of up to $7,500 available. However, not all cars and trucks are eligible. If the automaker has already sold 200,000 or more qualifying vehicles, then the tax credit doesn't apply. So buyers of GM's Hummer EV don't get the tax break, but Rivian purchasers do — at least for now.​ Finally, there's that pesky charging issue. EVs still can only go 200 to 300 miles before having to stop and recharge. And even at a fast public charging station, getting up to 80 percent of a full charge takes about 30 minutes (although this varies, depending on the model and weather). For long road trips, some planning is in order to make sure you stop at available stations. Experts recommend you get a home charging station, which is relatively easy to install and lets you charge a vehicle overnight so that you're always topped up.​​ Gas & Auto Services More Exxon Mobil Rewards+ points on qualified purchases See more Gas & Auto Services offers >

The Big Three

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2022 Rivian R1T $67 500-$85 000

​​With its rounded corners and sleek flanks, Rivian's pickup prototype had been on the auto show circuit for a couple of years before the pandemic, garnering support from the likes of Amazon and Ford. Now the R1T pickup is finally available, and it demonstrates the kind of design innovations that are possible when a truck goes all-electric. ​ The R1T has a panoramic roof and a unique "gear tunnel" storage locker hidden between the cab and cargo, for example. And the truck was designed to include a true hands-free driving system that's standard. It works only on select highways, like GM's semiautonomous Super Cruise option, which allows drivers to travel hands-free, and can take the drudgery out of long road trips. ​ The Rivian R1T can tow up to 11,000 pounds, traverse water up to 3 feet deep, and has nearly 15 inches of ground clearance to scramble over rocks, according to Rivian. It can also go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds and has an EPA rated 314-mile driving range. (A larger 400-mile-plus battery is available for an extra $10,000.) ​ VCG/Getty Images

GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 $110 295 ​​ br

If you're going to go electric, go big. That seems to be the motto for the return of the Hummer in EV form. This edition of the Hummer has 1,000 horsepower, will hit 60 mph in 3 seconds, and can travel up to 350 miles on a single charge. The wheels can be turned in tandem, enabling a slow, diagonal drive mode GM calls "crab walk" that will get you out of (or into) tight spots. And for loading up, there's the multistep tailgate that makes getting into the cargo bed a cinch.​​ In accordance with its size, the Hummer has a voluminous interior and a lot of technology features, such as GM's Super Cruise, which allows for hands- (and feet-) free driving on about 200,000 miles of highway in the U.S. and Canada. ​ AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Gas & Auto Services offers > See more Home & Real Estate offers > See more Insurance offers > See more Car Rentals offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS