Will Electric Pickup Trucks Be Required By 2035?

It’s time to get serious about considering electric pickup trucks. What used to seem like a science fantasy and a cause célèbre for wealthy environmentalists is rapidly becoming our new reality. Power, battery life, and vehicle options are way up, costs are coming down, and the features are exciting. The high-performance electric trucks coming out could well make you forget about doing good for the environment by dazzling you with how great it would be to own one. Since a new California law phases out all new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and trucks by 2035, let’s get to know the new electric pickup truck market.

What Does the Law Say, and Why?

The State of California has put the pedal to the metal on reducing air pollution and transforming the auto industry by adopting the revolutionary Advanced Clean Cars II rule recently. The rule mandates that by 2035, 100 percent of all new cars and light trucks sold in California will be either zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrids. This law is the first of its kind worldwide, as California continues its air quality and clean energy leadership.

Unique geographical and topographical formations in California cause air pollution to collect over the state’s biggest city, Los Angeles, trapping it away from cleansing onshore breezes. Vehicle tailpipe emissions are the biggest single polluter in the Golden State, which is heavily reliant on automobiles. As a result, California has won the right to govern its air quality standards separately from the federal government. Because California is such a massive market, automakers are anxious to meet the state’s standards, which have accelerated the development of cleaner vehicles for decades.

The electric vehicle market has been growing stronger for the past couple of decades because of the new Advanced Clean Cars law and other environmental measures. But electric trucks need to perform better than electric cars — and the trucks just couldn’t measure up until now.

Electric Pickup Trucks Have a Lot to Offer

Electric cars have gradually become more powerful, leaving behind the image of a slow, weird-looking vehicle struggling up hills. But an electric pickup truck needs even more oomph to keep up with contractors towing heavy loads, off-roaders, and weekend warriors.

After years of innovation and testing, the electric trucks coming out now deliver the high performance you require from a pickup while getting 300 miles to a single charge. Today’s EV trucks beat their gas-guzzling forbears on all marks except that deep, throaty roar of the ICE — which can be added electronically.

EV trucks deliver more power off the line than ICE competitors, boasting sportscar acceleration and handling. Low-end torque makes an EV pickup a towing powerhouse, handling staggering loads of 10,000 pounds and up. So, there’s no need to sacrifice power when choosing one of the electric pickup trucks on the market today.

Although electric pickup trucks can match or exceed the power and performance of ICE vehicles, they’re less expensive to maintain. The electric motor has far fewer moving parts than an internal combustion engine and uses fewer fluids, such as engine oil, that need replenishing. Brake wear is significantly reduced by regenerative braking, and the battery, motor, and other electronics require little-to-no regular maintenance.

The only remaining downside to electric pickup trucks is their sticker price. And there’s help for that.

Improved Access to Electric Pickup Trucks

New car buyers are just some of the people concerned about the affordability of electric pickup trucks. Manufacturers are investing in the EV market, funding improvements while lowering prices. Industry experts anticipate that electric- and gas-powered pickups will cost about the same by 2025. Meanwhile, state and federal rebates and tax credits range from $2,500 to $7,500.

California’s commitment to clean energy includes making the EV market and electric pickup trucks more accessible to all. Several strategies include additional rebates, special financing, and up to $5,000 in down-payment assistance for those with low-to-moderate income.

Best of all, manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, Rivian, and even Tesla are working to make available more affordable models.

Source: CNET, 2022

The Ford Electric Pickup Truck

The Ford F-150 has been the best-selling pickup in the U.S. for many years. Now, the EV Ford F-150 offers 580 horsepower for extended-range models with an impressive 775 pound-feet of torque for standard and extended-battery options. This is the same rugged durability, power, and performance that made the F-150 the American workers’ favorite, with added value. Known as the F-150 Lightning, the Ford electric pickup truck can power all a contractor’s tools at the work site or even entire homes stuck without power due to a natural disaster. The 2022 Ford Lightning starts at $39,994.

The Chevy Electric Pickup Truck

The Chevy Silverado Electric truck is set to hit the market in 2023, and it is expected to be a major competitor in the electric truck market. Word is the Silverado Electric will have a range of up to 400 miles and a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds. It will also be equipped with GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system, which is currently available on certain Cadillac models. The Silverado Electric will be powered by GM's Ultium battery technology, which will be used in a range of upcoming electric vehicles from the automaker. While the Silverado Electric will face stiff competition from the likes of the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck, and Rivian R1T, its impressive range and towing capacity could give it an edge in the market.

The Tesla Electric Pickup Truck

The Tesla electric pickup truck combines the look of an alien spaceship with hard-charging power. Known as the Cybertruck, this EV is available with all-wheel drive and can tow up to 14,000 pounds. The most advanced model has an estimated driving range of 500-plus miles. The Cybertruck will start at $39,900.

The GMC Hummer Electric Pickup Truck

The much anticipated GMC Hummer EV made it’s debut in 2022. The Hummer EV has a range of up to 300 miles and a towing capacity of 11,500 pounds. It’s available in a variety of trims, including a top-of-the-line Edition 1 model that will feature advanced features like CrabWalk, which allows the vehicle to move diagonally, and Extract Mode, which raises the suspension by six inches for better off-road capability. The Hummer EV is also equipped with GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system. The Hummer EV's unique features, along with its impressive range and towing capacity, make it a strong competitor in the growing electric truck market.

The Rivian Electric Pickup Truck

Rivian is the newest automaker to jump into EV trucks, making quite a splash. The electric Rivian pickup truck is the R1T, a quad-motor all-wheel drive boasting 835 horsepower and acceleration from 0 to 60 in just 3.3 seconds. The quad-motor setup allows the R1T to perform a “tank turn”, or spinning on its axis, by rotating the left wheels backward while the right wheels run forward. The Rivian R1T starts at $74,075.

The Toyota Electric Pickup Truck

Toyota has pledged to bring 15 new all-electric vehicles to market by 2025, including a mid-sized pickup modeled after the Tacoma. The Toyota electric pickup truck is expected to be offered with a 4-door crew-cab configuration and a 200-mile driving range. In addition, it will have huge off-road tires, a new rear suspension, and plenty of ground clearance for adventuring. The EV truck is expected to start at about $50,000. More information regarding the electric pickup, such as the exact release date and additional specifications, will be announced soon.

Will your next vehicle be an electric pickup truck? Whether for work, play, or a road trip along the California coast, an EV truck looks like a great choice. But before you decide, contact your friendly Wawanesa agent to review what the auto insurance policy and payments would look like. Or, feel free to give us a call at 800-640-2920