The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is accelerating, with most major automakers now selling battery-powered cars and trucks. Leading this charge is Tesla, whose upcoming Cybertruck promises to shake up the pickup segment in the same way the Model 3 disrupted sedans.
Legacy truck makers like Ford and Chevrolet aren’t sitting idle though. They too have impressive electric trucks either on sale now or on the horizon. So how do these all stack up? This 2500+ word, in-depth guide provides a comprehensive comparison between the Tesla Cybertruck and the Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV and Rivian R1T across all key metrics – from design and performance to features and capability.
A Brief History of EV Trucks
Before diving into the specifics around the Cybertruck and its would-be rivals, it helps to understand the context behind this new category of zero-emission workhorses.
The Rise of Tesla
The road to the Cybertruck began over a decade ago when Tesla started production of its groundbreaking Roadster sports car in 2008. At the time, EVs were mostly seen as glorified golf carts – slow, boring and niche. But the Roadster with its blistering acceleration and slick design was something altogether different.
Led by CEO Elon Musk, Tesla followed up with increasingly practical and popular EVs like the Model S sedan and Model X SUV. Despite production struggles, these vehicles earned rave reviews and developed a cult-like following.
All the while, Musk regularly spoke of his desire to eventually produce an electric pickup truck – a huge selling segment in America. After years of hints and teasers, he finally unveiled the angular, Blade Runner-inspired Cybertruck in 2019 to great fanfare.
Legacy Automakers Respond
For decades, the Detroit “Big Three” automakers of Ford, GM and Chrysler dominated truck sales in the US with vehicles like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Ram 1500. But the success of Tesla’s luxury EVs and its plans for a futuristic truck signaled that electrification was coming for even the profitable truck market.
Ford was the first to take up the challenge when it revealed the F-150 Lightning for the 2022 model year. The electric version of America‘s best selling vehicle for decades leveraged Ford’s truck expertise with batteries and motors. GM followed soon after with the 2024 Silverado EV and its new Ultium battery platform. Both clearly aimed to show legacy automakers could transition into EVs without ceding ground to Tesla.
Meanwhile, newcomer Rivian arrived on the scene promising a revolutionary rather than evolutionary electric truck with its R1T model – the first EV pickup to actually enter series production in September 2021. Developed by a startup founded in 2009 by R.J. Scaringe, the R1T features cutting-edge tech like self-driving capabilities and clever features for outdoor adventurers.
So those are the key players looking to define this new era of electric trucks. Next let’s see how they compare head to head.
Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150 Lightning vs Chevy Silverado EV vs Rivian R1T
Design
There’s no delicate way to put it – the Cybertruck looks like no other production vehicle on the planet. Inspired by the Lotus Esprit from The Spy Who Loved Me that turns into a submarine, the Cybertruck is all flat planes and jagged angles constructed out of ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel. It resembles something Batman would drive from an alien planet.
Measuring 231 inches long, 79.8 inches wide and 75 inches tall with a 149 inch wheelbase, the Cybertruck is massive. Combined with its imposing shape, LED light strip and optional matte black finish, it has major presence. Form definitely takes precedence over function, but a bed that‘s 6.5 feet long and 100 cubic feet of lockable storage mean it can still work.
[insert Cybertruck design photo]The Tesla Cybertruck cuts an imposing, futuristic form like no other truck
The F-150 Lightning is nearly the opposite aesthetic approach, taking the familiar, genre-defining F-150 profile and making it electric. Riding on a 145.5 inch wheelbase, Ford‘s EV pickup measures 232.7 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 78.1 inches tall.
A new front fascia features an illuminated Lightning badge in the grille and a full-width light bar, but otherwise it looks much like any other F-150. That makes sense for truck buyers more likely to embrace electrification when wrapped in a trusted package. Clever features like the mega frunk (front trunk) and onboard power outlets increase functionality.
[insert Ford Lightning design photo]The F-150 Lightning dresses a familiar F-150 body in electric clothes
Where the Lightning subtly evolves the archetypal pickup truck design, the Silverado EV radically reinvents Chevy‘s franchise player. A completely new sheetmetal body sits on a standard wheelbase of 147.4 inches, with official dimensions to come. Teaser images portray a sleek, almost retro-future shape with an illuminated bar spanning the front and rear.
It certainly stands out more among other Silverado trims while preserving elements like the signature silhouette and quad exhaust tips. Combined with a new underlying electric architecture and Ultium batteries, the 2024 Silverado EV aims to make technological leaps without leaving loyalists behind.
[insert Chevy Silverado EV design photo]The Silverado EV brings classic Chevy truck style into the electric future
If the Lightning and Silverado EVs represent evolution, the R1T is about truck revolution. As a startup unencumbered by legacy models and buyers, Rivian delivered a futuristic, streamlined form and underlying electric platform without compromise.
Measuring 217 inches long, with a standard 135.8 inch wheelbase (up to 147.1 inches available), it combines slender headlights, animated badging and a tunneled cargo bed extending a gear tunnel that harkens supercars. The overall package looks more like a prop from a sci-fi movie than a conventional truck. Functionality also astounds with a modular bed system and even a slide-out camp kitchen.
[insert Rivian R1T design photo]The R1T brings a space-age style all its own
Performance and Capability Specs
While their designs vary wildly, all four EV trucks boast impressive performance and capability on paper:
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Tesla Cybertruck (Tri-Motor): 800+ HP / 1000+ lb-ft torque / 0-60 mph <2.9 seconds / 14,000+ lbs towing / 3,500+ lbs payload / 200+ kWh battery / 500+ mile range
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Ford F-150 Lightning (Extended Range): 563 HP / 775 lb-ft torque / 0-60 mph ~4 seconds / 10,000 lbs towing / 2,235 lbs payload / 131 kWh battery / 320 mile range
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Chevy Silverado EV (RST First Edition): 664 HP / 780 lb-ft torque / 0-60 mph <4.5 seconds / 10,000+ lbs towing / 1,300 lbs payload / Unknown 200+ kWh battery size / 400+ mile range
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Rivian R1T (Large Pack): 835 HP / 908 lb-ft torque / 0-60 mph 3 seconds / 11,000+ lb towing / 1,760 lbs payload / 135+ kWh battery / 314 mile range
These impressive electric motors and large battery packs allow the trucks to produce sports car-like acceleration while still hauling and towing at levels comparable to their gas-powered counterparts. The Cybertruck and R1T currently claim towing and performance crowns until the Silverado EV gets finalized. The specifications also continue improving with each model year as technology progresses.
Ultimately through smart engineering and packaging, the trucks manage to retain extreme capability without sacrificing their electric souls. They capably perform both workhorse duties and serve as daily family transportation. No compromises necessary.
Technology and Features
In addition to brute force, all four electrified pickups incorporate advanced technology and creative features that enhance the ownership experience:
Autonomous Driving – Each truck offers sophisticated semi-autonomous driver assistance features akin to Tesla‘s AutoPilot system. Cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors and computing power enable lane centering, traffic-aware cruise control, self-parking and in some cases automatic towing maneuvering. These create a more relaxing drive while slowly building toward full autonomy.
Digital Experiences – Modern electric vehicle architectures lend themselves seamlessly to high-tech user experiences. Large touchscreens with crisp graphics and intuitive interfaces feature prominently in the Cybertruck (17 inches), Lightning (15.5 inches), Silverado EV (17 inches) and R1T (12.3 inches). Customizable menus and apps control everything from charging schedules to power exports to suspension settings. Upgrades happen over-the-air without needing dealership visits.
Performance Tuning – Software brings an additional dimension of variety in EVs beyond hardware. Tesla pioneered the concept of paid “Acceleration Boost” upgrades that unleash more horsepower and torque from existing electric motors and batteries. Ford offers Power-Up software to add 80 more ponies to Lightning models, hinting at more to follow. Expect Chevy and Rivian to follow suit with digital performance improvements.
Unique Features – In addition to all electrification enables, the R1T stands out with its Gear Tunnel pass-through and slide-out kitchen while the Silverado EV touts a power-sliding center console offering flowing storage. Meanwhile the Cybertruck and Lightning focus more on power and performance. Clearly automakers are also using EVs as a canvas for fresh ideas alongside the technology.
Pricing
As with any vehicle purchase decision, pricing plays a pivotal role. Here’s a breakdown of current starting MSRPs for the trucks:
- Tesla Cybertruck – $39,900 (Single Motor RWD)
- Ford F-150 Lightning – $41,769 (Pro Standard Range)
- Chevy Silverado EV – $39,900 (Work Truck (WT))
- Rivian R1T – $67,500
Keep in mind final transaction prices vary based on options, and tax incentives can also reduce effective prices by up to $7,500. The order guides span from basic fleets models focused on capability to lavishly-equipped trucks rivaling luxury SUVs.
For buyers prioritizing value, the Silverado EV and Cybertruck currently claim the lowest sticker prices. Government tax credits make the Lightning compelling as well. But the R1T packs incredible tech into its high-end price tag.
Verdict
With this comprehensive feature-by-feature, spec-for-spec breakdown complete, where do things stand between the Tesla Cybertruck and Ford Lightning, Chevy Silverado EV and Rivian R1T?
There’s no unambiguous winner, as much depends on preferences around style, capability needs and budget. The unapologetically bizarre Cybertruck seems targeted at Tesla brand loyalists hungry to stand out from the crowd. The Lightning and Silverado EVs bridge familiar nameplates into an electric future for more risk-averse truck shoppers. And the R1T charts its own revolutionary course as a halo product for adventurous early adopters.
Ultimately drivers have an outstanding array of advanced electric pickups to suit distinctive tastes and lifestyles. The trucks also continue to evolve rapidly with each successive model year as battery chemistries improve and new technology gets incorporated. Expect inductive charging, improved voice controls, drone integration and customizable autonomy in the near future.
For now early reviews praise all four EV pickup flagships as legitimate contenders, though they each still have production ramping challenges. The exciting reality is that after years of anticipation, capable and unique electric trucks are finally here – led by Tesla but with others quickly following. Much like in the early auto industry, many manufacturers will thrive by delivering electrified machines optimized around how buyers use personal vehicles.
So the EV truck wars have begun in earnest! Given the blistering acceleration these futuristic workhorses offer, buyers are guaranteed thrilling rides ahead. Everyone wins.
