As more people are becoming concerned about the environment, the demand for hybrid and electric vehicles is increasing. This includes people who want or need to drive a pickup truck.
There are pros and cons to owning any hybrid vehicle, but given that pickup trucks need to be powerful, is it a good idea to have a hybrid or electric truck at all?
We’ve weighed the pros and cons.
Hybrid pros
- Braking power. When you press the brake on your hybrid vehicle, the power can be captured by the battery. The electric motor can then use this energy to extend the vehicle’s driving range.
- Clean energy and less fuel dependence. Because a hybrid doesn’t use solely gasoline or diesel, they produce fewer pollutants. This also means they have less dependence on fuel.
- Higher resale value. Hybrids are becoming popular enough that there is a high demand on the used market.
Hybrid cons
- Maintenance cost. It typically costs more to repair hybrid vehicles and not all mechanics have the knowledge or equipment to fix them.
- Performance. Hybrids are notorious for underperforming. Often, output and acceleration are less than their gas counterparts.
- Price. Although pricing is coming down, hybrids are still more expensive than gas-only vehicles.
Hybrid/electric trucks on the horizon
There are several brands that currently have plans for an electric or hybrid truck. Let’s take a look at 3 of them:
- Ford F-150. While there is no set timeframe for the truck’s release, Ford plans to release a model of their already-popular F-150. It will depend less on gasoline or diesel while providing the towing and off-road power that people know and expect. The same Ford power, just better for the environment. Ford executives have also teased the idea that the brand would release a fully electric F-150 at some point down the road.
- Bollinger B2. Bollinger, a brand out of Detroit, Michigan, is poised to release the first all-electric four-wheel-drive truck. When it’s released (production is set to start in the second half of 2020) the Bollinger B2 will have 2 electric motors on-board, along with a 120-kWh battery pack. It will boast 614 horsepower that will be able to tow up to 7,500 pounds. Additionally, the B2 will have a driving range of 200 miles on a single charge.
- Rivian R1T. Rivian is new to the U.S. automotive scene. Set to release late 2020, the Rivian R1T will boast an 800-horsepower electric motor. The R1T will be able to tow 11,000 pounds and accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.0 seconds. The 180-kWh battery should give drivers a range of over 400 miles. Rivian states that this is from San Francisco to Yosemite and back.
There may not be an electric truck on the market currently, but if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, check out these fuel-efficient vehicles. Then, take a look at what Bryant Motors has to offer.
