Tesla Cybertruck and All EV Trucks “Are the Worst If You Carry Loads, Trailer, Go to Worksites or On Vacation, The Limited Range and Refueling Is a Big Pain”

Are you a truck buyer considering the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, or GM's electric trucks? 

If you are like most truck buyers who use them for carrying heavy loads, towing, visiting job sites, or going on vacation, you might find yourself disappointed with the current options.

A report from Automotive News says, "Electric pickups, like the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, and GM's trucks got huge hype and preorders, but they failed to win over truck buyers."

Imagine being one of the first buyers of the Tesla Cybertruck or Ford F-150 Lightning. The dealer told you how great it was going to be. The salesperson didn’t inform you that you would need to install an electric charging station in your garage at home, which would cost a few thousand dollars. 

You bought it to use as a work truck, but then quickly found out that it couldn't haul as much, the range was significantly less, and recharging it was a big inconvenience. 

You took your family on vacation in it, and your kids threw a fit because you had to wait 20 to 30 minutes to recharge the truck. That was the last straw.

Was It All Hype?

"Trucks have been the same for a very long time, like 100 years," Elon Musk said before a cheering audience. "We need something different."

At one point during the presentation, a fan yelled back to Musk, 'Take my money.' "And Tesla did," says Automotive News. However, not everyone was as enthusiastic. Some industry experts and truck owners expressed concerns about the practicality and performance of these electric trucks.

AN says EV pickups from Tesla, Ford, Rivian, and General Motors mostly failed to convert early pre-orders into meaningful sales in the truck-loving U.S.

It's All About Power

"The powertrain that people choose in their truck is a big deal," said Alex Knizek, associate director of test development at Consumer Reports. "To get that capability in an electric vehicle, you have to really stretch the boundaries of what an electric powertrain can do."

The Tesla Cybertruck remains the most successful despite falling behind the Ford F-150 Lightning in sales last quarter. S&P Global Mobility reports that the Cybertruck logged approximately 40,000 U.S. registrations last year, making it the top-selling electric pickup.

Ford F-150 Lightning

AN says, "The Ford F-150 Lightning also underperformed. Ford announced just before its May 2022 launch that it had received 200,000 reservations and expected to build 150,000 units annually. But the Lightning had just 32,893 registrations last year and 24,695 in 2023."

Rivian R1T 

The report states that Rivian last reported its reservation backlog in November 2022, at 114,000 for the R1T pickup and the R1S crossover combined. The R1T had 9,876 registrations in 2022 and 11,311 in 2023, according to S&P Global Mobility.

How Do EV Truck Sales Compare With Traditional Trucks?

Electric pickups had about 22,000 U.S. registrations in the first quarter this year, a stark contrast to the 478,823 registrations of comparable combustion pickups from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, and Ram in the same period. 

Even with its engine problems, the Toyota Tundra pickup, with 36,895 registrations, outsold all other electric vehicle (EV) pickups, according to S&P Global Mobility data. The Tundra's engine problems, which have been widely reported here, did not seem to deter buyers as much as the limitations of electric trucks.

Will the new Tesla Cybertruck perform better?

Tesla now has a less expensive Cybertruck model without all-wheel drive. It has a starting price of $72,235 with shipping, which is $10,000 less than the previous base model.

Truck Buyers Use Them For Work

"The reason they're the bestselling vehicles now is because most people buy trucks to get work done," said Karl Brauer, executive analyst at iSeeCars. While not every pickup owner is a heavy user, it's still why they buy a truck," he said.

It's the Reason Why EV trucks are not selling.

Brauer didn't mince words. He says, "Generally speaking, electric drivetrains are the worst for getting things done. If you load up the bed, hook up the trailer, go to a bunch of worksites or on vacation, they have a limited range, and when it's time to refuel, it's a big pain in the ass."

The report highlights a significant concern that the prices of electric trucks are currently too high for many potential buyers. This is due to the high cost of battery technology and the lack of economies of scale in the production of electric trucks. 

Luke Donahue, managing director of data and analytics at J.D. Power, notes that the "sweet spot for full-size pickups, in general," falls within the $40,000 to $60,000 price range. EV pickups would have to match the utility of combustion rivals to compete, he said. 

What Do Tesla Cybertruck Owners Say?

When it comes to using the Tesla Cybertruck for work, owner Collin Kelly loves his CT and uses it exclusively for work. 

Collin says, "Here are some numbers after having the Cybertruck for a year. I have no regrets."

"My Cybertruck tows better than all of them, in my opinion, unless you're doing something really heavy, or if it's top-heavy, then it's better to have a dually, but that's rarely how I use it." 

"75 percent of my miles are with trailers ranging from 4,000 lbs to 11,000 lbs."

"The truck outperforms all my other trucks. I don't use them and plan to sell them all and buy another electric truck. My Cybertruck has saved me thousands in buying diesel fuel" (for my Ford F-250 Power Stroke). Check out the story here for more details. 

In the End

Automotive News says, "Electric pickups offer the power and torque needed to do truck things such as towing and hauling heavy loads, but they fall flat on range and fueling. While some EV pickups have 300 or even 400 miles of range, that's cut about in half when towing, analysts say, and refueling takes an hour or more."

We Want To Hear From You

Do you own a Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, or GM EV pickup? Do you use it to work? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Tesla Cybertruck story: My Tesla Cybertruck Just Drove Itself Back To the Dealer Because of the Heavy Debt I Owe, Come Back Cybertruck

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl