Chevy Silverado EV vs. Ford F-150 Lightning: Electric Truck Showdown

• Fully electric trucks from Chevrolet and Ford go head-to-head in tests of range, comfort, tech and more.
• Both trucks can tow and haul, but one has a tricked-out bed.
• In the end, is either truck affordable?

What range anxiety?

We start off by looking at the bugaboo that concerns most EV buyers: range and charging times. Here the Chevy takes an early lead, but not without a caveat. The Silverado EV Extended Range has 360 miles of range and is EPA-estimated to get 460 miles in Max Range trim, though we actually saw 484 miles on the Edmunds EV Range Test. The Silverado accomplishes this by way of an enormous 205-kWh battery, but the good news is that it has a peak charging power of 350 kW. The bad news is that the heavy battery definitely affects the truck's driving dynamics, and not in a good way. Ponderous, harsh and skittish, the Silverado EV is truly bad to drive.

The Ford F-150 Lightning gets about 324 miles of range out of a smaller, lighter battery, and this makes for a smoother experience behind the wheel — one that doesn't feel too dissimilar from the gas-powered F-150. Unfortunately, the Lightning's battery is only capable of 150-kW charging, which is slow compared not only to the Chevy but to the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck as well. However, the lighter battery means the Lightning isn't as heavy as the Silverado EV. Not only does it stop quicker; it's also not as wallowy through corners. It may not have rear steering like the Chevy — and thus has a bigger turning radius — but the Ford is a better daily driver.

Interior materials matter

Chevrolet is the big loser here, with an interior that both looks and feels cheap. We expect more from a truck whose price tag is dangerously close to six figures. The Silverado EV is comfortable enough, and there are plenty of USB ports and small-item storage compartments, but there are many areas where the interior doesn't even look like it's finished. It's really, really bad.

Mind you, the Lightning is no luxury truck, but at least it has the same quality of materials as a gas-powered F-150. The shifter can tuck flat into the center console and a desk of sorts folds out so you can get work done. The pedals are adjustable, making it easier for shorter drivers to get comfortable, and plastic parts are few and far between. This cabin is so much nicer than the Chevy's.

We like the infotainment systems in both trucks, but we have to give the tech trophy to the Ford thanks to its standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Chevrolet decided to nix smartphone mirroring in its EVs, which means you don't get these features in the Silverado. That said, while Chevy does include Google Maps, smartphone mirroring is about more than navigation. We use Apple CarPlay for hands-free texting and accessing our podcasts and even off-road apps like OnX, and none of these things work as seamlessly in the Silverado.

Versatile utility

However, Chevrolet has the key to greatness when it comes to its bed and tailgate technology. You can essentially remove the entire back panel of the Silverado that separates the bed and cabin, lower the tailgate, and flip up the cargo stop for nearly 11 feet of horizontal space. The Ford just can't match that. However, while both can tow up to 10,000 pounds, the Lightning can haul over 2,000 pounds of payload, while the Silverado manages just 1,500 pounds.

Finally, we arrive at the price. Watch the video above to see exactly where these two trucks stand, but know this: Neither is cheap. You might actually be surprised to see how much money you have to spend to get a nicely equipped fully electric truck. But even so, the Ford F-150 Lightning wins this comparison test, and not by a small margin.