CT, Lightning, or Silverado RST? Wait?

[rbrak29]

Have an early CT reservation 11277xxxx, but live in ND so delivery will probably be late summer at the earliest. Winter in Tucson and after the CT launch that left me a bit underwhelmed (I tow a small Airstream), I looked on Turo for a Lightning to rent. Rivian is out as I need a bigger bed. As a first attempt at an EV truck, Ford did an outstanding job while not alienating F150 ICE owners. I was a Chevy owner for years until I bought a F150 Powerboost over 2 years ago. While not a BEV, the Powerboost can get me 30% pure electric on intown driving in Tucson, but I digress.

The Turo host for the Lightning let me tow my Airstream Basecamp 16X and do a small range test. Note: the Lightning did not have a tonneau cover. Lightning: 2.4 miles/kWh (320mi on 131kW battery). 140 miles traveled with trailer, full FW tank and waste tank, ? total weight (Basecamp 16X has 3500# GVWR), flat highway, 75 degree temp, little wind, 63mph. Results: 1.6 mi/kWh.

CT 340mi on 123kW battery = 2.76mi/kWh efficiency vs 2.4 for the Lightning not towing.
Silverado RST EV (also have early reservation) 400mi on 200 kW battery = 2.0 mi/Kwh
Lower efficiency, but bigger battery.

Want an EV truck to haul my Basecamp to Tucson (ND to AZ and back), west coast twice a year (ND to OR or WA and back). SC's all the way through ND west, other chargers... an EV dead zone west of Bismarck to Billings. Will be charging at RV campground along the way.

Question to the group:
1. Wait until someone has at least 500 mi range (Note: This snowbird is not getting any younger)
2. Buy Lightning and hope SC's become available soon or EA gets it together (Ford has free 3 year EA charging)
3. Wait for Silverado RST (just got an e-mail saying be prepared to order in early 2024)
4. Order the CT (AWD)

 

[ChiTownCT]

Wait for the ram? Hybrid may be your best option, personally, I don't tow anything so to me this is a mere toy, and something I can use to haul a fridge/couch once in a blue moon ..

 

[rbrak29]

Wait for the ram? Hybrid may be your best option, personally, I don't tow anything so to me this is a mere toy, and something I can use to haul a fridge/couch once in a blue moon ..

I have a reservation for both the REV and the RamCharger.

 

[electricAK]

I'm curious why you want an EV truck if the main goal is towing a heavy camper. I feel like you're probably going to be disappointed with any of the EV truck options if towing a camper long distance is your benchmark.

You might need to decide what your motivations are. If it's reducing emissions...when you have such a large truck towing a large camper long distance, you're really not reducing emissions by much. And you're spending a huge amount of money/resources to accomplish it. You're also losing a ton of convenience sitting in chargers for hours to recoup 150 miles at a time.

If, on the other hand, you want an EV truck for the experience of driving it -- because its futuristic, brilliantly engineered, loaded with great technology, and super fun to drive....get the Cybertruck. The others won't even come close to the experience you'll get with the CT.

If you're only hauling your camper twice/year, maybe you can handle more time spent charging. Maybe the towing range isn't really that important?

 

[Keeney]

If, on the other hand, you want an EV truck for the experience of driving it -- because its futuristic, brilliantly engineered, loaded with great technology, and super fun to drive....get the Cybertruck. The others won't even come close to the experience you'll get with the CT.

Not quite sure this is a true statement unless you are talking about the CT Beast.
The Lightning ER and Rivian (and Hummer) are all faster than the CT AWD. They all give you that EV feeling. The Ford and Hummer also give you that roomy full sized truck feeling that the others are not going to have.

If you just want the back-to-the-future look, sure, get the CT - in the future in 2025.