Up until this point the electric car has been a bit of a specialty ride. Even with the Tesla standard 250 mile range, the electric premium has meant that the electric car has mostly gone to early adopters, people eager to be part of the new vanguard. There are cars like the Leaf and Bolt that have offered small people movers that, while not offering the range of a Model S, have put an electric car at least somewhat in reach of the average consumer.

Despite new models grabbing headlines every model year, however, electrics are still just 2% of the market. Increasing options in the same market are bound to make a difference, but the real dent, the real thing that can push the electric car from the niche to the center of the market is going to be when the workhorse vehicles become electric.

There is no bigger workhorse segment in consumer vehicles than the pickup. Every year when the list of the top selling automobiles comes out, the podium always goes to pickups in a clean sweep. This is due in part to pickups having large fleet sales. An F-series comes in so many different sizes and configurations that it almost seems like a cheat to call it one vehicle and not a brand unto itself.

The Electrics are Coming

Cybertruck offers unique styling
via teslarati.com

In 2020, the electric pickup will be here. Not just in the mind boggling spacey design of the Tesla Cybertruck, but in startups like Rivian or in GM-funded Lordstown both of which have plans for 2021. They join Bollinger with their own striking design with 2021 ambitions. GM has hinted at their electric future and Ford's electric F series is already on the way.

Like their car cousins, the trucks are putting up some stunning numbers. The Cybertruck promises a 500 mile range for their model topper. Ford introduced its electric F Series intentions by having one two a million pound rail car full of 42 Ford F-150s. The towing capacities have been as impressive as the astonishing 0-60 times have been for the sedans and electric sports cars that have been announced.

The question mark that remains to be answered, however, is what all that towing and hauling will do to the range of the electric pickup. As it is, towing wrecks havoc on a gas powered tow vehicle. Even the most efficient fuel burning pickup, when pulling weight, can barely manage double digits in terms of mileage.

Can Electric Pickups Go the Distance?

Bollinger offers a bed up front as well
via motor1.com

This is a trade-off that pick up truck owners make for the hauling power of their vehicle. Trips to the gas station can be mitigated by a large gas tank.

The electric vehicle's version of a large gas tank is a larger bank of batteries. Like a large gas tank that adds weight but unlike a large gas tank it never gets lighter. This means that there is a bit of a diminishing return as the longer range means less cargo weight that can be pulled as it's dedicated to pulling the batteries instead.

The next difficulty for the electric pickup comes in what to do when the charge runs out. Charge times for electrics have been going down with super charging stations opening up, meaning that most vehicles can get at least an 80% charge in around 10 minutes. Considering that more often than not most electric passenger vehicles don't do their full 250 mile range in one go with the average person's commute is around 40 miles, most of the charging is done at home when people sleep.

Work Horses vs Commuters

F-series electric pulls 1 million pounds
via engadget.com

Trucks, however, are workhorses. Once the extra weight that they're carrying into the equation the electric pickup run the risk of hitting their limits during the workday. To add complications, the trucks are often deployed to areas that aren't going to have a charging station convenient.

It remains to be seen if the electric truck is ready to go to work. Of course there are lot of pickups out there that are thrown into commuter duty who never see the kind of work day a fleet truck might. Often, however, these trucks are bought because of their relationship to the workhorse pickup.

The coming years will tell the tale for the electric truck, but it's clear the hurdle is set higher than it was for the sedan.