Canadians adopt electric pickup trucks like F-150 Lightning for cost savings despite range challenges and charging needs. (BNN Bloomberg)
Michael Laroche made a switch from his Ford F-150 pickup truck to its electric version, the F-150 Lightning, approximately 18 months ago. Based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Laroche, who specializes in installing electric vehicle chargers, covers a daily distance of 300 to 400 kilometers, three to four times per week. Since transitioning to the electric alternative, he noticed a substantial reduction in operational costs.
Charging his truck overnight for around 14 to 15 hours, Laroche affirmed his readiness to hit the road. Over the last 15 months, combining household power usage and vehicle charging, his average monthly electricity bill stands at $350. This stands in stark contrast to the $450 weekly expenditure on gasoline for his previous vehicle, resulting in savings of $1,400 in fuel expenses every month.
The federal government aims to transition new vehicle sales entirely to electric models by 2035, encompassing pickup trucks. Presently, Canadians have limited choices in electric trucks, primarily the F-150 Lightning and Rivian R1T pickups, with expectations for General Motors and Ram to introduce offerings in 2024.
Electric pickup trucks are engineered for heavy-duty tasks such as towing, paralleling their gas-powered counterparts. However, they demand substantial electrical charging due to their higher energy consumption when under load, affecting the vehicle's overall range.
Louise Levesque from Electric Mobility Canada emphasized that towing with an electric pickup would result in increased energy consumption per kilometer, similar to traditional gas trucks. Mark Marmer, founder of Signature Electric, concurred, noting that while electric trucks are built for heavy lifting, this factor doesn't expand their range despite larger batteries.
Laroche corroborated this, citing a quicker depletion of the truck's charge when towing a trailer. He detailed the need for a 20 to 25-minute fast charge when using the trailer, despite managing a round trip of approximately 300 kilometers from Sherbrooke to Montreal without towing.
Marmer emphasized the reliability of electric pickup trucks despite their higher price point, especially in commercial applications. He underscored the simplicity of electric vehicles' mechanics compared to their gas or diesel counterparts, attributing this straightforwardness as a key factor in their longevity.
