Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian, Chevy Silverado EV, Ford Lightning: Coast-To-Coast Comparison

Over the previous few weeks, the crew on the Out of Spec Motoring YouTube channel has supplied a wealth of nice info on the current lineup of EV trucks and their capabilities. Whereas the Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning are a reasonably identified amount at this level, seeing them compete towards the just lately launched Chevy Silverado EV and Tesla Cybertruck has been fascinating to look at. 

Of their newest automobile comparability, 4 groups get behind the wheel and pit these EV vans towards each other in a coast-to-cost race from Florida to California.

Partially one among this sequence, we get demonstration of every truck’s capabilities on a long-distance street journey. Whereas every truck has its strengths, they share one main hiccup: numerous charging points and limitations. Not even the Cybertruck was capable of present a very seamless charging expertise.

Thanks to an enormous battery pack dimension, the Chevy Silverado EV’s first charging cease got here a lot later than the opposite vans. This regardless of starting the race 6 miles behind and at a decrease state of cost than the remaining.

Sadly, the Silverado EV can at the moment solely quick cost at CCS stations, limiting the staff’s choices, though this limitation should soon be lifted as General Motors’ EVs go to the Tesla NACS plug soon. Group Chevy’s first cease was at an Electrify America (EA) station the place one of many Hyper Quick models (which peaks at 350 kW) was out of service and the opposite station was occupied. 

With solely 4 stalls this might have been a serious situation. To keep away from charging on the slower 150 kW models, the staff provided to pay for the opposite EV driver’s cost in the event that they swapped spots. Moreover, the Silverado bumped into a problem the place turning on the A/C resulted in charging pace fluctuations. That is seemingly a software program bug that must be remedied in future software program updates.

The Tesla Cybertruck additionally carried out nicely within the preliminary leg of this street journey. The staff did criticize the Cybertruck’s prime charging pace of 250 kW in comparison with rivals. However they had been pleasantly shocked to seek out the cost curve has improved following earlier complaints.

As a result of the Cybertruck depends closely on slippery aerodynamics for vary, robust winds and heavy rain impacted effectivity sufficient that they needed to cost sooner than deliberate.

After stopping, they discovered the Cybertruck wouldn’t provoke a cost. Transferring to a distinct unit did the trick on this case. Nonetheless, the F-150 pulled up shortly after and efficiently charged on the similar unit that originally failed for the Cybertruck.

On the subsequent Supercharging cease, this situation occurred once more. It appears that evidently the truck was not fairly prepared to just accept a cost instantly after parking. Their resolution was to park the automobile and wait a couple of seconds earlier than plugging in. Fortunately this is a matter that’s unlikely to happen for drivers casually charging their vans daily.

The Ford F-150 staff famous that they don’t belief the truck’s vary estimates or the anticipated battery buffer when driving lengthy distances. They’d been stranded by the F-150 not as soon as however twice within the latest previous. So that they weren’t keen to run the pack all the way down to 2 or 3% like the opposite groups. 

With a max cost pace of solely 150 kW, the F-150’s charging usually appeared erratic on this journey, and so they consulted Tom Moloughney for assist optimizing future quick charging periods. Additionally they needed to swap models at a Supercharger to hit their max cost pace. 

Just like the Cybertruck, the R1T’s effectivity was impacted by the heavy storms within the early a part of the race. Because of this, they needed to scale back their pace early to achieve their first charger. At this primary cease, that they had their EA session lower quick after solely a minute of charging. That is sadly a fairly widespread incidence with EA stations.

Regardless of the charger troubleshooting, each staff has made good progress, already buying and selling first place a number of instances. We can be maintaining a tally of the remainder of this sequence to see which EV truck comes out on prime. 

Which one can be your decide in 2024?