TESLA CYBERTRUCK MORE POPULAR THAN FORD F-150 EV, GMC HUMMER EV: SURVEY

Like it or not, electric vehicles are coming and they’re coming fast. But for many enthusiasts, it’s a welcome relief that automakers are giving an effort to make them interesting. Nowhere is that more visible than the emerging electric pickup truck class, which is set to offer a multitude of choices over the next few years. In a recent CarGurus study on electric vehicle opinions, three of the most noteworthy electric pickups were compared to see which was the most popular amongst perspective EV owners. The results of the survey, which included the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 EV and GMC Hummer EV, showed a narrow winner in a tight battle.

In the CarGurus study, which included 1,097 automobile owners in the US aligning with a variety of current census demographics, the Tesla Cybertruck just had an edge over the Ford F-150 EV, while the GMC Hummer EV came third. The study asked each participant “would you consider these electric trucks in particular?” and let them answer with yes, no and not sure. The results are as follows:

The results show a close battle between the Cybertruck and F-150 EV. This is interetsting, as they represent almost the opposite of the EV truck segment. The Cybertruck is about as wild as they get, radically different to any pickup we’ve ever seen, and that’s on purpose. The Ford F-150 EV, meanwhile, is expected to be very similar to the ICE F-150. Think of it as more of a powertrain choice than a completely new vehicle. And as you can see, the GMC Hummer EV has few people saying yes, and many people saying no. This is likely a result of the Hummer’s high price of entry.

The study also found the Tesla Cybertruck was even more popular amongst people who planned to own an EV within the next 10 years, up to 40 percent. In this demographic, 32 percent of people said they’d consider the Ford F-150 EV, which may be called the E-150. The GMC Hummer EV was again behind at 17 percent.

These results contradict earlier findings from a Cox Automotive study, which showed the Ford F-150 EV atop the electric pickup tree when participants were asked which vehicle they’d consider. The survey here included the Ford, Tesla, GMC and also the Rivian R1T, which the CarGurus study notably lacks. But the Cox survey only had 155 participants who were all pickup customers, while the CarGurus study had a much larger, more general sample.

So while we’d lean towards the CarGurus study because of the larger survey, we are mainly interested in seeing the real world sales figures when these electric trucks make it to market. Expect to see the Rivian R1T first this summer, followed by the GMC Hummer EV this fall. Elon Musk has said the Cybertruck will begin deliveries in 2021, but one should be wary about taking Tesla production claims at face value. Finally, the Ford F-150 EV is set to arrive for the 2023 model year, as it hasn’t been revealed yet. An electric Chevrolet Silverado should come around then, and an electric Ram pickup might also be coming soon. Let the EV truck battle begin.