Trucks are the most popular new vehicle purchase in the United States. They capture g so much of the market, in fact, that the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling new vehicle for decades. However, with the climate at the forefront of many people’s minds, and the EV market ready to boil over, electric trucks are coming to a dealership near you in the next few years.
So how do you know which type of power—gas, diesel, or electric—makes for the best truck? Although that’s still a question up for debate, especially because electric trucks aren’t quite a reality just yet, the editors at Car Autance can offer our knowledge just in time for them to finally hit the showroom.
Are Diesel Trucks Better than Gas Trucks?
Yes and no. Diesel-powered trucks offer increased range, torque, towing, payload, and GVWR capacities. However, they’re heavier, cost more to maintain, and spew more harmful greenhouse gas emissions compared to their gasoline counterparts. Gas trucks, on the other hand, spew less particulate matter into the ozone but can’t compare with a diesel’s performance capabilities, i.e. towing, payload, GVWR.
The result? It really depends on what you want your pickup truck for. Do you need to tow 35,000 lbs? Go with diesel. Are you just a weekend warrior with sparse projects? Maybe just go with gas.
Are Electric Trucks Better than Diesel or Gas Trucks?
Unfortunately, we can’t answer that question just yet. While we can offer our opinions on gas vs. diesel trucks (our money goes to the diesel-powered units), electric trucks aren’t available to test side-by-side just yet. Until they’re on the market and in the hands of consumers, we just don’t know how they’ll stack up.
Will Electric Trucks Replace Diesel or Gas Trucks?
We aren’t soothsayers, but given manufacturer’s desire to go carbon neutral, as well as the vast majority of humans who wish Earth to remain inhabitable, there’s a very good likelihood that electric vehicles will replace their diesel and gas counterparts in the relatively near future. Without a drastic government measure, however, it would certainly take some time.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Diesel, Gas, and Electric Trucks
Everything has a trade-off. Here are the pros and cons of diesel, gas, and electric trucks.
- Diesel
Pro: Range, torque, plus excellent payload, GVWR, and towing capabilities.
Con: Spews harmful emissions, requires additional fluids, heavy.
- Gas
Pro: Cheaper to fill up, maintain, and find parts. Good torque, better power.
Con: Decreased torque, payload, GVWR, and towing capabilities compared to either diesel or electric.
- Electric
Pro: All the torque, all the time, and better for the environment.
Con: Range for the foreseeable future.
Car Autance’s Glossary for Trucks
Educate yourself.
- GVWR
GVWR stands for gross vehicle weight rating and refers to the fully laden weight a vehicle can operate at before parts begin to fail. This is helpful to know when you calculate your truck’s bed payload and tow ratings.
- Payload
Payload refers to how much weight can be dropped into your truck’s bed without parts failing.
- Towing
Towing refers to whether you can or can’t install a hitch on your vehicle to pull things like boats, trailers, and other objects behind it. Your truck will have a tow rating, similar to it having a payload and GVWR rating.
- kWh
kWh stands for kilo-watt per hour and refers to the max output of an electric vehicle’s battery. In some parts of the world, it can also refer to the power output of a motor, including those powered by gasoline or diesel.
Your Questions, Our Answers on Electric Trucks
Your burning questions answered.
Q. Are There Any Electric Trucks?
A: Not yet, though they’ll begin selling to consumers within the next two years.
Q. What’s the Best Electric Truck?
A: Unclear, as none have hit the market just yet.
Q. Will Toyota Make an Electric Truck?
A: There isn’t any evidence of an electric Tundra or Tacoma yet.
Q. What Truck Will Last the Longest?
A: The one you maintain.
Video on Gas vs. Electric Trucks
Car Autance’ editors understand that not everyone is a text-based learner. For those kinesthetic people out there, we have your back with a video showing the possible outcome of the gas vs. diesel vs. electric truck wars. We pulled it from one of our most trusted sources, and it’s a great additional resource.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo23xYwODdI
Car Autance’s Favored Truck Related Products
You can buy tools for maintaining your truck at almost every auto parts and home improvement store. As well as online stores like Amazon. You have a sea of options to select from. One we favor is Rust-Oleum’s truck bed liners, which we think you’d benefit from. They’re cheap, reliable, and did we mention cheap?
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