Electric Trucks Hit a Dead End. Here’s What’s Coming Next.

Not long ago, the auto industry was convinced the future was all-electric, and fast. Automakers from Ford to GM to Ram poured billions into big battery-powered pickups, each taking a different approach. Ford gave us a normal-looking F-150 that happened to be electric, then killed it.

GM went all-in on massive battery packs and mega-trucks with eye-popping range. Ram never even launched its electric truck before pulling the plug. Meanwhile, startups like Rivian and Tesla actually delivered, and showed everyone else what a clean-sheet electric truck could be. Now, a second wave is coming, but the big question remains: Do electric trucks even make sense?

The first generation of electric trucks was, by many accounts, a flop. Ford’s F-150 Lightning started with a $40,000 promise but rarely sold for under $75,000. GM’s Silverado and Sierra EVs carry 205-kilowatt-hour battery packs but weigh nearly 9,000 pounds, inefficient by design.

Ram’s electric REV never made it to a showroom. Sales of these trucks have run at about 3% of original projections. But the failures taught automakers a hard lesson: The next generation needs to be smaller, cheaper, and simpler. Ford is now working on a $30,000 electric truck roughly the size of a RAV4 with a tiny bed and a focus on affordability.

Startups like Telo and Slate are offering compact, no-frills pickups that prioritize everyday usability over insane range and power.

The real shift may be toward extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, trucks that run on a big battery but carry a gas generator to recharge on the go. Ram is bringing one to market, and Ford and Scout are reportedly working on versions, too. But critics worry about the complexity and maintenance of carrying two powertrains.

Meanwhile, hybrids are having a moment, with Toyota and Ford selling strong numbers. Whether the future is fully electric, hybrid, or something in between, one thing is clear: The era of the $100,000 electric pickup is over. The next round is about making trucks that fit in a garage, don’t break the bank, and actually match how most people drive.