You may have started to see more and more electric pickup trucks on the road these days. These trucks often look the part– design forward and utilitarian– but can you rely on them as work trucks? Below I have compiled a list of pros and cons to consider when buying electric pickup trucks for construction.
Pro: Healthier and more environmentally friendly
It is well known that EV cars and trucks produce significantly less carbon emissions than combustion engine vehicles. In fact, the average gasoline powered car produces nearly three times as much emissions as the average all-electric car each year. Additionally, EV’s don’t produce any tailpipe emissions making them a lot better for your health. Tailpipe emissions release harmful gasses like nitrogen which can worsen asthma, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses. They can even cause COPD and lung cancer. Adding more EV’s to communities and cities can reduce air pollution and improve air quality in urban areas.
Con: Potentially less environmentally friendly than they seem
The batteries in electric vehicles rely on cobalt and lithium to operate. Mining for these raw materials not only produces a lot of greenhouse gasses, it can also be very dangerous for the health of the miners if companies aren’t using proper safety regulations. Additionally, if the sources of power for EV’s come from non-renewable sources like natural gas, they can actually be harmful to the environment. However, if powered by renewable resources like wind and solar, EV’s are way better for the environment and can even produce zero emissions.
Pro: Maintenance
Because EV motors don’t have as many moving parts, they do not require as much upkeep. All electric vehicles typically require less maintenance because they have fewer fluids like engine oil, have regenerative braking, and require little to no regularly scheduled maintenance.
Con: Charge time and range
While most electric trucks have pretty good range alone (200- 500 miles), that range can potentially be a lot less if you’re hauling something very heavy. This could be a big problem for construction workers who need to haul heavy loads from one place to the next for their business. Charge time could also be an issue as some EV cars can take as long as 12 hours to fully recharge.
Pro: Torque
A huge benefit of EV’s is their instant torque. Torque, measured in Newton Meters, is a car’s pulling power. Unlike combustion engines, EV’s have the ability to accelerate extremely fast even with large hauls, due to their instant torque. This can create a fun driving experience for everyone— and a practical one for anyone looking to haul and tow heavy cargo.
Con: Upfront cost
Because electric vehicles— particularly electric pickups— are pretty new, they’re still more expensive (at least upfront) than their combustion engine counterparts. According to USNews “the average price of an electric vehicle was about $18,000 more than the average price of a gas vehicle.”
Pro: Long term savings
Despite their high initial costs, EV owners can expect to save around $800- $1000 per year on fuel alone, according to consumerreports.org. Consumers can also expect to save around $4,500 on maintenance during the lifetime of their vehicle. Additionally, electric vehicles have been found to depreciate in value at the same rate as non-EV vehicles— meaning they’ll retain some value as they age.
Overall electric pickups look pretty great. Despite a few cons, these vehicles can still be a huge benefit to the environment, your health, your wallet, and your construction needs. For a list of EV pickups available now and in the future check out my other blog post here.
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