Whether it’s a rival football team from the next town over or a fellow workmate that you’re always competing with, friendly competition is something that has always been a part of life. The same holds true for Chevy and Ford, but this rivalry has spanned over a century, with dedicated camps on both sides proclaiming that their brand reigns supreme. Both automakers got their start in the early 1900s, with Ford being incorporated in 1903 and Chevy in 1911. Although both brands have the common goal of bringing superior vehicles to the masses, focusing on options that cater to the average American driver, the competition remains as steep as ever. Today, more is on the line with both automakers introducing their electric offerings to the world, and when it comes to the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV vs 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, which EV is better-equipped to handle your ride?
A Range of Expectations
Electric vehicles not only deliver substantial benefits to your ride by way of zero emissions and increased sustainability, but they also make your journey more efficient, propelled by electric power. The average range for an EV these days is typically around 250 miles on a single charge, so what can you expect from two of the most famous brands around? More, of course. The 2024 Silverado EV, for instance, is estimated to travel up to 400 miles on a single charge, which is more than the F-150 Lightning’s 300 miles when equipped with its extended range battery option.
The Silverado EV is powered by Ultium technology, the same technology that you can find in the GMC Hummer EV, with two electric motors and a 200 kWh battery delivering this incredible range. The Lightning offers two battery options, a 98-kWh pack and an extended range 131-kWh option. Charging is made simple in both the Silverado EV and the Lightning, with DC fast charging as well as home charging stations available to keep your electric pick-up truck running at peak capacity. Although charging is virtually the same across the board with both trucks, the Silverado EV’s claims of its range capabilities have us intrigued. Being able to travel for longer periods of time between recharges certainly makes the choice obvious between these two electrified options.
“Tow” tally Awesome Power
There’s no way an electric vehicle can possibly compete with gas and diesel options when it comes to power, right? Well, with the Silverado EV and the F-150 Lightning, you may want to reconsider any doubts that you may have about these two top performers. There’s no shortage of strength in the Silverado EV, and like its gas-powered counterpart, it seeks to be the best of the best, no matter where it’s traveling. Able to tow up to 10,000 lbs, the Silverado blows many of its gas-powered rivals out of the water. The F-150 Lightning doesn’t quite harness this amount of power out of the box, with its standard battery offering approximately 7,700 lbs of towing capacity, but upgrading to its extended range battery will get you on a level playing field with the Silverado EV.
In addition to top towing numbers, the Silverado EV is designed with performance in mind, as its front end directs air downward to reduce drag, giving it the lowest drag coefficient of any truck in its class. This means maximum comfort, efficiency, and performance, whether you’re towing heavy loads or enjoying a trip down the open highway. Durability is at the top of the list for these two trucks, and with powerful motors leading the way in the Silverado EV, providing it with up to 664 horsepower and 780 lb-ft of torque, rivals have a hard time keeping up. The best the Lightning can do is 563 horsepower, with maximum torque falling behind the Silverado EV at 775 lb-ft, which explains why it has a tough time towing as much as the mighty Silverado EV.
Technically Equipped
If you’re interested in buying an EV, rest assured that there’s no shortage of tech residing inside, and for the Silverado EV, that tech is among the most impressive in the industry. Perhaps what’s most exciting is the trailering-capable Super Cruise technology, able to deliver a hands-free driving experience for you and your haul on over 200,000 miles of pre-mapped roadways across the U.S. and Canada. The ability to consistently upgrade the Silverado is made possible by its advanced software system, Ultifi. This Linux-based system takes the Silverado EV’s software and separates it from its hardware in order to deliver regular upgrades, allowing the Silverado EV to evolve over time.
If you’re a fan of touchscreens, you’ll find an available 17-inch infotainment screen, as well as an 11-inch digital gauge cluster display for your viewing pleasure. Plus, with a 14-inches Head-Up Display, staying pleasantly in-tune with your drive is utterly effortless. A smaller 15.5-inch touchscreen can be found inside the F-150 Lightning, while basic semi-autonomous driving capabilities are available through BlueCruise technology. It seems as though the Silverado EV promises more innovation than the Lightning can currently offer, which makes this tech-savvy truck worth the wait.
Designer Details
A lot of what you’ve already read has both trucks offering very similar features and capabilities, with the Silverado EV pulling ahead in most respects. Well, get ready, because the Silverado pulls ahead even more with a design that showcases brilliant style mixed seamlessly with a functionality not found in its competitors. Outside, you’ll notice its Multi-Flex Tailgate, which is not a new feature but is certainly a welcome addition if you plan on using this truck for work. Where the Silverado EV really impresses is with the return of the Multi-Flex Midgate, originally found in the Chevy Avalanche, which allows you to extend the bed into the cabin and accommodate items up to nine feet in length with the tailgate up.
The Silverado EV is available in two options, the stripped-down Work Truck, offering simple style and high functionality, or the more luxurious RST. We recommend opting for the RST if style is on your mind, as it comes with a fixed glass roof and a red, white, and blue color palette. You’ll also get to enjoy comfortable leather upholstery and unmatched legroom inside. There are a few trims available in the F-150 Lightning arsenal, with the Platinum trim having the most high-end features. However, what’s probably most disappointing about the Lightning is that it lacks a key component that many trucks are incorporating into their designs nowadays: a multi-functional tailgate.
Our Electric Pick
It may seem advantageous to choose a truck that’s already out, but the old adage “good things come to those who wait” definitely applies here. Better range, more towing power, more intuitive tech, and more features that add more value to your travels and your workday simply make the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV the top option here. The F-150 Lightning just can’t keep up, with less range even with its extended range battery, lower towing numbers, and the absence of key design elements. Once again, Chevy has proven to be the leader when it comes to delivering a truck that will give the people what they want. Maybe if Ford had taken a little more time with its F-150 Lightning, it would have been more of a competition, but the decision to choose the Silverado EV has never been easier.
