Good vs Great: 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning vs 2024 Chevy Silverado EV

Two of the most popular vehicle types right now are electric vehicles and trucks. Both vehicle types are made for the extraordinary, and they capture the industry’s finest and best work. While both are very popular vehicle types that attract their respective audiences for similar reasons, those respective audiences have historically been very different types of drivers seeking different types of vehicles until recently. The dawn of electric trucks has shaken up the game for trucks as well as for electric vehicles individually. While these vehicle types existed in relatively separate circles, the impressive capability that comes with electric powertrains is now making a natural progression into the trucking market. While we’re not here to talk about the Cybertruck (think what you will about that; it’s a bit of a different beast), mainstream truck brands have entered the EV market to bring the idea of the traditional truck and the electric vehicle together. The first two to make the transition are two of the public’s favorites: The Chevy Silverado and The Ford F-150.

If there’s ever been competition between two trucks, it’s been between the Silverado and the F-150. As two of the industry’s leading trucks from the industry’s leading brands, these trucks have attracted more customer loyalty and fan favoritism than any other truck from any other brand ever could. As they both start to incorporate electric models, it’s important to understand that their electric versions are not exactly equals. Purchasing one or the other out of mere brand loyalty could get you a very different experience, so let’s hold up the 2024 Silverado EV vs 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning to see how these two differ and which one offers the better experience. Electric trucks are multifaceted vehicles operating through a combination of powertrain, architecture, and technology. So, let’s break down these two powerful trucks by this combination to see which one delivers the better EV trucking experience.

Powertrains

The powertrain is the very differentiator between electric vehicles and traditional direct-injection vehicles, and it defines the vehicle’s capability. Both Chevy and Ford are known for having strong powertrain options, but Chevy actually has something quite special that no other brand has grasped. Chevy’s innovative Ultium Platform makes its debut on the 2024 Silverado, and this new powertrain system will be the foundation of Chevy’s entire EV strategy as it strives for a zero emissions status. The Silverado EV sits atop the Ultium Platform, which uses a 24-module Ultium battery pack in collaboration with front and rear motors to vivify the Silverado EV and produce the performance capability of the innovative e4WD system.

The Ultium Platform far exceeds expectations, making the Silverado EV capable of up to 754 hp and over 785 pounds-feet of torque. Anybody who’s driven a Silverado in the past knows that the Silverado’s specs are some of the best on the market, but this new EV version makes the Silverado tear down even its own boundaries. With a 440-mile range, the Silverado EV also offers efficiency that far exceeds any direct-injection alternative, meaning the lifestyle shift of charging your EV will not feel nearly as drastic as it might on other models.

Comparing this to the F-150 Lightning, which offers up to 580 hp and 775 pounds-feet of torque with its available 131 kWh battery Dual Motor, there’s a significant discrepancy right off the bat. While the torque ratings are only different by 10 lbs-ft, there’s a horsepower difference of almost 200 units! The Silverado EV’s Ultium Platform clearly has an advantage here. Beyond performance specs, the F-150 Lightning offers a range of only 320 miles with the optional battery and dual motor. Now, we don’t use the word “only” to suggest that the F-150’s range has a poor rating, but it’s a difference of 120 miles from the Silverado EV, which is a significant distance.

While many people claim that Ford has an advantage in the F-150, there’s no denying that the Silverado EV has a very real and objective advantage over the F-150 Lightning. Chevy has really struck something powerful with the Ultium Platform, and the Silverado EV is only the beginning of this platform’s use. As Chevy continues to roll out new EV models, it will be very exciting to see how this powertrain develops. But, for right now, as far as electric trucking goes, the Silverado EV is the way to go.

Design

Design is multifaceted, especially when it comes to EVs and trucks. For both vehicle types, form is function, meaning style and performance are intimately related. While something may appear to be a simple cosmetic feature, it often is driving a performance capability while still improving the vehicle’s appearance. You can tell by looking at both the Silverado EV and the F-150 Lightning that neither version is ugly. We’re not going to pretend to convince you that the F-150 Lightning is a poorly designed vehicle; clearly, it’s not! But are there some aspects that make the Silverado EV a better-designed vehicle? Perhaps.

The Silverado EV’s exterior is designed with aerodynamics in mind; this serves the vehicle’s performance and style. The vehicle’s front is crafted to propel air down the side of the car’s body, reducing drag and turbulence and making for a directed and smooth ride. Impressively, the Silverado EV WT model offers the lowest drag coefficients of any full-size pickup truck, electric or not. This, actually, is what helps the vehicle deliver the impressive 440-mile range.

Inside the vehicle, the second-row seats are actually pushed further back than in the traditional model, making for more legroom. It’s essentially a bigger cabin than in the traditional Silverado, and nobody’s ever complained about having too much space inside their truck. Aside from the extra space, the second-row seats are split 40/60, meaning there’s ample storage space even within the cabin, a feature that pickup trucks are not usually known to offer.

The F-150 Lightning’s design is where the two trucks are a little more similar. Offering a lot of the same features as the Silverado EV in terms of front hood storage capacity, flexible tailgate working space, and 60/40 folding rear seats. However, the key difference is that the F-150 Lightning’s seats fold up rather than down, meaning they lead to an under-seat storage compartment. While this is a nice feature to have, the Silverado EV’s seats fold down, meaning the bed is extended, and you have more bed space for longer items. The F-150 Lightning’s bed is fixed. If you’re looking to haul larger loads, the Silverado EV comes out on top.

Both trucks offer a great deal of functionality. The Silverado EV has an advantage with the elongated rear seating area, but neither truck is lacking in the design department.

Technology

For modern vehicles, technology is the thread that ties together performance and design, making for a cohesive vehicle experience. Both Chevy and Ford are known for their technology packages, so once again, nobody’s going to have a negative experience. Technology may actually be the area in which the two trucks find themselves in the closest race. That said, it is important to understand the differences.

The software platforms are really where both vehicles shine. Ford’s SYNC 4A technology has earned great acclaim as a cohesive connectivity and information system. With new cloud-based connectivity and live updates, the F-150 Lightning is about as modern as it gets. While Chevy’s technology has always been advanced and a close competitor of Ford’s, the Silverado EV ushers in a new age of Chevy technology that is fit for its EV initiative.

Ultifi is Chevy’s new end-to-end software that allows for live, frequent, over-the-air software updates. This technology platform takes in-vehicle technology to the next level, making sure that drivers are always perfectly up-to-date with the latest and greatest advancements.

Both the F-150 Lightning and the Silverado EV are offering industry-leading technology platforms. That said, Chevy is ushering in a whole new era with its Ultifi software, and this is going to be a game-changer for the industry; if you’re looking to get at the forefront of that, the Silverado EV will put you right there.

Experience Greatness With the 2024 Silverado 1500

Electric trucking is about as good as it gets in the industry right now. Offering the most impressive powertrains and the most astonishing performance specs, electric trucks are in a whole different class from other vehicles. Both the 2024 Chevy Silverado EV and the 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning will put you at the forefront of this new era of trucking. But, the Silverado EV has some clear advantages, especially when it comes to its powertrain and capability. The Silverado F-150 Lightning is a good, solid electric truck. But the Silverado EV is a great electric truck. So, the question really is: are you willing to settle for simply good, or do you want to experience greatness in your next truck?

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