Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150 Lightning: Battery range, price options
The two early heirs to the electric pickup truck throne are almost here. See how they stack up against each other.
The first shot fired in the great electric pickup truck wars was fired back in November of 2019 when billionaire Elon Musk revealed the Tesla Cybertruck to the world. Featuring a radical visual design and some hefty performance and range promises from Musk, the Cybertruck managed to secure loads of headlines and buzz. The return volley was fired by Detroit automaker Ford Motor Company this week with the official unveiling of the Ford F-150 Lightning. Based on the company’s uber-popular internal combustion pickup, the Lightning aims to offer all the benefits of an electric vehicle to a model that is familiar to millions of existing truck buyers.
First-time truck buyers or those looking to replace aging models would be wise to see what Tesla and Ford will be offering consumers once their forward-looking pickups start appearing on dealer lots. We have prepared a guide that will help you to get an idea of each model’s potential strengths or weaknesses.
Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150 Lightning: Battery range, price options
Both the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning will hit the market in various trim levels. The exact specifications and performance estimates will vary depending on the specific trim level and options packages outfitted on the trucks. Both models will have pared-down variants with fewer frills and estimated operating ranges on the lower end of the available spectrum. On the opposite side, each manufacturer is also preparing lavish models with extended ranges and options for the top end of the market. All the following information is based on manufacturer-provided materials and may not reflect the final specifications once these pickups are finally available for purchase.
Specs comparison
Tesla Cybertruck
Trim levels
- 3 trim levels: Single-motor RWD, Dual-motor AWD, and Triple-motor AWD
Price
- Single-motor RWD - Starts at $39,900
- Dual-motor AWD - Starts at $49,000
- Triple-motor AWD - Starts at $69,000
Range
- Single-motor RWD - 250 miles (EPA Est.)
- Dual-motor AWD - 300 miles (EPA Est.)
- Triple-motor AWD - 500 miles (EPA Est.)
0-60 mph time
- Single-motor RWD - <6.5 seconds
- Dual-motor AWD - <4.5 seconds
- Triple-motor AWD - <2.9 Seconds
Towing capacity
- Single-motor RWD - up to 7500 lbs
- Dual-motor AWD - up to 10,000 lbs
- Triple-motor AWD - up to 14,000 lbs
Ford F-150 Lightning
Trim levels
- 4 trim levels: Base, XLT, Lariat, Platinum
Price
- F-150 Lightning Base - Starts at $39,974
- F-150 Lightning XLT - Starts at $52,974
- F-150 Lightning Lariat - Starts at $59,000 (est)
- F-150 Lightning Platinum - Starts at $70,000 (est)
Range
- F-150 Lightning Base - 230 miles (EPA est.) / 300 miles w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning XLT - 230 miles (EPA est.) / 300 miles w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Lariat - 230 miles (EPA est.) / 300 miles w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Platinum - 300 miles (EPA est.)
0-60 mph time
- F-150 Lightning Base - ~4.5 seconds w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning XLT - ~4.5 seconds w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Lariat - ~4.5 seconds w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Platinum - ~4.5 seconds
Towing capacity
- F-150 Lightning Base - 10,000 lbs w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning XLT - 10,000 lbs w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Lariat - 10,000 lbs w/ Extended Range option
- F-150 Lightning Platinum - 10,000 lbs
Pricing for both the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning will vary depending on trim level and option packages selected, plus delivery/destination charges. Unlike the Tesla pickup, the Ford F-150 Lightning is expected to hit the market with an available $7500 tax credit for U.S. buyers. This tax credit was also available to Tesla vehicles prior to December 31, 2019, but is no longer redeemable. The electric vehicle tax credits will only be available for the Ford pickups until the predetermined limit of claimed credits has been surpassed.
The Base-trimmed F-150 Lightning models will likely only be available to contractor or rental fleet purchasers. The XLT trim will be the most common variant available to the general public. All ranges estimates assume an unloaded vehicle. Estimate ranges will be significantly reduced when towing.
At the original Cybertruck reveal event, Musk said that the Triple and Dual-motor AWD trimmed Cybertruck would enter production in late-2021, with the Single-motor RWD trim arriving sometime later in 2022. All trim levels of the F-150 Lightning are expected to hit dealer lots in Spring 2022. The Cybertruck will be built in Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas plant in Austin, Texas. The F-150 Lighting will be produced at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant.
For more news on electric vehicles and the latest in future-facing technology, make sure to keep visiting Shacknews.
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replyChris Jarrard posted a new article, Tesla Cybertruck vs Ford F-150 Lightning: Battery range, price options
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Can I steal an industrial generator and tow it along while it charges the truck making some kind of redneck PHEV for longer range?
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I think Ford has a patent for something like that already.
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Yes. It’s going to be released as the “hybrid conversion kit”. Unfortunately the generator takes up the entire bed.
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Huh, I'm surprised the car doesn't lose it's mind when it detects movement and charging.
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so the F-150 will be out sooner, be cheaper, and look like a normal truck instead of an 80s toy?
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Yeah but Jim Farley doesn't shitpost about crypto currency so...you tell me which one is cooler?
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Isn’t Tesla out of tax credits? If so I think you can still get $7500 back buying the Ford.
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Unlike the Tesla pickup, the Ford F-150 Lightning is expected to hit the market with an available $7500 tax credit for U.S. buyers. This tax credit was also available to Tesla vehicles prior to December 31, 2019, but is no longer redeemable. The electric vehicle tax credits will only be available for the Ford pickups until the predetermined limit of claimed credits has been surpassed.
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yeah but that's still a lot of people getting a nice price cut, Tesla certainly made sure to benefit from this in their earlier marketing.
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yeah which buys them more time for economy of scale efficiences and experience based improvements to lower costs as the rebates expire
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From what we know now The XLT and dual motor Tesla seem to be comparable in trim. The base Ford is said to be more for fleets and not available to consumers.
That said- they have the same towing capacity, same 0-60 time, at release the Ford will be cheaper due to tax credits, but is 3k more expensive overall. And yes the range is 70 miles shorter. -
If there's one thing Ford is actually good at, it's pumping F-150s out of the factory. Nobody pays sticker for them usually there's a billion on every dealer lot. The whole chip shortage issue will affect that production rate though.
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