Gas Guzzling Giants: The Absurdity of 16-MPG Trucks in a 2023 World

*Really?! Worse than prior years? Is this a joke? Who does this delay benefit?

Automotive technology has seen significant shifts in recent years, with particular emphasis on fuel efficiency. Trucks, traditionally seen as gas-guzzlers, are finally seeing some improvements. But just how far have we come in creating the efficient truck of the future?

*Read until the end for a our comprehensive spreadsheet comparison.

Hybrid Trucks

When examining the hybrid offerings, three trucks vie for the top spot. The Ford F-150 and Toyota Tundra hybrids both hover at a similar price point (approximately $40k), but the F-150 offers a more impressive electric ability able to drive 39 miles on electric compared to the Tundra’s 22 miles. However, the real disruptor in the hybrid truck category is the 2024 Ford Maverick. This well priced truck ($21,490) outperforms the more expensive models with an electric range of 42 miles and a whopping 40 MPGe.

Let’s remember that it’s “whopping,” because the average, for a long time, for a lot of pickup trucks, has been lower than 20 mpg. Also compared to a new hybrid electric car, which can drive more than 100 mpge, 40 mpge for a vehicle is not as impressive. 

Ford Maverick Hybrid – 40 mpg : $20-25k

Side Note – Cost:

We all can agree that burning less gas, will create less pollution and use less finite resources. This is what makes fuel efficiency so important. But how about the cost?

Check out this graph for the average cost per year vs miles per gallon in the USA. In California it would cost more because our gas is some of the most expensive in the nation, especially in our region. Each MPG below 20 becomes exponentially more expensive per year. 

– image from www.gizmodriver.com/fuel-economy/average-and-median-mpg-for-all-types-of-pickup-trucks/

FYI: Below are average gas prices per state for July 2023. 

Gas prices in July 2023 from AAA

Here the different counties in California… ouch. 

PHEV Trucks?

The Plug-In Hybrid Electric Truck (PHEV) scene sees a lone contender, the Ford Ranger. Sitting at $36,285, this truck delivers 34 miles of electric range and a 42 MPGe rating, numbers that make it a worthy competitor to the traditional hybrids and can be charged from home. 

Electric Trucks?

When we venture into the electric truck territory, the efficiency numbers take a leap. Here, the electric Ford F-150 Lightning (68mpge) and the Chevrolet Silverado EV (47mpge) both present a interesting value proposition, with starting prices around $40k and electric ranges of 230 miles and 400 miles, respectively. However, the Rivian R1T, despite its hefty price tag ($67,500), delivers an impressive 314 miles electric range and leads the pack with a 105 MPGe rating.

The GMC Hummer EV and the future Ram 1500 REV are both decent offerings that present solid electric ranges and MPGe ratings, yet their high prices and the Hummer’s weight (a hefty 9,063 lbs or 4.5 tons!) makes it a tougher buy.

The EV Hummer is morbidly obese.

In sharp contrast, traditional combustion trucks continue to lag in the efficiency race. The Ford F-150, Ram 1500, Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Tundra, and GMC Sierra all hover between 14-19 MPG, with no electric range to speak of. This reality underscores the significant leaps made in hybrid and electric technology.

Let’s dive a little deeper.

Batteries on trucks are HUGE, and they take a lot of energy to charge and a lot of energy to create.

When analyzing battery size, electric trucks lead the way. The Chevrolet Silverado EV and the Ram 1500 REV have enormous 200.0 kWh and 215.0 kWh batteries. In contrast, hybrid trucks utilize significantly smaller batteries, with the Ford Maverick leading this category with its 13.8 kWh battery.

Battery power used for home backup is normally around 10-20kWh.

— Can we use our vehicles to charge our homes? Short answer, you will be, and in some cases yes. But you’ll want read our article about it, to be published in part 2 of our Transportation Issue coming out late August 2023 here or subscribe to our newsletter (side bar or below). 

In terms of production numbers, it’s clear that combustion trucks continue to dominate the market, with Ford’s F-150 seeing an estimated 800,000 units produced in 2023. However, it’s impressive to see electric trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV projecting decent numbers (150,000 units each).

To sum it all up, the shift toward more efficient trucks is evident but not yet at a point of dominance. Hybrids like the Ford Maverick and PHEVs like the Ford Ranger make efficiency accessible at a lower cost. Electric trucks promise the greatest efficiency, but at a significantly higher price point and higher impact in mining the materials and have the greatest need for electricity to charge them.

Meanwhile, traditional combustion trucks continue to hold a significant market share, although their efficiency metrics remain stuck in the past. Why is that?

One thing is clear: as technology progresses, the future of efficient pickup trucks lies in electric and hybrid innovations but this change will present some interesting challenges. 

Data, coming at ya!

Here is a rough run down compiled by SEG of the available types of trucks and their key metrics. 

What do you think? Are you happy to see some new trucks on the scene? I know we are.

*Share your thoughts with us on our social media (Facebook and Instagram)! 

Also…

Some of the Most Fuel-Efficient Pickups (not including Rivian) You Can Buy 

from the Motor Trends 2023 Truck Efficiency Article