If you haven\u2019t already, you will need to face the reality of buying a vehicle with some degree of electrification, probably sooner rather than later. <\/p>\n
There are electrified opportunities aplenty for those looking for a car or SUV. However, electrified options for\u00a0pickup truck shoppers\u00a0are uniquely limited. That\u2019s not overly surprising because pickup truck owners are notoriously averse to change. Furthermore, for those who use their truck for real work, fully electric trucks don\u2019t measure up to the capabilities and convenience of gas-powered pickups. <\/p>\n
In addition, EV trucks cost thousands more than their internal combustion engine, or ICE, counterparts. For example, the entry-level EV Ford <\/p>\n All things considered, the argument for a hybrid truck over an EV truck is persuasive. However, the case for buying a hybrid truck over one with an ICE isn\u2019t nearly as convincing. Let\u2019s take a closer look and see if a hybrid pickup is worth it for you.<\/p>\n A hybrid truck uses some combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor fed by a battery to create propulsion. There are basically three kinds of hybrid systems: HEV (regular hybrid), PHEV (plug-in hybrid), and MHEV (mild hybrid).<\/p>\n HEV<\/strong><\/p>\n HEV is the acronym for a traditional full hybrid gas and electric system like that in a Toyota Parallel HEV<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically, with a parallel HEV system, its ICE and electric motor share the work to rotate the drive wheels. However, both the ICE and the motor can power the wheels independently. When accelerating from a stop, the electric motor can often propel the vehicle for short distances at speeds below 15 mpg or so. At higher speeds, the ICE kicks in. When needing an extra burst of speed while already cruising, the motor and internal combustion engine work together to create the energy boost. <\/p>\n The hybrid battery is charged primarily by energy captured from the vehicle\u2019s brake system (regenerative braking). Plus, some engine energy is siphoned off to the battery when the vehicle is cruising. A parallel system\u2019s advantage over a series HEV is a smaller battery and a lower price.<\/p>\n Series HEV<\/strong><\/p>\n Where a parallel HEV system has an electric motor and ICE that can operate independently or in concert with one another to provide propulsion, a series hybrid uses an electric motor alone to power the wheels. An internal combustion engine supplies the electric power to fuel the generator or charge the battery, which feeds the electric motor. Regenerative braking also helps feed the battery. Think of the Chevy Volt.<\/p>\n MHEV<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ll touch on\u00a0mild hybrid systems\u00a0because, although fairly common in cars and SUVs, they only sporadically appeared in trucks. However, nearly every new\u00a0Ram 1500\u00a0truck sold today has a mild hybrid powertrain. They use a very small battery to help the ICE out by taking over the operation of some electrical components, particularly when engines with automatic stop-start cut engine power. The mild hybrid then assumes the task of maintaining power to systems like air conditioning. When considered as a part of the entire fuel-saving scheme, MHEV systems help increase fuel economy by up to 15%.<\/p>\n PHEV<\/strong><\/p>\n Currently, you need not concern yourself with plug-in hybrids when truck shopping. There are no PHEV pickup trucks, or at least not yet. Ford has a PHEV Ranger in the pipeline, but we probably won\u2019t see it until 2025, if at all. A PHEV offers a larger battery than an HEV and can travel 25 miles or more at any speed on battery power alone. Charging the battery pack requires plugging into an outside electric source, which can be a 110-volt household outlet or a 240-volt outlet like your electric range uses via a\u00a0Level 2 charger.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/strong> What is EV, BEV, HEV, PHEV? Here\u2019s your guide to types of electric cars<\/p>\n The pickings are relatively slim for hybrid trucks in 2024. We\u2019ve put together the shortlist to fast-track your search. You can expect more hybrid trucks to populate this selection with time.<\/p>\n See:<\/strong> Ford\u2019s new Maverick hybrid truck is a cheaper alternative to hulking pickups<\/p>\n In the great scheme of transforming our national vehicle fleet from internal combustion engine-powered to fully electric vehicles, the transitioning of trucks is a less-than-inspiring success. Generally, any arguments against EVs are tremendously magnified when the discussion turns from cars and SUVs to trucks. That\u2019s not to say there aren\u2019t examples of EV trucks; there certainly are. The\u00a0Rivian <\/p>\n However, have one pull an 8,000-pound trailer or haul around 1,000 pounds of payload in the bed, and the range drops like a rock. That is, the estimated range doesn\u2019t hold up to real-world experience when an EV pickup is employed doing, well, actual work. You know, like trucks are supposed to do.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to take my word for it. In June 2023, AAA released its findings on the effects of hauling 1,400 pounds of cargo in the bed of an F-150 Lightning. The result: The range dropped more than 24% from 278 miles to 210 miles. Ford says the Lightning can tow up to 10,000 pounds. What impact would that have on the estimated range?<\/p>\n PRO TIP<\/strong>: Given today\u2019s battery technology, I am willing to stick out my neck and say there is a better alternative to an EV truck that manages to conserve fossil fuels, lower emissions, increase performance, and work as hard \u2014 or harder \u2014 than an ICE truck. Yep, you guessed it: a hybrid truck. \u00a0<\/p>\n From the archives (2020):<\/strong> Americans\u2019 love affair with pickup trucks might be derailing their retirement plans<\/p>\n Although hybrids are typically more expensive than their ICE counterparts within a brand, currently, only one real price comparison can be made between a brand\u2019s comparable EV and hybrid. It is the Ford F-150 Lightning and the F-150 Hybrid. The entry-level Lightning trim is the Lariat. When comparing the 2024 prices of the Lightning Lariat against the F-150 Lariat Hybrid, the hybrid is roughly $7,000 less. Although the price difference amount will vary, the hybrid versus electric plays out in comparison after comparison, whether it\u2019s with cars, SUVs, or our Ford F-150 truck example.<\/p>\n Read:<\/strong> The big problem with chargers that\u2019s challenging electric car owners<\/p>\n As for towing, the Lightning with the regular range battery, reflected in our price comparison above, can tug 7,700 pounds. The F-150 Hybrid can tow 12,700 pounds. The payload maximums stack up as 2,000 pounds versus 2,455.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trucks with internal combustion engines remain stubbornly popular, whether comparing them to EV trucks or HEV trucks. Let\u2019s go back to the\u00a0Ford F-150. You can score an entry-level 2024 F-150 with a regular cab and the standard 5.0-liter V8 for $36,570. It can tow up to 13,500 pounds with a payload capacity of up to 3,325 pounds. Its government-estimated combined fuel economy is 22 mpg, compared with the hybrid\u2019s 25 mpg.<\/p>\n But what if we examine an ICE configuration more in line with the F-150 Hybrid? The entry-level F-150 Hybrid is a Lariat with a SuperCrew Cab ($64,995). The F-150 Lariat SuperCrew with the standard 5.0L V8 ICE prices out at (wait for it) $64,995. This ICE version can tow up to 12,900 pounds and haul up to 2,900 pounds. Its government-estimated combined fuel economy remains at 20 mpg. The lack of sunshine between the ICE F-150 Lariat and the F-150 Lariat Hybrid prices is rare. Typically, a hybrid will cost somewhere between $1,000 and $3,000 more than a comparable ICE vehicle.<\/p>\n Whether the comparison is between an EV truck or an ICE truck, it\u2019s plain to see with the limited examples we have that the hybrid comes out pretty well. However, the more startling discrepancy is between a hybrid truck and an EV truck. Consequently, we\u2019ll compare those first.<\/p>\n Pros of a hybrid truck vs. an EV truck<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons of hybrid trucks vs. EV trucks<\/strong><\/p>\n Pros of hybrid trucks vs. internal combustion trucks<\/strong><\/p>\n Cons of hybrid trucks vs. internal combustion trucks<\/strong><\/p>\n When compared to EV trucks, hybrid trucks are well worth it. They basically do the same level of work as an ICE truck while producing half the tailpipe emissions, yet cost thousands less than a less capable EV truck. <\/p>\n Typically, hybrids cost more than comparable ICE vehicles. However, where trucks are concerned, entry-level hybrids are more expensive configurations and trims than entry-level ICE trucks. Consequently, you can find a lower-trim ICE truck that costs thousands less than the current hybrid offerings that can handle similar towing and payload limits.<\/p>\n My advice is to consider a hybrid if your heart is set on an electrified truck. The HEV truck is certainly worth it in that scenario. The decision becomes tougher when picking between an HEV truck and an ICE truck. In the case of the Maverick Hybrid, the fuel savings over the ICE version are substantial. It\u2019s not so clear-cut when talk turns to the F-150 PowerBoost or Tundra i-Force Max.<\/p>\n Hybrid trucks do get better gas mileage than those with internal combustion engines. In the case of the Toyota Tundra i-Force Max HEV, the difference is 2 mpg. Looking at the Ford Maverick Hybrid, its advantage over the ICE version is 13 mpg.<\/p>\n
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\n F-150 Lightning Pro has a base price of just shy of $50,000. This is roughly $16,000 more than the ICE base F-150 XL.<\/p>\nWhat is a hybrid truck?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n Prius. Unlike full-blown electric trucks, hybrid trucks can stretch a truck\u2019s mileage and improve performance without a bloated price tag, range concerns, or the inconvenience and time suck of plug-in EV charging.<\/p>\nList of 2024 hybrid trucks<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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What about EV Trucks?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\n R1T\u00a0and\u00a0Ford F-150 Lightning\u00a0immediately spring to mind. Such EV trucks perform adequately enough when functioning as mere transportation. In other words, as with EV cars, they mostly perform as advertised when simply ferrying around a driver and a passenger or two.<\/p>\nAdvantages of hybrid trucks over EV trucks<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Pros and cons of hybrid trucks<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Are hybrid trucks worth it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Do hybrid trucks get better gas mileage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n