I always got the impression that the vast majority of the F150s are never used as trucks either. Americans just like really really big cars because fuel is cheap there and none of the cities are old enough that big cars are impractical.

> Anybody who knows how people that actually need trucks use trucks saw this coming

I'm a current truck driver and very excited to swap out my ICE truck for a Slate next year. I need something that can haul my trash to the dump, grab a load of wood chips for the garden, and bring home the occasional sheet good from the home store.

I agree with your assessment as it applies to the Cybertruck or F150, but not the idea of an electric truck. Some people buy trucks because they need a light-duty hauling solution; unfortunately, the market seems to only want to sell luxury SUVs that happen to have truck beds.

Most people driving trucks in the US don't use them as trucks, especially in cities. I think most people willing to take on a $1000/mo truck payment for their personal vehicle in the current economic climate are doing so for social reasons anyway. Whether the electric trucks on offer at the same price can compete on that front is a much more slippery question.

If we can get some affordable electric trucks in the US, it will be very interesting to see how the more rational segments of the market react once they are no longer priced out.

I've only ever heard positive things from every electric truck owner I know and this is coming from a market that's very truck-forward in terms of culture.

An acquaintance saved thousands of dollars (over ten thousand, easily) by using his Cybertruck while building a cabin up in the mountains. All those trips to the hardware store and picking up random building materials add up very quickly when you are going up and down the mountain for materials and the big box hardware store is two hours away.

I see electric Silverados and Hummers (not a truck, but effectively the same vehicle as the electric Silverado) all the time, usually pulling landscaping utility trailers (flatbeds with huge commercial lawnmowers, etc.). I have no idea if this is economic or not (they definitely aren't cheap) but I've heard electric towing can't be beat for responsiveness, torque, etc.

In my observations it appears there are 3 kinds of truck drivers.

1. People who need to haul stuff in the bed

2. People who need to tow stuff behind them

3. People who buy them for some form of self expression.

Electrics are probably fine for people in 1 & 3. But for 2 I have yet to find one that both tows and gets range.

Unlike electric cars, the price for a used F-150 lightning is still a substantial fraction of new price. There is still substantial demand.

Work trucks are a very different market than for passenger vehicles. Their usage is a lot more consistent and known. This means that electric works very well for some work trucks and very poorly for others.

The other aspect of work trucks is that they're generally purchased by very conservative businesses who don't want to buy the bleeding edge, they want several years of reliability data before committing. The F-150 Lightning was cancelled just as that data was starting to come in.

Of course, most F-150's are sold as passenger vehicles rather than work trucks. Along with almost all Cybertrucks.

I definitely see them from time to time here in Austin loaded up with stuff being used as real work trucks. (But mostly not.)

Truck brained people are notoriously stubborn. If it isn’t like daddy’s old truck they simply can’t see past it

I live in the PNW and you see people not using their trucks as trucks every single time you go out on the road. This includes urban areas.

I’ve owned an F150 and an R1T and for camping, overlanding, snow trips, etc the Rivian is hands down the most capable vehicle I have ever driven. You couldn’t pay me to go back to a Ford

Given US pricing of $6.50 diesel, the cyber truck with 11,000 lb towing capacity actually makes a lot of sense.

It just looks too weird.

I have seen rivians being used as trucks pretty often in small towns.

I know people with Rivians and F-150 Lightnings and they love them.

Indeed that target audience (people that actually need trucks) should be looking at a diesel vw passat from the 00's instead.

Truly terrible for pedestrians. Modern trucks are already death traps with their super high front grills, multiplying the weight compounds the problem.

F150 Lightning was ruined by the dealership network who had 0 interest or financial incentive to sell them. When they did sell them, they added huge markups.

The quality of the vehicle is actually quite high.

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