Are EV trucks what American drivers really want?

The electric vehicle market is still growing, but for pickup trucks specifically, the pace is much slower than many predicted. After all the hype around battery-powered trucks like the Tesla Cybertruck, Ford F-150 Lightning, and Chevy Silverado EV, the first half of 2025 is showing a clear reality: EV trucks are not taking over the way their makers hoped.

Looking Back at 2024

The year 2024 set the tone for this race. Ford’s F-150 Lightning sold 33,510 units, a respectable number considering it was the first mainstream all-electric truck on the market. Tesla’s Cybertruck, however, managed to move even more, 38,965 units, making it the top-selling EV truck for that year. GM entered late with their Silverado EV, Sierra EV, and the revived electric Hummer, but those were still limited to a few thousand deliveries.

2025: A Different Story

Now, halfway through 2025, the tables have turned. Sales for electric pickups are showing a dip almost across the board. The Ford F-150 Lightning sold 13,029 units in the first six months, a decline of 16.7% year-over-year. Tesla’s Cybertruck numbers are harder to pin down because Tesla lumps its sales together with the Model S and Model X, but estimates suggest a roughly 50% drop compared to the same time last year. That means Ford is now leading the segment again.

GM Builds Momentum

While Ford and Tesla have both experienced slowdowns, GM is seeing growth, albeit from much smaller numbers. The Silverado EV sold 5,439 units in the first half of 2025 – up 67% from 2024. GMC also delivered 2,773 Sierra EVs in the same period, and their Hummer EV line (pickup and SUV combined) reached 7,987 units, up 73% year-over-year. These numbers are still small compared to Ford or Tesla, but GM clearly has momentum building.

Rivian Still Hanging In

Rivian, one of the early players in the electric truck world, has also slowed down. The company sold 19,131 vehicles (combining the R1T truck and R1S SUV) in the first half of 2025, down from over 27,000 during the same period last year. Despite the decline, Rivian’s numbers are still competitive when compared to GM’s new entries.

Trucks Are Struggling, EVs as a Whole Are Not

While electric truck sales are clearly facing challenges, the EV market as a whole is not collapsing. In fact, overall EV sales in the U.S. reached 607,089 units in the first half of 2025, a 1.5% increase over last year. That might not sound like much, but it marks another record for EV adoption. Growth is happening – just at a very slow and steady pace.

Incentives and Deadlines

One factor currently influencing sales is the federal tax credit for electric vehicles. Buyers who complete their purchase before October 1, 2025, still qualify for the government incentive. After that date, the incentive goes away. Analysts expect a temporary spike in EV sales before the cutoff date, followed by a sharp slowdown in the last quarter of the year.

Who’s Winning the Bigger EV Race?

When you zoom out to the entire EV market, GM is having a standout year. They’ve sold more than 78,000 EVs in the first half of 2025, more than double their 2024 volume. This leap has pushed Chevrolet into the number two spot for EV sales in the U.S., trailing only Tesla. But Tesla itself is losing ground. Sales for the company dropped 12% in the second quarter of 2025 and 9% in the first quarter.

Used EV Market Growing Fast

Another interesting trend: the used EV market is booming. For the first time ever, over 100,000 used electric vehicles changed hands in a single quarter (Q2 of 2025). As EV incentives disappear and new models remain expensive, buying a two- or three-year-old EV may become the more practical choice for many buyers.

Why EV Trucks Face Unique Challenges

So why are electric trucks having a harder time catching on than electric cars and SUVs? Part of the answer lies in how people actually use trucks. Full-size trucks are often purchased for towing, hauling, and long-distance travel – exactly the conditions that drain EV batteries fastest. Reduced range under heavy load has been a constant complaint, and many buyers simply aren’t ready to compromise.

Maybe It’s Time for Smaller EV Pickups

The current crop of EV pickups are big, heavy, and expensive. Some analysts argue that starting the EV push with the largest trucks was a strategic mistake. A smaller, lighter electric pickup would have been more practical and efficient. Smaller trucks use less energy, cost less to build, and appeal to a wider range of drivers. Several automakers are reportedly working on compact electric trucks, and if these hit the market, they could change the trajectory of EV truck adoption.

The Outlook Going Forward

Electric trucks aren’t dead, but they aren’t dominating either. The next few years will likely be a slow climb as infrastructure improves, more models are released, and consumers get more comfortable with EV technology. If smaller and more affordable electric trucks arrive, there’s a good chance the segment could see a new wave of growth.

An Awkward Phase

Right now, EV trucks are in an awkward phase. Sales are down, and the buzz around them has cooled. Yet the overall EV market is still creeping upward. The real test will come when the tax credits end later this year and buyers have to decide if these expensive, battery-powered trucks are really worth the jump. Americans love their pickups, but the question remains: do they love them enough to accept the limitations of electric versions? That answer is still unfolding.

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The article Are EV trucks what American drivers really want? first appeared on Survival World.