Fast on the heels of electric cars, electric trucks have become hot items with American drivers. They offer more storage capacity than compact EVs, and many feature larger motors with exceptional towing capacity. In addition to the cost of an electric car or truck, many people interested in switching to these types of electric vehicles wonder, “How long does it take to charge an electric truck?” to help them determine whether more powerful engines and longer battery ranges are worth possibly increased charging times.
Luckily, Gexa Energy is here to help. There are currently four electric pickup trucks on the US market, with more on the way in the coming years. When choosing an EV, you’ll want to consider the charging methods available for each make and model, battery sizes, charging times, and whether the cost to charge electric trucks can vary depending on the model.
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Different Types of EV Chargers
Before you can assess the charging times of different electric trucks, you’ll first need to understand the different types of chargers that can affect recharging times.
- Level 1 chargers can use common 120-volt AC outlets like the ones you find in your kitchen to provide electricity to EVs. While they can work in a pinch, they provide less voltage and therefore take much longer electric truck charge times. Level 1 chargers are more common for home charging, and you won’t find charging stations featuring this type of charger.
- Level 2 chargers are used for home charging systems and charging stations. When installed in homes, they use a 240-volt system, while public charging stations typically use 208-volt systems.
- Direct current fast chargers (DCFC) offer the most efficient method of electric truck charging. While the other two charger types deliver AC voltage, DCFCs use a 3-phase 480-volt AC electric current but provide DC electricity to trucks. You get double the voltage of Level 2 chargers, but this method of charging is only offered at charging stations in high-traffic areas.
Level 1 chargers can take a very long time to charge due to the low voltage and aren’t commonly used by drivers. Additionally, many vehicle manufacturers have phased out 208v chargers in favor of 240v varieties for charging at home.
How long it takes to recharge any truck battery will depend on what type of electric truck charger you use, as well as environmental factors. Luckily, it’s possible to estimate the charging time for different makes and models of electric trucks based on what type of charger is used.
2023 Rivian R1T
Though many drivers had never heard of Rivian until recently, this automaker has been working on EVs for nearly 15 years. The releases of the Rivian R1T electric truck and R1S electric SUV have become very popular with drivers, and the company has been creating a national network of DCFC electric truck charging stations (the Rivian Adventure Network) to support their vehicles. The 2023 Rivian R1T is compatible with the manufacturer’s standard 240v wall charger, so 208v charging at home isn’t available in this model.
Battery Capacity: 135kWh
Level 1 Charging Time: ~110 hours
Level 2 Charging Time: 12-18 hours
DCFC Charging Time: ~1 hour
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 has become one of the country’s most popular and functional pickup trucks, and the electric model boasts a similar level of durability. Ford uses the BlueOval™ Charge Network for electric truck charging on the road and Ford Mobile Chargers or upgraded Connected Charge Stations at home. This line of vehicles boasts the largest front trunk of any EV truck, as well as 5,000 lbs. of towing capacity with a standard-range battery. It’s available in four trims: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum.
Battery Capacity: Standard battery has 98.0kWh; Extended-range battery has 131kWh
Level 1 Charging Time: Standard battery charges in ~100 hours; Extended-range battery charges in ~150 hours.
Level 2 Charging Time: Standard battery 10 hours, Extended-range battery 13 hours.
DCFC Charging Time: Standard battery charges 15-80% in 44 minutes, Extended-range battery in 41 minutes.
2023 GMC Hummer EV Pickup
This EV blurs the lines between a pickup truck and the classic Hummer design to create a rugged vehicle with great storage capacity. These vehicles utilize the flexible Ultium battery platform and the nearly 60,000 Ultium Charge 360 electric truck charger stations across the US and Canada. It’s one of the largest batteries you’ll find in any EV truck, which means that it has one of the longest electric truck charging times but typically longer ranges. The latest generation of Hummer EV Pickups also feature the Regen on Demand® feature that uses energy from braking to recharge your battery on-the-go.
Battery Capacity: 212.7kWh
Level 1 Charging Time: 140-200 hours
Level 2 Charging Time: At 11.5kw charges 20-100% in ~16.5 hours; At 7.7kw charges 20-100% in ~24 hours
DCFC Charging Time: ~45 minutes
2023 Lordstown Endurance
This newcomer to the EV truck scene comes from the relatively unknown Lordstown Motors. The Endurance is designed to use a minimal number of moving parts to make repairs and maintenance easier and less expensive, and this partially explains its unique appearance. Lordstown uses a liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery but has received criticism for its considerably limited range and low MPGe.
Battery Capacity: 109kWh
Level 1 Charging Time: 41-55 hours
Level 2 Charging Time: Charges 20-80% in ~6.5 hours
DCFC Charging Time: Charges 20-80% in ~45 minutes
Cost to Charge Electric Trucks
Just like the answer to “How long does it take to charge an electric truck?”, the cost to charge an EV has many variables. Battery sizes, electricity costs in your area, individual charging station fees, current battery levels, and many other factors can determine how much you’ll pay in charging fees. You’ll also need to consider that electric truck charging station costs typically differ from the cost of using a wall charger at home.
However, now that you know some of the approximate charging times of available EV trucks, you can better estimate how much time and money you’ll spend charging your vehicle using different charging levels. And if you’re also considering a smaller EV, you can also discover the time it takes to charge an electric car to see which size vehicle is right for you.
When you’ve selected a vehicle, check out Gexa Energy’s electric vehicle plans. Basic plans can help you save money on nighttime charging for electric trucks with the peace of mind you’re using a100% green electricity plan.
