Why I Think It’s Illogical to Purchase an Electric Truck

Takeaway: Don’t buy an electric truck yet; the economics aren’t clearly favorable and charging isn’t universal. Operators should consider leased pilots to gather real-world data before committing, and this opens the globe to better comparisons across regions. Like any prudent fleet decision, you win by testing first and letting data drive the choice, not hype.

From a fleet perspective, several factors determine profit. The upfront price gap exists, and leased contracts often require long-term energy charges that erode profit. Battery degradation, warranty coverage, and replacement schedules are not synonymous with diesel maintenance, and this exige careful planning. For many things that save money in theory, they don’t translate to real-world gains before the vehicle has run hundreds of thousands of miles. Even with improved battery packs, EVs stay tied to charging availability and charging speed, which can extend downtime on highway runs and reduce utilization in peak periods.

Range and performance on the highway depend on design choices like suspension and thermal management. Range can drop quickly in cold weather or under heavy payloads, and the suspension tuning matters for uptime and tire wear. Across the globe, researching data shows many fleets see a rise in maintenance complexity after the first year, even with amazing efficiency gains and improved batteries. The battery warranty often covers only a portion of capacity loss and the long-term replacement costs are not synonymous with diesel, meaning total costs can drift higher if you don’t plan.

Recommendation for now: prioritize diesel or gasoline trucks for high-mileage, high-availability use; if you pursue EVs, start with a small, leased pilot on regional highway routes with robust telematics and a tight replacement schedule. Build a model that tracks profit by mile, not by unit, and compare to improved battery warranties and broader charging corridors as they materialize. When the mainstream charging network becomes as predictable as fuel stations, the economics will tilt toward EVs; until then, a cautious stance minimizes risk and preserves uptime for your fleet.

Practical hurdles when choosing an electric truck in Canada

Start with a five-step analysis of cost, reliability, and service coverage, then pick a starter truck from brands with broad national support and a clear track record.

Facing winters across city and commuter routes, the physics of cold batteries reduce range significantly, often by 20-40% from nominal ratings. This creates difficulties when you must plan a full daily track that includes hills, payloads, and cold starts. Charging speeds and peak-hour availability create highs and lows you must map.

Supply constraints et lead times matter; the supplier network in Canada is concentrated on a handful of brands, and some models are sold out in peak windows, forcing buyers to wait or adjust specs. Owners report longer lead times depending on configuration.

The analysis should quantify maintenance costs such as brake wear and battery cooling, which differ by brand and model. Owners note that high-voltage systems require specialized service; meanwhile, the approach to training requires dedicated technicians, while a modern engine and powertrain shared with internal combustion vehicles may reduce training needs for techs.

Given provincial rebates and federal incentives, your business case opens opportunities that reduce upfront cost, but rules vary by province. One incentive package applies to fleets above a certain threshold, while the supplier often applies different discounts to fleets, and some brands provide portable charging options for rural work sites.

Policy sentiment around electrification in the U.S. and Canada, including positions said by some republicans, can affect cross-border procurement and depreciation expectations for fleets. Consider the five candidates you might test and, when possible, track their performance on actual city routes to refine your choice.

Total cost of ownership: upfront price versus long-term fuel and maintenance

Calculate total cost of ownership and choose the option with the lowest lifetime spend, not the lowest upfront price. Use facts including third-party benchmarks and agency data to forecast cash flows across the vehicle’s life cycle. Work together with finance and operations to map upfront costs, incentives, installation, and long-term operating expenses, so you can meet budget goals safely. Indeed, a clear TCO view helps you compare what you spend today with what you spend over years of use.

1. Upfront price and incentives

   Start with the base price and destination charges, then subtract incentives from the supplier and applicable agency programs. Factor in the cost to install a home or depot charger, and consider financing options that affect your annual spend. This step clarifies whats left after incentives, and it helps you meet your budget targets without surprises later.

2. Long-term energy and maintenance costs

   Estimate electricity costs per mile by multiplying your truck’s energy per mile by regional kWh prices, then compare to diesel equivalents. Extended-range variants alter the math only when the range extender reduces charging frequency. Expect maintenance gaps to be smaller for electric drivetrains, but plan for battery-related items and software updates. Track pounds of CO2 avoided as part of the total value.

3. Infrastructure and installation

   Assess the cost to install charging stations at the depot or home, including electrical upgrades or grid limitations. Consider times of day when charging is cheapest, and the impact on working routes. Depot charging can reduce refueling stops and improve uptime, so your crew can cruise between shifts with confidence.

4. Reliability, risk, and resilience

   Evaluate supplier reliability and parts availability through third-party service networks and local agencies. Build a buffer for left-over budget and ensure coverage during disruptions, including pandemic-related delays or hurricane-related outages. This approach protects fleet operations and keeps service moving.

5. Decision framework and monitoring

   Use a simple forecast model with a variety of scenarios and track actual costs against projections. Schedule quarterly reviews with the supplier and fleet manager to adjust for fuel economics and maintenance trends. This ongoing process keeps you focused on long-term value rather than short-term trends, and helps you meet your financial goals.

Charging access and time requirements for trucking workloads

Install depot- and corridor-based DC fast charging at 350-400 kW and target 80% state of charge within 60-75 minutes during drivers’ mandated rest breaks. This keeps routes on track and minimizes idle time; pair the supply with a solid charging plan that aligns with turn-in windows and daily moves.

Define charging corridors and pair them with current planning tools to map charging windows into every shift. The theory is simple: energy demand should run parallel to rest breaks and dispatch goals, not clash with them. By bringing together route data, driver hours, and charger availability, you build trust among fleets, drivers, and customers, and you create a repeatable process that reduces unnecessary delays.

Across canadas and ontarios, current infrastructure continues to improve, with major corridors hosting 350- to 500-kW chargers and depot clusters offering multiple stalls. Widespread availability helps prevent queuing and reduces the risk of suspension of service during surge periods. For a regional or long-haul operation, aim to place at least two high-power chargers at each terminal and a third backup at a nearby hub to handle surges and equipment downtime, ensuring a smooth turn-in for the next shift.

From a practical standpoint, plan charging around the true daily energy needs. A typical long-haul layout with a 600- to 800-kWh pack will require two 60- to 90-minute top-ups at 350–400 kW to maintain a reliable 450–700-mile range per day, depending on weight and weather. Regional routes with 150–300 miles per day can often complete a full charge in 30–60 minutes at 150–200 kW, enabling rapid turn-arounds. In both cases, the current tools you use should model fast-charge times under real-world taper curves so you don’t overestimate or underestimate charging duration, which keeps the world of operations stable and predictable.

To cope with the realities of the grid and supply, build redundancy into charging plans. The pandemic taught operators to expect interruptions; a small outage or a single busy hub can ripple quickly through schedules. Maintain at least one alternate charging location within a practical radius, and keep spare cables or adapters on hand so a minor equipment suspension doesn’t derail a full shift. This approach is essential to maintaining uptime when demand surges or when drivers are worried about waiting times. Always verify SLAs with charging partners and utility providers to ensure a reliable baseline of service, and keep a simple, clear turn-in policy so drivers know exactly where to go and when.

Bottom line: invest in sufficient, well-located charging access, optimize the charging window into daily routes, and use current planning tools to schedule around rest breaks. This is how you maximize reliability while minimizing idle time, gasoline-like costs, and unexpected downtime. By doing so, you can manage the petroleum transition without sacrificing schedule reliability, trust, or efficiency, and you can move toward a more resilient, world-class fleet operation through disciplined charging strategies that are easy to scale.

Payload, towing capacity, and range trade-offs for EV trucks

Recommendation: prioritize payload and towing capability over headline range if you regularly haul heavy loads, and plan for a practical range dip when pulling or carrying a full payload.

Ford F-150 Lightning offers a payload up to 1,800 lb and a max tow of 10,000 lb. EPA range is 230 miles with the standard battery and up to 320 miles with the extended-range pack. In real use, loading and steady towing can reduce range by roughly 30–40%, so your daily miles should be sized to the battery you actually need. To optimize, precondition the battery while still plugged in, use eco-minded drive modes, and plan charging around mid-shift routes to minimize downtime. Automakers have progressed, but the pace of charging infrastructure growth still shapes how you plan long trips, especially in rural areas where lack of chargers can slow through-journey efficiency. Having a clear service plan and spare adapters helps keep operations smooth regardless of winter washing, road grime, or paint wear.

Rivian R1T shows payload around 1,760 lb and a tow rating of 11,000 lb. EPA range sits at about 314 miles with the Long Range battery. When you tow near max or carry heavy loads, anticipate a range hit in the same 30–40% range seen with other pickups. To drive this balance, figure out your typical trip lengths and consider alternating payload loads to extend useful range. Some republicans and other policymakers point to charging infrastructure gaps, so having access to fast chargers along frequent routes matters for businesses that rely on punctual hauls. Washing the exterior and keeping the battery seals clean during winter helps maintain efficiency, while the heater can shave range in cold weather–plan preconditioning to avoid extra fuel-like energy draws.

GMC Hummer EV Pickup delivers around 1,300–1,400 lb of payload and up to 7,500 lb of towing. Its EPA range is approximately 329 miles. The trade-off is real: heavier duty use and towing reduce range more noticeably than light duties. For daily operations, optimize by staging charges around peak loading days, using regenerative braking to recover energy, and limiting HVAC runs when a full payload is on board. The vehicle’s paint and interior trim benefit from careful care–a minor consideration when your fleet endures construction dust and seasonal grime, but attention here helps preserve resale value and driver comfort. Pandemic-era supply chains taught fleets to plan maintenance windows ahead of peak seasons to avoid service bottlenecks.

In practice, the key figure to compare is not just the EV truck’s nameplate range but the payload-plus-tow capability you actually need, minus the range you’ll sacrifice on typical trips. If your business hinges on consistent pulls and heavy cargo, you’ll benefit from a model with a higher payload and a strong tow rating, plus a charging plan that keeps you moving through the day. You’ll be able to drive, calculate, and optimize your route with confidence, knowing you have lots of headroom for heavy loads, even as the infrastructure footprint continues to grow. If you’re sure you want electricity, start with a test cycle that mirrors your daily route–you’ll actually see how the tick of payload adds up to energy consumption and how preconditioning, heater use, and winter conditions affect the total miles you can cover.

Price updates for Tesla Model S and Model X in Canada: what buyers should know

Start by checking Tesla Canada’s official price list today to lock in a favorable number, because known price updates happen with the latest production runs and local incentives. If you are eager to buy, use the configurator to see the current price for your model and options, then compare delivery estimates across provinces to minimize surprises, even during night updates when rates can shift.

As of january 2025, price ranges (before freight, taxes, and options) look roughly like this: Model S from CAD 95,000 up to CAD 170,000; Model X from CAD 109,000 up to CAD 179,000. Specifics depend on trim (Long Range or Plaid), wheels, and interior packages. Delivery fees and taxes add to the sticker, so plan for a total that can rise several thousand dollars above the base price. These two models illustrate the price spread buyers should expect, and you may wonder how the gap will move over the next few months. This data is useful for planning your house budget and choosing the right time to order.

These numbers hinge on several factors: production schedules, currency movements, and software rollouts that go with major updates. Considering these dynamics, their value can swing, so buyers should watch the market month to month. If your plan includes a solar setup and a wärmepumpen system in your house, you may save more on energy costs over the car’s longest life, which can influence whether now is the right moment to buy.

To save, compare total cost of ownership across models, financing options, and ongoing incentives that may be available in several provinces. Eager buyers should track price moves in january and then decide after validating the latest figures on Tesla Canada’s site. Avoid distractions and keep your focus on the ideal balance between price, range, and practicality.

In the end, the debate about price versus value for these EVs centers on life-cycle costs, not sticker price alone. Their position in the market can shift with policy changes, so track announcements that affect incentives or taxes. Think about your daily life and how a Model S or Model X fits their ideal use case. If you want an auto that moves you toward lower fuel costs and smooth daily charging, these models remain compelling–but only after you tick the boxes on incentives, taxes, and delivery timing. Then you can decide with confidence rather than hesitation.

Resale trajectory and lifecycle considerations for EV vehicles

heres the concrete recommendation: buy an EV with an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty and a verifiable batterys health trajectory from service logs, because solid warranty data plus a reading from independent diagnostics reduces resale risk. Track battery status through maintenance records and insist on a full diagnostic report before purchase; keep backup documentation–service receipts, battery health readings, and ownership records–to support value at trade-in. Avoid models with opaque warranties or frequent software resets that hide batterys degradation. Such diligence prevents surprises when you go to sell and helps you avoid advertisement-driven hype. Don’t decide alone–bring a trusted tech to review the data and ask for a clear transfer of warranty terms.

market data shows that endurance and reliability often outrun longest-range claims for resale value. There are several ways to verify data, including third-party readings and warranty transfer checks. From the beginning, evaluate models with robust thermal management, transferable warranties, and a track record of stable batterys health. In cold or frigid climates, range declines, typically 15-30% in winter, which affects buyer perception of value. Such factors mean the model with the longest-range badge may not grow in value as fast as a model with solid battery performance and a strong service network. Reading the battery health reports and service records helps you answer questions about capacity fade and replacement costs. Value grows when owners keep clean maintenance logs, avoid accidents, and stay current with software updates. If you plan to reduce the total cost of ownership, consider long-term service pricing and keep a backup plan for battery-related expenses. This approach shows you are prepared and wont surprise buyers when you trade in. Undoubtedly, a thorough seasonal tracking of performance makes resale projections more reliable.