Chevy S10 and Ford Ranger Electric: All Electric Trucks Are Nothing New

Ford Ranger Electric

Do you remember the Chevrolet S-10 and Ford Ranger electric truck from the late 90s? There is a lot of talk about the upcoming or possible new battery-electric pickup trucks from Tesla, Ford, GM, Rivian, and others. However, the electric pickup truck idea is nothing new.

Let’s focus on the late 1990s (’97 – ’01) when Ford and Chevy produced and sold small numbers of all-electric little trucks. As you may have already guessed, this venture was not very successful. The relatively quick demise to the small electric truck of 90s was due to a combination of factors: relatively low power, short driving range, and relatively long re-charge times.

The Ranger EV’s electric motor put out about 90 horsepower and had a range of up to 74 miles, according to FordRangerEV.com. Some trucks had lead-acid batteries, whiles others used Nickel (NiMH).

There is information that about 1500 Ranger EVs were produced, and 400 may have survived the crusher.

The Ford Ranger EV was a response to the Chevy S-10 electric truck. The S-150 used a 114 hp electric motor to power the front wheels. The driving range varied between 40-80 miles depending on the types of batteries used (lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride).

Around 60 electric Chevy S-10 trucks are said to have survived, making them some of the most rare trucks out there. It’s not known how many of these exist now.

These trucks were most useful for commercial fleets that needed a short-driving range vehicle with zero emissions or silent operation. These may have seen work at a sports stadium or concert venue among other uses.

Indeed, technology has evolved in a big way in the last 20 years. The latest promise is of up to 400 miles of range, all-wheel-drive capability, and mind-boggling acceleration. Still, no major manufacturer is currently offering an electric truck for consumer sale.

NOTE: Please let us know if you have driven one of these Ranger or S-10 electric trucks, or if you have access to one now.

Ram is selling a mild-hybrid pickup truck in big numbers. The 2019 Ram 1500 base model comes with a 3.6L V6 and an electric motor (with a 48-volt system and a small Lithium-ion battery).