Many truck owners assume towing is where electric pickups face their toughest challenge. That’s why one recent mountain towing test caught my attention. After hooking a 7,000-pound load to a standard-range Ford F-150 Lightning and hauling it up a 2,200-foot mountain climb, longtime diesel truck owner Harry Wagner reported something he never experiences in his Ram 3500: the truck gained battery charge on the way back down.
Even more surprising, Wagner said the standard-range Lightning climbed the steep grade with ease:
“just as easy if not easier than my one-ton Ram did.”
The test doesn’t mean an electric pickup has suddenly replaced heavy-duty diesel trucks for every task. But it does offer an interesting glimpse into how EVs can excel in situations where many truck buyers least expect them to.
The Test: 70 Miles, 2,200 Feet of Elevation, and 7,000 Pounds
The towing comparison was conducted on a demanding 70-mile route near Reno, Nevada. Wagner loaded a 5,000-pound Toyota Land Cruiser onto a 2,000-pound trailer, creating a combined trailer weight of approximately 7,000 pounds.
The route included Geiger Grade, a climb
The route included Geiger Grade, a climb that gains roughly 2,200 feet of elevation, rising from about 4,500 feet above sea level to approximately 6,700 feet. It’s the kind of terrain that quickly exposes strengths and weaknesses in any tow vehicle.
For the comparison, Wagner used his modified 2018 Ram 3500 long-bed equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel and 37-inch tires. The challenger was a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro equipped with Ford’s standard-range 98-kWh battery pack.
Importantly, this wasn’t an attempt to compare maximum tow ratings or determine whether a half-ton truck can replace a one-ton truck. The goal was much simpler: see how both vehicles handled the same load over the same mountain route.
How the Electric Truck Climbed Better Than the Diesel
Heading uphill is often where EV skeptics expect
Heading uphill is often where EV skeptics expect battery-powered trucks to struggle. Pulling thousands of pounds while climbing more than 2,000 feet sounds like the perfect recipe for rapidly draining a battery.
Instead, Wagner came away impressed.
He said the Lightning pulled the trailer “just as easy if not easier than my one-ton Ram did.” That’s a notable statement coming from someone who owns and regularly tows with a diesel heavy-duty truck rather than from an EV enthusiast trying an electric pickup for the first time.
Part of that experience comes down to how electric motors deliver power. Unlike a diesel engine that builds torque through engine speed and turbo boost, the Lightning’s dual motors provide immediate torque whenever the driver presses the accelerator. The result was smooth, effortless pulling power up the grade, even with 7,000 pounds behind it.
For truck owners who spend time towing
For truck owners who spend time towing in mountainous terrain, that immediate power delivery can create a very different driving experience than what they’re accustomed to in a traditional diesel truck.
Recharging on the Way Down: The Power of Regen
While the climb impressed Wagner, the descent produced the most surprising moment of the test.
After reaching the summit, the Lightning’s battery showed 82% state of charge. As the truck descended through 6-Mile Canyon using regenerative braking and one-pedal driving, something unusual happened: the battery percentage started increasing.
- At the Summit: 82% battery
- At the Base: 86% battery
- Net Result: A 4% battery gain during the descent
According to Wagner, he never needed to touch
According to Wagner, he never needed to touch the brake pedal during the downhill portion of the drive.
For readers unfamiliar with regenerative braking, the system uses electric motors to slow the vehicle while converting some of the vehicle’s momentum back into stored energy. On the Lightning’s 98-kWh battery pack, a 4% gain represents roughly 3.9 kWh of recovered energy.
That’s something a conventional diesel truck simply cannot do. While engine braking can help control speed, it doesn’t put energy back into the fuel tank.
Where the Heavy-Duty Diesel Still Wins: Total Range and Auxiliary Capacity
Despite the Lightning’s strong showing, Wagner was also
Despite the Lightning’s strong showing, Wagner was also quick to highlight the area where his Ram still maintains a significant advantage.
His truck is equipped with a 55-gallon Titan auxiliary fuel tank, giving it dramatically more range between fuel stops than the standard-range Lightning can currently deliver while towing. Combined with widespread diesel availability and quick refueling times, that’s a meaningful advantage for drivers regularly covering hundreds of miles with a trailer attached.
For long-distance towing, diesel remains the benchmark. The Lightning’s strengths emerged primarily in power delivery, downhill control, and energy recovery during mountain driving.
The Real-World Verdict for Truck Owners
Wagner didn’t walk away claiming the Lightning replaces
Wagner didn’t walk away claiming the Lightning replaces his Ram 3500. Long-distance towing and range still favor diesel, particularly for truck owners who spend days crossing multiple states with heavy trailers.
What surprised him was where the electric truck excelled.
A standard-range F-150 Lightning pulled 7,000 pounds up a 2,200-foot mountain climb with enough confidence that a diesel truck owner felt it performed as well as, or better than, his one-ton truck. Then it descended the same mountain while recovering 4% battery charge and requiring no brake pedal input.
For many truck owners, that’s probably not how they expect an EV towing story to end.
Have you towed with an EV through mountainous
Have you towed with an EV through mountainous terrain? Did regenerative braking make a noticeable difference compared to a gas or diesel truck? Let us know in the comments.
Blake Lowry is a tech forward automotive enthusiast with a background in software development and animation working with clients such as Car & Driver, Hot Wheels, Google, Microsoft and the History Channel where he contributed on various interactive experiences. Blake’s automotive passion is centered around his hands-on experience with electric cars and trucks, alternative/green energy and practical applications in the real world. At Torque News, Blake’s articles focus on Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 PowerBoost, Ford Maverick hybrid, Chevy Bolt and Slate Truck coverage.
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