A non-stop argument revolves around why one would buy an electric car over a traditional gasoline-powered one. For the time being, gas-powered models still dominate U.S. auto sales because of one major downfall – range anxiety. Until electric cars manage to find a way to have unlimited range, many buyers will stray away from them for range anxiety alone.
While traditional fossil fuel-fed cars only require a quick five-minute pitstop at the fuel station every now and then to replenish their fuel tank, electric vehicles generally require hours of charging for only a handful of miles of range – depending on your electric car battery type and charger, of course. That said, electric cars have many other benefits over gas cars. So much so, that some companies will convert your ICE-powered car into an EV if you fork over enough cash.
The main point of the argument is that electric vehicles emit no hazardous emissions while driving. Furthermore, due to power being available instantaneously, electric cars are generally quicker than gas-fed cars. This article focuses on the aerodynamic characteristics of electric vehicles.
Considering there’s no need for engine cooling, electric cars typically don’t have gaping grilles at the front. Regardless of your take on its attractiveness, this allows electric cars to have a more flush fascia, and in turn, its sleekness allows for a drag coefficient far lower than any modern gasoline-powered car.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and from authoritative sources such as the EPA and Inside EVs. The list has been arranged in descending order of their drag coefficient rating.
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GMC Hummer EV Pickup
Drag Coefficient: 0.50
Back in the day, everyone raved about the original Humvee’s offroad capabilities. Since then, other similar products rose to the market such as the Hummer H1, H2, and H3 under General Motors’ ownership.
That said, a few years back, GMC introduced a new electric version called the Hummer EV that shares the blood of the original Humvee. The main difference is that the Hummer EV benefits from modern technology, allowing it to CrabWalk for example. The GMC Hummer EV’s Crabwalk system turns the rear wheels up to 10 degrees which allows the Hummer EV to move from side to side.
GMC Hummer EV Pickup Specs
|
2X |
3X |
|
|
Motor Setup |
Two electric motors |
Three electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
570 hp |
1,000 hp |
|
Torque |
7,400 lb-ft |
11,500 lb-ft |
|
0-60 MPH |
N/A |
3.0 seconds |
|
Maximum Range |
311 miles |
359 miles |
|
Payload Capacity |
1,300 lbs |
1,300 lbs |
|
Towing Capacity |
12,000 lbs |
8,500 lbs |
|
Starting Price |
$98,845 |
$106,945 |
(Data sourced from GMC)
Key Features
- Removable roof panels
- Adaptive air suspension
- “Watts to Freedom” launch control
Not only is the GMC Hummer EV one of the most unique takes on reviving a model name, but the Hummer EV also serves as a decent road-trip vehicle because of its 0.50 drag coefficient. The EPA claims that the 2024 GMC Hummer EV can achieve 59 MPGe in the city, and 48 MPGe, resulting in a combined average of 53 MPGe.
Ford F-150 Lightning
Drag Coefficient: 0.40
Also taking the name of an old revered pickup truck, the surprisingly quick Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, the Ford F-150 Lightning is Ford’s latest electric pickup truck that encapsulates everything you love about the 14th-generation F-Series Ford pickup and adds an electric powertrain into the mix. Being quicker than the current Ford F-150 Raptor, the somewhat normal-looking Ford F-150 Lightning acts as an excellent sleeper.
Ford F-150 Lightning Specs
|
Pro |
XLT |
Lariat |
Platinum |
|
|
Motor Setup |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
462 – 580 hp |
462 – 580 hp |
462 – 580 hp |
462 – 580 hp |
|
Torque |
775 lb-ft |
775 lb-ft |
775 lb-ft |
775 lb-ft |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.1 seconds |
< 4.0 seconds |
< 4.0 seconds |
< 4.0 seconds |
|
Estimated Range |
240 miles |
240 – 320 miles |
240 – 320 miles |
240 – 320 miles |
|
Payload Capacity |
1,802 – 2,235 lbs |
1,802 – 2,235 lbs |
1,802 – 2,235 lbs |
1,802 – 2,235 lbs |
|
Towing Capacity |
5,000 – 10,000 lbs |
5,000 – 10,000 lbs |
5,000 – 10,000 lbs |
5,000 – 10,000 lbs |
|
Starting Price |
$49,995 |
$54,995 |
$69,995 |
$91,995 |
(Data sourced from Ford)
Key Features
- All models come standard with all-wheel-drive and a dual-motor setup
- Can act as a generator to power an average household for up to three days (Mega Power Frunk)
- 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Three different trim levels of the Ford F-150 Lightning exist, each sharing the same 0.40 drag coefficient. Although they differ in power and achieve slightly different ratings according to the EPA, the top-tier Ford F-150 Lightning Extended Range has a 78 MPGe in the city, and 63 MPGe on the highway which results in a combined 70 MPGe EPA-estimated rating.
However, Consumer Reports says that the F-150 Lightning misses its EPA-rated range. Fortunately, the F-150 Lightning is the most affordable option on our list today, but costs can tally up quickly depending on options and trim levels.
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RAM 1500 REV
Drag Coefficient: 0.34
Although the electric version of the RAM 1500 pickup truck is yet to go on sale, Stellantis made some bold claims about this electric truck. Being in its fifth generation, the RAM pickup underwent a plethora of changes throughout the years with performance examples like the RAM TRX, but the 1500 REV (short for Revolution) is a whole new take on the RAM pickup that sits on the STLA Frame body-on-frame design specifically made for full-size electric vehicles.
Ram 1500 REV Specs
|
Tradesman |
Big Horn/Lone Star |
Laramie |
Limited |
Tungsten |
|
|
Motor Setup |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
654 hp |
654 hp |
654 hp |
654 hp |
654 hp |
|
Torque |
620 lb-ft |
620 lb-ft |
620 lb-ft |
620 lb-ft |
620 lb-ft |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.4 seconds |
4.4 seconds |
4.4 seconds |
4.4 seconds |
4.4 seconds |
|
Estimated Range |
350 – 500 miles |
350 – 500 miles |
350 – 500 miles |
350 – 500 miles |
350 – 500 miles |
|
Maximum Payload Capacity |
2,700 lbs |
2,700 lbs |
2,700 lbs |
2,700 lbs |
2,700 lbs |
|
Maximum Towing Capacity |
14,000 lbs |
14,000 lbs |
14,000 lbs |
14,000 lbs |
14,000 lbs |
|
Starting Price |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
(Data sourced from Stellantis)
Key Features
- All trim levels will feature the same powertrain
- Weatherproof frunk with 15 cubic feet of storage
- 10 minutes of charge time will give 110 miles of range with 800-volt DC fast charging
Stellantis claims that the new RAM 1500 REV will have a staggering 0.34 drag coefficient, which will allow for up to 350 miles of range in the base 168 kilowatt-hour model 1500 REV and up to 500 miles in the 229 kilowatt-hour model. Do note that as of writing this article, the RAM 1500 REV still needs to be tested in the real world, but until then what Stellantis says is the law.
Tesla Cybertruck
Drag Coefficient: 0.34
Only released a few weeks ago, the Tesla Cybertruck finally reached showroom floors after what feels like an eternity of waiting. For the time being, Tesla only offers the all-wheel-drive Cybertruck, but soon a faster model called the Cyberbeast will reach customers, as well as a cheaper rear-wheel-drive variant. Although the EPA is yet to release official information regarding the Cybrertruck, Tesla released information to the public.
Tesla Cybertruck Specs
|
Rear-wheel-drive |
All-wheel-drive |
Cyberbeast |
|
|
Motor Setup |
Single electric motor |
Two electric motors |
Three electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
N/A |
600 hp |
845 hp |
|
Torque |
N/A |
7,435 lb-ft |
10,296 lb-ft |
|
0-60 MPH |
6.5 seconds |
4.1 seconds |
2.6 seconds |
|
Estimated Range |
250 miles |
340 miles |
320 miles |
|
Payload Capacity |
2.500 lbs |
2,500 lbs |
2,500 lbs |
|
Towing Capacity |
7,500 lbs |
11,000 lbs |
11,000 lbs |
|
Starting Price |
$60,990 |
$79,990 |
$99,990 |
(Data sourced from Tesla)
Key Features
- Touchscreen for both front and rear passengers
- Boxy styling that looks like nothing else on the road
- Scratch-resistant exoskeleton exterior, bulletproof doors and windows
Despite its curb weight of nearly 7,000 pounds, the Cybertruck ‘s 0.34 drag coefficient, and shares the same battery as found in the Tesla Model 3 battery. Tesla also states that the Cybertruck will gain 136 miles of range in only 15 minutes when hooked up to a Tesla’s Supercharger network.
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Rivian R1T
Drag Coefficient: 0.30
Despite being relatively new to the market, Rivian already has two models on its lineup, the Rivian R1S electric SUV, and the R1T electric pickup truck that changed the game. Sharing similar design languages, the R1T has the lowest drag coefficient on our list today coming in at 0.30. The Rivian R1T is offered with either two electric motors, or an even mightier four-motor setup.
Rivian R1T Specs
|
Dual-Motor |
Performance Dual Motor |
Quad-Motor |
|
|
Motor Setup |
Two electric motors |
Two electric motors |
Four electric motors |
|
Horsepower |
600 hp |
700 hp |
835 hp |
|
Torque |
600 lb-ft |
700 lb-ft |
908 lb-ft |
|
0-60 MPH |
4.5 seconds |
3.5 seconds |
3.0 seconds |
|
Estimated Range |
270 – 410 miles |
270 – 410 miles |
270 – 410 miles |
|
Payload Capacity |
1,760 lbs |
1,760 lbs |
1,760 lbs |
|
Towing Capacity |
11,000 lbs |
11,000 miles |
11,000 lbs |
|
Starting Price |
$71,050 |
$85,800 |
$88,800 |
(Data sourced from Rivian and InsideEVs)
Key Features
- Built-in air compressor in the bed
- 14.9 inches of ground clearance
- Hidden storage tunnel under the rear bed
Offered in a variety of trim levels, the Rivian R1T’s range highly depends on which model you go for. The EPA estimated that the dual-motor Rivian R1T fitted with 21-inch wheels will achieve 82 MPGe in the city, and 74 MPGe on the highway, resulting in a combined 78 MPGe rating.
