This was really apples to apples.
The presentation for the Tesla Webtruck last Wednesday, California’s company showed a video of an electric pickup participating in a tug-of-war against a Ford F-150. This short video showed that the futuristic EV truck won comfortably against the current best-selling vehicle in America. Was this fair?
The same video in a higher quality version ((See above) was released by Elon Musk on Twitter It allows us to look deeper into what happened. This Cybertruck is at most a mid-range Cybertruck, with a dual motor, all-wheel drive setup. It was announced at the unveiling that it would start at $49,900. It appears to be an F-150 in STX trim. This is judging from the grille, door handles and wheels. The regular cab XL was priced at $30,000 in 2018.
The video clearly shows that the F-150 spins only its rear wheels, so one can conclude this is a rear-wheel-drive model. The powertrain underneath the hood is not identifiable, but the 325-hp EcoBoost engine would be the best. Weighing the Cybertruck at 1,000-1500 pounds (450-680 kg) is another factor. However, this is an educated guess as we don’t have official data.
The F-150 in the video is noticeably lighter and cheaper than its all-electric counterpart. In tug-of-war competitions, the engine output and weight of each vehicle determine the winner. The Cybertruck seems to be taking up the pace and building momentum before the F-150 does anything. The F-150 does not have an AWD system and a locking rear differential. Plus, the Cybertruck’s all-electric powertrain produces instant torque.
All that being said, is this really an apples-to-apple tug-of-war? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.