Tesla Cybertrucks increasingly are appearing on roadways, and whether they're attracting the eyes of gawkers or haters, the pickup's popularity is a testament to what some electric-vehicle buyers value in a truck. It took minutes after getting his Cybertruck in mid-May for Cameron Bahri, 33, of West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, to experience the diversity of opinions. Another truck blew back smoke in his direction shortly after he'd hit the road.
He's had profanities shouted at him. At other times, five to 10 people might be crowded around the vehicle getting a photo or asking him about it. "The design felt really futuristic," said Bahri, who reserved a Cybertruck within days of its reveal in 2019.
He says the pickup with its sharp angles reminded him of the "warthog" vehicle in the Halo video games. "When I walk out and see my truck, it’s hard to wrap my head around that I have it. It seems like a movie.
It's so comfortable, and the drive is so smooth. It doesn’t even really feel like a pickup truck. It feels like an SUV that doesn’t have a third row.
"People either love them or hate them," he added. "I have a harder time understanding why they would hate them. The Cybertruck is like one of the most American-made trucks possible.
" Cameron Bahri said he was attracted to the Tesla Cybertruck by its futuristic looks and sold on its comfortable seats and smooth ride. Bahri wasn't the only one attracted by the Cybertruck's stainless steel body, iPad on wheels mentality and truck capabilities. Registrations in the United States for the Tesla pickup surpassed those of all the other all-electric trucks on the market in May, including the Ford F-150 Lightning, according to the most recent data available from S&P Global Inc.
Although it remains early, the results, experts say, point to the industry's challenges in accomplishing what a traditional gas- or diesel-powered pickup can do as an EV, while buyers of EV trucks still are early adopters or looking at the purchase as more of a statement piece. "I was surprised," Tom Libby, associate director of industry analysis at S&P Global Mobility, said about the Cybertruck securing the top spot of EV trucks for the month, "but then again, it's Tesla, so Tesla's always surprising." Tesla doesn't break out monthly U.
S. sales. Registrations are an alternative.
The Cybertruck's registrations notched it fifth place among all battery-electric vehicles for May, according to the S&P data, with 3,907 new registrations. Tesla launched the initial limited-edition Foundation Series, which started at $100,000, on Nov. 30.
The Lightning, which began production in the spring of 2022, had 2,353 registrations in May (Ford Motor Co. recorded 3,260 Lightning sales). The Cybertruck registrations, though, even surpassed the Lightning's peak month, of 3,794 vehicle registrations in November 2023, according to S&P.
The Lightning starts at $62,995 for the retail XLT trim. "They are such different species of vehicles," said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions LLC. "A Lightning has a built-in base of consumers who like that type of truck, many of which use them as a traditional pickup.
The Cybertruck is more like a status symbol and less like a traditional work truck. Comparing the two is apples and oranges." He added: "One month does not a trend make.
" Ford spokesperson Said Deep said in a statement: "Year to date, F150 Lightning is the No. 1 electric truck in America." Ford sold 15,645 Lightnings through the end of June, up 79% year-over-year.
For registrations from January through May, the Lightning had 13,443, while the Cybertruck had 7,879, according to S&P. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in June the EV maker had reached production of 1,300 vehicles per week and that a Cybertruck with a lower cost will launch this year. Musk said in October the company had more than 1 million Cybertruck reservations.
Cameron Bahri uses the steering wheel and pedals to play a racing game in his Tesla Cybertruck. The numbers for the registrations likely are coming from that prepared demand, Libby said: "After a while, those reservations will be taken care of, and then it will be interesting to see how demand holds up." The Rivian R1T, which starts at $69,900 and was the first all-electric truck to the U.
S. market in late 2021, recorded 1,237 registrations in May, according to S&P. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Silverado EV had 668 and the GMC Hummer EV had 359.
General Motors Co. spokesperson Shad Balch said the automaker is in launch mode for the Silverado, which just now is arriving in showrooms. The company said recently it again was delaying the start of expanded production from late 2025 to mid-2026 at its assembly plant in Orion Township.
"We're excited about the growth opportunity in the electric vehicle market," Balch said. Watch Kim Kardashian's son Psalm West ride in style with his $1,500 gift from Kris Jenner! The mini Tesla Cybertruck is just like mom's! A request for comment was left with a Rivian spokesperson. Experts said how the Cybertruck performs in the coming months will be more telling, especially as additional competition enters the market.
Stellantis NV's all-electric Ram 1500 REV will launch before the end of the year. "It’s a novelty," Sam Abuelsamid, principal e-mobility analyst at market research firm Guidehouse Inc., said of the Cybertruck.
"The people that want a truck to do truck stuff are probably not buying that thing. It’s the people in the past that would’ve bought the Model S Plaid or Model X. It's not necessarily F-Series or Rams or Silverados being traded in on Cybertrucks.
" S&P Global's data shows that the top vehicles whose owners are coming to get a Cybertruck are F-Series trucks, Libby said. Given the price point on the Tesla pickup, though, it's likely a secondary vehicle for many of these buyers, who tend to be higher-income. "They could be adding the Cybertruck to the garage," Libby said.
"In other words, they're not necessarily replacing." Unlike used car transactions on crossovers and pickups, used electric vehicle (EV) purchases represent an opportunity to save a ton of money over the cost of a new model. Used models of electric vehicles tend to be available even when the price of used cars is typically high, and they sell for short money even when the price of gas is on the march.
The cost of depreciation on the used EV market is just as dramatic as the depreciation of a European luxury car. At mid-year 2024, the average price of a used electric car was down 24% compared with 2023's prices. There's quite a bit of research and investigation you want to do on a used EV that's common to buying any used car, but CarGurus provides some specific information you should be aware of before you venture into the marketplace for used battery electric vehicles.
Pros: Cons: Before buying a used EV, it's worth considering the lifestyle changes this new technology demands. First, driving range remains the primary detractor for many shoppers, and for good reason. Range anxiety is real; American highway infrastructure is vast, and while a 250-mile driving range may suffice for many shoppers, those living in rural areas (especially where charging stations are few and far between, or the only options are not DC fast chargers ) may find that they need a longer-range vehicle.
Further, whether due to battery degradation over time or the older battery tech that underpins older EVs, many models on the used market can't travel 250 miles on a charge. That said, even older models make a lot of sense for the right shopper. If you have the ability to charge your EV at home, and your commute is less than 50 miles each way, an EV can save you money and time by keeping you away from gas stations.
They're also lovely to drive, particularly in urban areas, thanks to their quick acceleration and near-silent operation. Beyond the lower cost of ownership and great around-town performance, EVs are cleaner to operate than gas- or diesel-powered vehicles, and they're typically packed with newer technology, too. If you're considering an EV, take a test drive.
We suspect you'll be impressed. With regard to the buying process, an EV purchase has a few extra benefits to consider versus a typical gas vehicle. One of the most critical things to understand when purchasing a used EV is the applicability of any tax advantages, and their implication on resale value.
Many new EVs are eligible to receive some sort of tax credit from the IRS, up to $7,500. That's the full tax credit for a new battery electric vehicle. Thanks to the inflation reduction act, there are also tax credits available for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and used EVs.
Starting in 2024, shoppers can transfer the clean vehicle tax credit to the dealership, allowing them to apply it as a discount at the time of purchase rather than waiting to collect the credit at tax time. Previously, cars were no longer eligible for tax credits once the automaker had sold 200,000 EVs. That restriction has since been eliminated, meaning cars like the Chevrolet Bolt EV are once again eligible.
There are a few limitations: New electric SUVs and trucks must be priced below $80,000 to qualify, and new EV prices must be below $55,000 for cars. Further, the vehicle must adhere to battery and sourcing requirements: If both requirements are met, the vehicle can qualify for the full amount. If only one requirement is met, only a partial credit of $3,750 applies (and if neither is met, no credit applies).
There are also income limits. For new EVs, single and married folks who file their taxes separately must make less than $150,000 in modified adjusted gross income to qualify for the benefit. Head of households are capped at $225,000, and married shoppers that file jointly are capped at $300,000.
On the used EV front, the limits are lower: $75,000 for single and married filing separately, $112,500 for head of household, and $150,000 for married filing jointly. Used electric vehicles that are at least two years old now qualify for a tax credit of up to $4,000 or 30% of the vehicle's sale price, whichever is lower. For used vehicles to qualify, they must be at least two years old, the sale price must be below $25,000, and the vehicle must be sold by a dealership, not a private party.
It's also important to understand the rebates and incentives that your state may offer toward the purchase of a new electric vehicle—especially if you're purchasing used. For example, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers a $3,500 rebate for used electric vehicles with a purchase price under $40,000. That's critical information: even if you're purchasing a practically new EV from the current model year with extremely low mileage on the odometer, that vehicle is effectively worth $10,000 less than a new car simply because the Federal and State rebates and incentives don't apply.
Used electric vehicles include other benefits, too. For example, in Massachusetts, EVs are not required to perform an emissions inspection as part of the annual inspection program. States like Connecticut offer reduced registration fees, and North Carolina allows EVs to use high occupancy vehicle lanes, even when the vehicle only has the driver in the cabin.
Also, look to your specific town or county for additional benefits that may be applicable, even if you purchase used. For example, the town of Braintree in Massachusetts runs its own light company and offers a rate reduction if an EV is registered in town. There are also state and municipal incentives available to help defray—or eliminate entirely—the cost of installing a Level 2 charger at home.
There's a lot to EV shopping that's no different from purchasing any other used car. At a minimum, you'll want to see a Carfax to be sure the vehicle has never been involved in a serious accident. EVs have tires, brakes, and suspensions just the way a gas- or diesel-powered car does, so you'll want to check tire date codes, tread depth, brake pad life, and suspension components and bushings for damage exactly the way you would on a car powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE).
What you won't have to worry about are all the ancillary systems that make an ICE work. You don't have to think about things like when the last time the timing belt was changed, when the water pump was replaced, how old the exhaust system is, or whether the cooling system has been flushed. You do need to know how old the vehicle is and how many miles it's been driven, and take into account the location where the car spent most of its life.
Predictive modeling by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests that in moderate climates, a Lithium-Ion battery should last 12-15 years. In extreme climates—especially on the hot end of the extreme climate scale—that battery life may be reduced to 8-12 years. Beyond battery health, the other thing to keep in mind is the warranty offered by the original automakers.
Most automotive companies building EVs provide an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty that's transferable to subsequent owners. BMW offers an eight-year warranty on the BMW i5, and provides it for used and certified pre-owned vehicles, BUT, depending on the manufacturer, that warranty might only replace the battery pack if it can no longer reach 60 or 70 percent of its original full charge. Ford, for example, only offers that eight-year, 100,000-mile if a car's battery no longer meets this 70-percent threshold.
In those cases, you'd be getting fewer miles of range out of your vehicle, but you wouldn't be able to replace the battery under warranty until the capacity dipped low enough. It's important to know the details. There's no information from the EPA on any federal battery warranty, the way there is for emissions components like catalytic converters or ECUs on ICE-powered vehicles.
California, though, will soon require manufacturers to cover batteries for 15 years or 150,000 miles . There's some speculation that this requirement will be enacted at the Federal level, but that's not true yet. Beyond battery degradation and health, there's also the topic of charging.
EV charging at home is certainly the best option for most owners, both due to the overall cost being lower than at public chargers and, naturally, it being much more convenient. If you're moving from a gas-powered car to an EV, be sure to consider your estimated driving range—especially with regards to commuting—and where you'll do your charging. Electric motors need little maintenance, but as used EVs get older, the estimated range from their batteries will drop.
Battery replacement represents the single largest potential expense for EV owners, other than the original purchase price of the vehicle. Energy consultancy Wood McKenzie predicted that the pricing of replacement for an EV battery would fall to under $100/kWh by 2024. The cost has dropped dramatically since 2010, when it hovered around $225/kWh.
That's good, but it's still not cheap. At $125/kWh, replacing a battery pack for a Nissan Leaf with a 62kWh battery capacity would be $7,750, not including labor. That's a ton of money, for sure, and probably more than anyone would put into the car without seriously considering moving it along for something newer.
There are plenty of reasons to buy a used EV, from a distinctive and enjoyable driving experience to attractive EV tax credits. For used car shoppers hoping to score a deal on a Tesla Model Y or a Chevy Volt, there's a lot of math to be done, and your local EV-related research will need to go beyond just scoping out the public charging stations. But the same rules apply to buying any car: Buy the best one you can afford, buy one with extensive maintenance history, and budget for the unexpected.
This story was produced by CarGurus and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly..
