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Case Study: Long-haul Towing with an EV vs F-150

Posted by admin on Sep. 3, 2025  /  Electric Vehicles, Case Studies  /  Subscribe 0

Towing My Bay Boat: Cybertruck vs. V8 F-150

As a longtime truck owner and avid inshore fisherman, I was reluctant to give up my V8 F-150 for an EV pickup. One of my biggest concerns was towing range, especially considering the lack of charging stations in the Louisiana coastal communities I often fish. Could an EV really keep up with my gas-powered workhorse? I decided to find out.

I’m often towing approximately 4,500lbs with the 20-foot bay boat, 40 gallons of fuel, a cooler full of ice, fishing tackle, and a couple of buddies headed down to Hopedale in search of speckled trout and redfish. Over the past five years, I’ve transitioned my daily drivers from gas to electric, but I kept the F-150 for this very reason.

That changed recently when I picked up a 2025 AWD Cybertruck, and it was finally time to see if an EV could handle boat duty on the bayou.

Putting It to the Test

After several towing trips with the Cybertruck, I now have a solid comparison between my old gas truck and the new electric daily driver. Here’s how they stack up:

The Legacy: 2009 Ford F-150 V8

• Normal driving: ~16 MPG

• Towing the boat: ~8.5 MPG

Being an older truck, 8.5 MPG while towing was brutal. That meant refueling every time the boat hit the water.

The New Era: AWD Cybertruck

• Normal driving: ~420 Wh/mi (~293 miles of range)

• Towing (moderate load): ~760 Wh/mi (~161 miles of range)

Electric efficiency drops while towing—just like gas mileage does—but it’s important to see the full picture. Watt-hours per mile (Wh/mi) is the EV equivalent of MPG.

Side-by-Side Comparison

*MPGe is a rough conversion to compare gas and electric vehicles. 1 gallon of gasoline = ~33.7 kWh. Cost estimates based on $3.50/gallon gas and $0.16/kWh electricity.

What Surprised Me Most

• Range drops in both trucks when towing, but in the Cybertruck it’s more predictable. Once you understand your Wh/mi, you can plan accordingly.

• Regenerative braking helps significantly, especially when slowing down with a heavy boat in tow.

• Torque is instant. The Cybertruck never struggles pulling out of ramps or accelerating with weight. The ride is steady, and the built-in towing settings like ride height, torque adjustment and trailer breaking smooth out the drive. My F-150 often struggled with stability at highway speeds.

One Thing to Consider

Gas-powered trucks tend to get better fuel economy at highway speeds, while EVs are generally more efficient at lower speeds especially under load. That means on slower, scenic drives through coastal backroads or marsh highways, the Cybertruck actually plays to its strengths. In contrast, the F-150’s efficiency drops in stop-and-go traffic or at slower towing speeds, where it’s constantly working harder.

Final Thoughts

If you're towing a heavy load, range anxiety is real but manageable. For my typical fishing trips (under 120 miles round trip), the Cybertruck is a great fit. With a little planning, I rarely worry about charging. In fact, over the last 10 years, I can’t recall ever towing my boat more than 150 miles in a single day.

Want more details on towing with the Cybertruck or other EV trucks?
Leave a comment or reach out—I’m happy to share more.

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