The current pickup-truck revolution has seen the introduction of viable models from unexpected players such as automakers Honda and Nissan. But of all these new entries, none is more intriguing than the crop of electric-powered trucks that are likely to start appearing on jobsites in the not-too-distant future.
The closest to commercial availability is the Workhorse W15. First announced in 2017 (ENR 5/29/17 p. 48), the all-wheel-drive half-tonner combines a battery pack that is good for about 80 miles of range with a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder gasoline engine that kicks in when the battery is below 20%. With this range extender, the truck can go more than 300 miles between fill-ups.
With a cargo capacity of 2,200 lb and the ability to pull a 5,000-lb trailer, the W15 is no poser when it comes to heavy hauling. One of its most attractive features is the ability to plug in a variety of power tools—something that could prove invaluable for buyers who spend a lot of time on remote worksites and don’t have a power take-off option on their other fleet vehicles. The W15 electric truck has an expected MSRP of $52,500, according to the manufacturer.
Workhorse may be the first to market an electric pickup, but it’s far from the only potential entry in this new segment. Having proved it knows how to maximize an all-electric power train’s driving range, Tesla has announced that it is developing its own electric pickup.
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