Pick-ups plug in the hole

Pickups began their careers as cheap, hard-working tools for farmers and professionals, but along the way they evolved into lifestyle vehicles, gaining more dimensions and becoming popular with the wider buying public. Large pickup trucks have dominated the U.S. market for decades, with 2.3 million such vehicles sold last year while the undisputed best seller, the Ford F-Series, has held the top spot in North American vehicle registrations for decades. In other countries, however, the picture is changing dramatically, with Pick-ups holding a share of around 6% of all global vehicle sales. At the same time, we should say that these models have been the target of the ecological movement for several years, as they are heavy, large, with a very aerodynamic shape, equipped with diesel engines and are accused of high air pollution. It is no coincidence, moreover, that models such as the popular Nissan Navara are no longer imported into Europe because they do not meet the strict anti-pollution standards used on the Old Continent.

One would expect with this data, that Pick-ups would have a dinosaur fate and that car companies would not invest money in the development of new models. However, the opposite is happening, as many car manufacturers are already working on a new type of semi-dirty trucks, as they are electric. In addition to established manufacturers, start-up companies have also joined the dance, which sees a bright future in electric Pick-ups!

But why does this happen? It is clear that such expensive strategies are based on some data and are aimed at the financial benefits of companies in a direct or indirect way. The main reason for the green revival of Pick-ups is their high prices and a high amount of profit per sale, something that is prohibited for the cheapest models, which customers count with the last euro. Of course, electric pickup trucks will still cost more than models with internal combustion engines, but they will be more profitable in the long run than modern modern technology, due to their low operating and maintenance costs, and as a bonus they provide lots of torque. from the first touch of the throttle with excellent performance.

The biggest challenge for Pick-up manufacturers is to convince the common lovers of those classic models to switch to the new phase of electric and semi-truck of that technology, because – if they succeed – it is considered that most of the common customers. it will follow them. To convince them, they invent gadgets and advanced functions, such as, for example, the ability of an electric Hummer Pick-up to move with sound and put it with creative images developed by the company Epic Games, one of the leaders in the field of sports. video games. But let’s take a look at some electric Pick-ups, which are already in the works and will go to the asphalt and dirt at some point.

Rivian R1T

The established company Rivian from Brooklyn, Michigan, USA, has been developing the RT1 since September 2021, which is also the world’s first electric Pick-up. The Rivian RT1 has four electric motors – one per wheel – with a total power of 800 PS and can be ordered with batteries with a capacity of 105, 135 and 180 kWh and respective ranges of 402, 483 and 644 km. Also, its payload reaches 800 kg, while the price of the car starts at 67,500 dollars, which is about 57,000 euros. It should be noted that Amazon has also participated in Rivian since February 2019 with 700 million dollars.

Tesla Cybertruck

Tesla’s Cybertruck goes from being postponed to being postponed. According to the latest data, it is estimated that it will start production at the end of 2022. The model claims the futuristic design award and will be produced in the Gigafactory 5 factory, which is built in Texas, while it will be equipped as standard with a four-wheel drive, suspension by air and offers a range of up to 805 km. On Tesla’s page, the starting price of the 5.86-meter-long Cybertruck was listed as $39,000 (about €36,000), but later it disappeared from the screen.

GMC Hummer EV

GMC is touting the new electric Hummer as the “Super All-Electric Truck.” The green giant of the GM subsidiary brand will be launched as an off-road vehicle with a closed body, but also as an open semi-truck, which will produce in its highest version more than 1,000 PS and provide more than 500 km. autonomy. The monster car will weigh more than four tons and will cost around 80,000 dollars, which is about 67,500 euros.

Ford F-150 Electric

The most important example of the American market is electricity. The Ford F-150 Electric goes on sale this spring and will come standard with all-wheel drive. Its prices start from around 34,300 euros and already in the offices of the brand with a circular mark over 160,000 initial orders! It’s estimated that about one in ten F-150-series pickups that Ford will sell will be electric, with the specific percentage increasing year over year.

Bollinger B2

Bollinger Motors from Oak Park, Michigan isn’t just talking about an electric pickup truck, it’s about “redefining the pickup truck.” Modell B2 has two electric motors, four-wheel drive, is 5.27 m long, carries up to four passengers and has a range of about 300 km. Bollinger B2 stands out especially for its excellent off-road capabilities, it will cost in its basic version 125,000 dollars (about 108,000 euros) and pre-ordering such a model is enough for an interested customer to make a deposit of 1,000 dollars. .

Chevrolet Silverado EV

In the spring of 2023, the electric Chevrolet Silverado EV will be released at a starting price of around 35,000 euros. The Silverado EV will use the same engine as the Hummer EV, will be able to travel up to 640 kilometers without a single charge of its battery and its equipment will include, among other things, a ten-point electric picnic grill, the use of power tools, etc. Also with fast charging it will only take ten minutes to recover the energy for another 100 miles (about 160 km).

Toyota

The Japanese brand was late on the electrification bandwagon, but will try to make up for lost ground by launching 30 new models of this technology by 2030 and investing around 62 billion euros in their development. At least one of these 30 future Toyota models will be a Pick-up, in fact we got our first taste of it in mid-December 2021 at the company’s global online presentation. The Japanese did not provide more information, but their model of the electric Pick-up has the same lines and dimensions as the standard SUV, the Toyota Tacoma. Surely there will be other shows in the future where we will learn more details.