Another electric pick-up is coming

Friday, 26 June 2020

Is the electric pick-up truck set to become the next mid-size SUV segment? It almost feels that way, with another North American startup debuting its new e-truck.

Lordstown revealed its Endurance pick-up yesterday in a live stream, which the company hopes will be the first electric truck mass-produced in the United States.

The Endurance will cost US$52,500 (NZ$81,600) in base form, able to be reserved via refundable US$1000 deposits.

This is a new electric pick-up built by Lordstown. See those orange things behind the wheels? Those are the motors.

While details were few and far between, Lordstown CEO, Steve Burns, confirmed the Endurance would have just four moving parts - the wheels, each of which driven by a hub-mounted motor. Total output will be around 447kW and range is estimated to be just over 400km.

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It's not an ugly thing but the Endurance will have work hard to carve out its place in an increasingly crowded segment.

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Burns added the Endurance will be the 'safest pick-up truck on sale,' adding that it will have 'the best traction and handling.' We're not so sure about that though because the electric pick-up segment is set to go supernova in the next few years with some stiff competition waiting in the wings.

Additionally, a claimed towing capacity of 7500 lbs (3400kg) puts Lordstown's offering quite a few steps below the likes of Tesla's Cybertruck, which boasts towing capacity of 14,000 lbs (6350kg) in tri-motor form. Of course, 3400kg is still plenty and, in New Zealand at least, towing more than 6000kg across the vehicle, trailer and its load means drivers need a new licence class.

Charging the undefined battery with the 7kW onboard charger connected to a typical 240-volt AC power source will take around 10 hours.

It will be interesting to see what the electric pick-up segment looks like in a year or two. Tesla's Cybertruck should be out, along with Rivian's R1T, Ford's electric F-150, Bollinger's B2, the electric Hummer truck as well as electric versions of the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Titan, though those two might be a bit further out.