Electric pickup
You’ll get a charge out of this new hauler.
With Ford teasing about electrifying the F-150 and Tesla with an e-pickup in the pipeline, we see a trend starting. And so does a certain start-up.
Last week, Michigan-based Rivian revealed its 2020 model year all-electric lineup consisting of a pickup with a stated range of 400 miles.
The all-wheel-drive Rivian R1T truck boasts a nearly 1,800-lbs. payload and a towing capacity of 11,000 lbs. With a large battery pack, it can go from 0 to 60 in about three seconds, and cruise through more than three feet of water. And the lack of an internal combustion engine gives it that much more storage capacity: a lockable cargo space spans from side to side just ahead of the rear wheels.
Even after the $5,500 rebate, the base price of $70,000 makes the R1T more of a luxury than a workhorse. But battery-powered pickups may catch on, since the instant-power of electric motors are naturally torque-heavy, and having a built-in generator with plugs makes for a perfect worksite companion.
Rivian also introduced its R1S SUV, riding on the same platform as the R1T.