Electric Pick-ups You Can Buy In The UK Now Or Soon
It won’t have escaped your notice that the electric revolution is very much in full swing across the motoring industry amid strict carbon emissions targets being imposed in the UK and across Europe.
However, while there has been a sharp influx of pure electric or plug-in hybrid models swelling the passenger car market in recent years, the shift to zero-emissions technology has not quite been as forthcoming in the lightweight commercial sector with most recent EV introductions limited to a handful of van options.
By contrast, the pick-up segment – in Europe, at least - continues to rely heavily on large-capacity diesel-fuelled powertrains with the Maxus T90 EV the only model of its kind currently available in the UK. That’s a stark contrast to the dozens of EV or PHEV models launched in the leisure SUV sector.
Alas, there are some unavoidable reasons for the slow uptake (read below), though the good news for those looking to go green with their next pick-up purchase is that these limitations will soon be a thing of the past as new models come to market.
In the meantime, allow Vansdirect to explain why an electric pick-up could be a logical choice for you and give you a glimpse into the future for which EV and PHEV pick-ups are on the way.
Electric vs Diesel: What are the advantage and disadvantages of an EV pick-up?
Despite the limited options available right now, there are in fact multiple benefits to going electric, the most obvious being a radical reduction in running costs in terms of ‘fuelling’ (in this case, charging) and the elimination of carbon emissions.
Linear acceleration also puts a huge amount of torque at your disposal, ensuring not only brisk reactions on the road but useful performance off it too. Better still, such pulling power makes an EV ideal for those who tow regularly.
There are practical benefits as well, with upcoming models being configured to allow the battery to charge devices and power electric equipment (such as tools) in addition to supplying power to the motor.
On the flip side, EV models are traditionally much heavier than their ICE counterparts, thus potentially affecting particularly weighty models when it comes to meeting UK light commercial tax rules. For the time being, however, alternatively fuelled LCVs receive a licence exemption that allows for a maximum gross vehicle weight to 4,250kg.
Higher list prices and limitations of either the UK’s national charging point infrastructure or home-based supplies are other drawbacks to take into consideration.
Why are there few electric pick-ups on sale in the UK right now?
While pick-ups have increasingly become the vehicle of choice for private customers seeking a practical family runaround, the segment remains rooted in its business and commercial roots.
As such, the life cycle of a pick-up model is longer than that of an equivalent SUV, while prioritising mechanical durability – particularly for machines used regularly for off-roading or for commercial purposes – deters manufacturers from introducing more complicated engineering under the skin.
It means most pick-ups on the market today rely on well-proven, tried and tested but otherwise ageing mechanicals – in fact, some of today’s pick-up platforms will pre-date the first wave of mainstream passenger EVs that hit the market a decade or so ago.
As such, electric powertrains – especially pure EVs – are difficult to integrate into these existing platforms, forcing manufacturers to wait until the right moment to invest heavily in an all-new platform built specifically around electric power.
It’s both a costly and time-consuming endeavour – hence the limited options on these shores right now – but recent advances in technology, particularly so-called ‘skateboard’ chassis platforms designed to underpin various body styles, should see the tide turn over the next couple of years.
Electric Pick-Ups On Sale In The UK Now
Maxus T90
Payload – 1000kg
Towing (Braked) – 1500kg
Range – up to 205 miles
Battery Capacity – 88.55kWh
The all-electric Maxus T90 has the distinction of being the only EV pick-up on sale in the UK at this time, though even this is soon to be replaced by the new Maxus eTerron9 (see below).
Boasting an 88.5kWh battery, the T90 meets commercial vehicle criteria with its 1000kg payload, while its 200-mile range is respectable. It is well-kitted out too, so the Maxus T90 EV might well prove an unconventional yet attractive used prospect once it is succeeded by the eTerron9.
Electric Pick-Ups Coming Soon
Ford Ranger PHEV
Payload – 1000kg
Towing (Braked) – 3500kg
Range – up to 26 miles (battery only)
Battery Capacity – 11.8kWh (in addition to 2.3-litre petrol)
Full disclosure, the Ford Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) isn’t a pure electric pick-up but as the first of its kind to reach the sector, its significance shouldn’t be underestimated.
Indeed, given the Ford Ranger commands a vast 48% market share across Europe, the addition of a more frugal variant to the best-selling model line-up on the continent this spring should see rivals get in on the act too.
At the Ranger PHEV’s heart remains a 101bhp 2.3-litre petrol engine but it is assisted by an 11.8kWh battery to significantly improve fuel economy without compromising payload, towing or off-road performance. Better still, it’ll allow for around 26 miles of emissions-free driving on battery power alone.
KGM Musso EV
Payload - TBA
Towing (Braked) - TBA
Range – up to 249 miles
Battery Capacity – 80.6kWh
The KGM Musso EV will undergo a significant overhaul in terms of both design and philosophy when it arrives later this year, initially as a pure EV pick-up.
In addition to the striking new design – which takes inspiration from the Torres EVX upon which it is based – the Musso EV features an 80.6kWh capacity blade battery sourced from BYD driving a 152.kW motor, while the firm claims a range of up to 249 miles (in 2WD mode)
Isuzu D-MAX BEV
Payload - 1000kg
Towing (Braked) – 3500kg
Range – TBA
Battery Capacity – 66.9kWh
Isuzu is set to become the first of the establish pick-up firms to dip its toe into electric waters with the launch of the D-MAX BEV, due late 2025/early 2026.
While teaser images suggest the BEV version appears only modestly different from today’s D-MAX, it is all change under the skin with promises of a dual-motor set-up generating a total output of 174bhp and 325Nm of torque from its 66.9kWh battery.
Isuzu says it will also take care to ensure it retains four-wheel drive, a 3.5 tonne towing capacity and a one-tonne payload to qualify it for commercial vehicle tax incentives.
Maxus eTerron9
Payload – 620kg
Towing (Braked) – 3500kg
Range – up to 267 miles
Battery Capacity – 102.2kWh
Having blazed a trail with the T90, Maxus is already readying its second EV pick-up effort, the futuristic looking eTerron9.
Bearing more than a passing resemblance to America’s beefier ‘trucks’ – not to mention the iconic Hummer - the Maxus eTerron9 reinforces its aesthetic with a 102.2kWh battery generating 125bhp and 250Nm of torque for a range of up to 267 miles. Payload is stated at 620kg.
What of Other Pick-Up Models
Toyota Hilux – Toyota has hinted at plans to introduce an electric-version of its mighty Hilux within the year, though it has already incorporated mild-hybrid tech into the current range too. Moreover, there are also plans on the drawing board for a hydrogen-powered version to arrive in the next couple of years.
Volkswagen Amarok – Surprisingly, considering its trailblazing status in the passenger and van EV segment, VW has indicated no plans to adapt its popular Amarok for either PHEV or EV versions until the demand grows. This might change in due course, not least given the Ford Ranger PHEV – upon which the Amarok is based – is just around the corner.
What We Could Have Had
While it seems odd to associate the rough, tough and gruff US ‘truck’ market with quiet, clean and fast electric power, it’s proving a match made in heaven for many manufacturers as demonstrated by the numerous EV pick-up models already on sale.
Indeed, larger and more accommodating platforms for America’s most popular pick-ups mean the transition to electric is less complicated from an engineering perspective, while they retain all the benefits for owners making the switch.
Alas, they’re still a bit too big and brash for general sale in the UK, which is bad news for fans of the bonkers Tesla Cybertruck.
Instantly recognisable as the unapologetic follow-up to the hugely successful Model 3 and Model Y, unfortunately the Cybertruck’s indicators and brake lights don’t comply with UK regulations, while its hefty 3,500kg kerb weight would force owners to complete a special driving course for a licence usually reserved for prospective ambulance or motorhome drivers!
While Tesla butts heads with UK regulators, fellow US-based EV start-up Rivian might have more luck in bringing the R1T over here. More conventional than its bolder rival, the Rivian R1T can be specified with quad-motor technology (a motor for each wheel) to produce an astonishing 1025bhp and 1624Nm of torque in top spec.
If the idea of a Ford Ranger PHEV is stretching the imagination, then how about the Ford F150 Lightning, the electric version of the United States’ best-selling vehicle?
Not to be outdone, the equally popular Chevrolet Silverado has followed suit, which in turn has spawned the sister GMC Sierra Denali EV, while the Stellantis group entrusts its electric American dreams to the RAM 1500 EV.
