Ohio-based car maker Workhorse Group unveiled its W-15 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Pickup Truck at the ACT Expo in Long Beach. The vehicle will come with a battery and BMW-sourced engine under its hood.
Although, the concept of an electric pickup truck is not a new one, especially since many other car manufacturers are already working on their own variants, Workhorse is the first company to build an electric pickup from the ground up. Other carmakers are currently planning to rehash their gas model pickups into electric ones.
Features Of The Workhorse W-15 Pickup Truck
The W-15 weighs 7,200 pounds and can generate 460-horsepower. Full torque is available at zero RPMs. This superior power allows it to go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
The battery has a power rating of 60 kWh but can be charged upto 45 kWh to increase its life span. A fully-charged battery of the W-15 has a range of about 80 miles. Gas wise, the manufacturers promise 32 miles per gallon on the highway and 28 miles per gallon in the city.
The W-15 hybrid can cover around 390 miles on a full tank and fully-charged battery. Either a 110-volt charger or a 240-volt charger can charge the battery. Workhorse states that it would take roughly six to seven hours to fully charge the battery from zero with a 240-volt charger.
One important aspect of any pickup truck is its ability to tow. The workhorse hybrid does not disappoint in this regard. Being a 7,200-pound vehicle, it can tow 5,000 pounds, which puts it in the same category as some V-6-powered trucks.
Price And Availability
It is clear from the design and features that this pickup is mainly targeted toward fleet managers who need heavy duty vehicles they can depend on. Workhorse is bringing into the market an electric vehicle, which will function properly and have a long life span.
The entire body of the truck is made up of reinforced carbon fiber plastic, which is dent-resistant unlike metallic bodies.
The W-15 is likely to go into production by late 2018 and will bear a price tag of $52,500. It will be qualified for the $7,500 federal tax rebate and also some state tax rebates. The company is expected to produce 10,000 units of the W-15 within the first year. However, it remains to be seen whether Workhorse can succeed in the electric pickup truck market where many have failed.
Check out the video of the W-15 pickup hybrid truck below.
