Is 460 hybrid horsepower enough for your work duties?
After proving itself in the family car segment, electric/hybrid mobility solutions are now migrating to the professional sector.
Suggestive enough through its name, the Workhorse W-15 PHEV pickup truck is a reliable way of transporting goods without hurting the environment (that much).
The powertrain consists of electric motors on both the front and the rear axle, backed up by a conventional gas engine who works as a range extender — it’s not hooked to the transmission, so it can’t move the car by its own.
With 460 hp at its disposal, the W-15 can launch to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 5.5 seconds but that, of course, is not what a pickup truck needs to provide. Although it’s worth mentioning that the W-15 boasts a low center of gravity, which in theory enhances handling despite the 12-inch (30-cm) ground clearance.
But the figures a professional cares about the most are fuel economy and loading/towing capabilities. In all-electric mode, this PHEV pickup truck can travel for 80 miles (128 km) on a single charge; the range extender adds some other 230 miles (370 km) for a total of 310 miles (500 km).
The vehicle’s curb weight is not disclosed, but we do know the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is 7,200 pounds (3.2 tons), and that the W-15’s payload capacity is 2,200 pounds (998 kilograms). Hence we can deduce its curb weight — an impressive 5,000 pound (2.2 tons) rating, given the vehicle’s hybrid nature and its size. The towing capacity is equal to the pickup’s mass: 2.2 tons.
Workload says that all these figures are estimated, though. What we do know for sure is that the W-15 has a composite body that uses a significant amount of carbon fiber. While a composite body keeps the weight down, it may also cost more to upkeep, as we all learned from Ford F-150’s latest generation. Thanks to the W-15 doubling as a huge power generator, the hybrid truck can supply with juice (via a 7.2 kW power export) any electrical tool you’d be needing.
The design might not be what you’d call beautiful, but aesthetics were not the W-15 creators were after. They cared more about ergonomics — and the design was dictated by that, in case you needed to know why does this truck looks unfinished.
The W-15 comes with a $52,500 price tag, along with a chart explaining how good of an investment this PHEV pickup is: thanks to its lower maintenance costs, the W-15 would take a bit more than two and a half years to pay off. Compared to a conventional pickup, you would reduce emissions by 89 percent, and save as much as 1,449 gallons of fuel.