Touted as “the work truck for fleet use”
With the pickup craze getting to carmakers like Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, the idea of an electric truck doesn't emerge as a far-fetched notion.
Case in point: Workhorse has been working on the so-called W-15, which should reach the market in 2018 as the first plug-in electric pickup.
The W-15 uses two electric motors – one for each axle, for all-wheel drive capabilities plus regenerative braking – and a floor-integrated Panasonic Li-ion battery back.
An onboard generator takes the range extender role for a projected hybrid range of 310 miles (roughly 500 km). According to Workhorse, the pickup can travel for about 80 miles (130 km) in all-electric mode but remember that these values are pure estimates.
In full electric drive, fuel economy stands at a 75 mpge rating, while in hybrid mode, the W-15 pickup returns 28 mpg highway and 32 mpg city.
For weight-cutting reasons, the pickup truck features lightweight composite body panels that sit on a high-strength stainless steel frame.
Workhorse also claims the W-15 tips the scales at 7,200 lb and can haul up to 2,200 lb worth of cargo while seating up to five adults.