The Workhouse W-15 shares the company’s E-Gen electric system, which is used in its medium-duty delivery trucks and will utilize Panasonic’s 18650 lithium-ion batteries, as well as a gasoline generator. The chassis features two electric motors, one on each axle, giving the vehicle four-wheel drive for truck-like duties. The pickup is expected to have a range of 80 miles on electric power. Once the battery is depleted, the onboard generator will kick in to recharge the batteries. With the electric motors working in tandem with the generator, the truck has a claimed range of 310 miles.
Besides claiming that the W-15 will be the first plug-in hybrid electric pickup truck from an OEM – we should point out that Via Motor’s Raser E-REV truck first appeared on the scene in 2010, but that vehicle utilized a truck from Chevrolet for its underpinnings – Workhorse claims the W-15 will be one of the safest trucks ever built. In terms of safety, the pickup boasts a roughly 30-inch crumple zone and some autonomous features, including auto-braking and lane centering technology.
On the inside there’s seating for five, two in the front and three in the back, and low voltage power outlets that get electricity directly from the car’s battery pack. As far as the look of the vehicle, it resembles a futuristic Ford F-150, which isn’t a bad thing.
Workhorse claims to have received “non-binding letters of interest from Duke Energy as well as the City of Orlando municipal fleet.” We think the electric pickup truck would be a hit among consumers, but the company hasn’t released any plans for consumer release.
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