Americans love big trucks, but sometimes these aren’t used properly to haul stuff, turning them into oversized passenger cars burning through gallons of fuel like thermite through a sheet of steel. Don’t worry though, VIA Motors already started the production of the world’s first plug-in hybrid pickup truck.
In case you missed the news, VIA Motors is a General Motors venture that converts GM pickups into hybrid vehicles. And just last week, Bob Lutz announced the production of such trucks is starting. Now, the first 40 of them are being delivered to their customers.
“The combination of VIA’s extended range electric technology, in the number one selling vehicle in America, the pickup truck, means electric vehicles are now headed for the mainstream, lead by VIA Motors. This is one of those historic events where yesterday’s vision is today’s reality,” said Lutz.
The VIA eREV truck you can buy for at least $79,000 is claimed to offer a fuel consumption of up to 100 mpg thanks to a 40-mile (64 km) all-electric driving range while retaining a 1,000 lb (453 kg) payload capacity. Not much, but hey, you got a huge pickup that can go somewhere only with plug juice.
The added weight comes in the shape of a 23 kWh Lithium ion battery pack mounted on the frame chassis as well as a 190 kW/306 lb-ft (415 Nm) electric motor. There is also a 115 kW continuous electric generator mounted to the 4.3-liter V6 gasoline unit to use when there’s no plug around.
Total range: 350 miles
Total range is estimated at around 350 miles and part of that energy can also be used via sockets mounted on the car to power other heavy duty machinery once you’re on site.
Not much of a fan truck? Bob Lutz also has a nice little eREV van for you working the same way. You can also check the video bellow for more details.
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