Pickup trucks are the highest-selling segment of vehicle sales in Canada. With increasing demand for environmentally conscious choices in the auto industry, combining electric power with pickup trucks makes for a great combo. With federal electric vehicle rebates in Canada, drivers are being given incentives to reduce their emissions and choose more eco-friendly options.

Pickups are generally less fuel-efficient than cars, with the average large car almost twice as efficient as a very efficient truck. As emissions standards need to be met, we may see a reduction in the number of gargantuan, profitable trucks that can be supplied to consumers. This is where new design with EV technology comes in that can support large, heavy-duty trucks meant to tow loads. If you get a chance to work on any of these in an auto career, you may be surprised that electric power can be used on such heavy machines.

Various large manufacturers as well as start-ups have been designing and building electric versions of these rugged, work-oriented vehicles. If you’re a student in mechanic school, you may already be a fan of companies like Workhorse and Bollinger.

Read on for features of some of these trucks and what the future holds for EV pickups!

The Electrifying Future of EV Pickup Trucks

Demand for Electric Pickup Trucks

• Pickup trucks are largest segment in North America
• Electric vehicles are of interest to the public but sales remain lower
• Combining the two could sell more EVs
• Guilt-free version of big, powerful vehicles

Fleet Customers for EV Pickups

Fleet customers are a target for electric pickup trucks:

• Makes truck a more complete workstation where tools etc. can be plugged in
• Savings on fuel make electric trucks the most economical choice over time

Electric Truck Manufacturers

While Tesla has released cryptic teaser images for an electric pickup and Ford and GM have both announced electric trucks in development, these smaller companies have created eco-friendly haulers:

Workhorse – more practical plug-in hybrid powertrain W-15

• On market
• Hybrid powertrain
• 129 km range on all-electric, 499 km when combined with gasoline
• Working on software-locking to reduce battery degradation
• Company also builds delivery vans and drones
• 0-60 in 5.5 seconds
• 5 L three-cylinder BMW gas engine for extended range, powers electric motors, not wheels

The Bollinger B2 – “electrified hummer”614 horsepower

• Available in 2020
• 688 lb-feet of torque
• Tows 7500 lbs
• 322 km range
• 0-60 in 4.5 seconds
• Same technology as SUV, the Bollinger B1

Rivian R1T Electric Pickup Truck

• 2021 model
• Debuted at Los Angeles Auto Show
• Now in production, likely for testing prototypes
• Rivian also debuted an electric SUV, the R1S
• Pitched as off-road capable, “Electric Adventure Vehicles”
• Tows 11,000 lbs
• 0-60 in 3 seconds
• 644 km range