Havelaar Group is the latest company to reveal an all-electric pick-up truck – or ute, as Australians call them.
Unveiled in Markham, Ontario yesterday, the battery-powered Havelaar Bison concept promises a 300km electric range from a dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain.
Based around a carbon-fibre reinforced steel frame that’s claimed to deliver “class-leading torsional stiffness for enhanced durability and handling”, the single-cab offers 1.3 square metres of exterior cargo space and 0.51 square metres of lockable storage.
“Designed and tested in Canada, the E-Pickup is equipped to thrive in severe weather and challenging terrain,” says Havelaar, which says the Bison’s off-road capabilities extend to a 54 per cent hill start and 21 per cent hill climb at full load.
“Producing zero pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, it is a no-compromise truck for you to make a statement about where you stand.”
Havelaar, which has operations in Canada, China and the Netherlands, has invited expressions of interest from prospective buyers via its website, but no firm timeline for production has been announced.
The Canadian company joins North American auto brands Tesla, Bollinger and Workhorse, whose dual-cab W-15 Electric Pickup is slated for production from late 2018, in announcing a battery-electric ute designed for fleets, but so far there’s no word of right-hand drive exports to markets like Australia.