You may not have heard of SPI Energy before but a few months ago, it announced plans to introduce an all-electric pickup truck. With the automotive industry racing towards an all-electric future, many automakers and startups are looking to build electric pickup trucks that are as utilitarian as ICE trucks but with the advantages that electric motors can provide. SPI Energy’s planned pickup truck will be brought to life through its EdisonFuture and Phoenix Motor subsidiaries and is dubbed the EF1-T.
EdisonFuture says the EF1-T has been
created in collaboration with the Icona Design Group and other “leading
automaker partners” and will be offered in three guises: Standard, Premium, and
Super. The EF1-T Standard will have a single electric motor and hit 96
km/h in 6.5 seconds while the Premium will have a dual motors and hit 60 mph
in 4.5 seconds. Meanwhile, the flagship Super will be offered with a tri-motor
configuration and hit 60 mph in around 3.9 seconds.
No technical specifications have been
announced about the vehicle’s battery pack but the company has revealed that
the truck features solar cells on the roof and has an integrated solar panel
that can be pulled out to cover the entirety of the bed.
From a visual standpoint, the EF1-T
features large LED headlights, is equipped with power-retractable side steps,
and uses cameras instead of traditional wing mirrors. No dimensions have been
released but it could be similar in size to the Tesla Cybertruck.
Renderings released of the interior
showcase a large 17.5-inch infotainment screen, a digital gauge cluster, a
head-up display, and toolboxes integrated into the doors. In addition to the
EF1-T, the company is planning an all-electric van based on the same platform
and dubbed the EF1-V.
