Maxus T90EV
How good can an electric 2WD pickup be? John Kendall finds out
Maxus T90EV
How good can an electric 2WD pickup be? John Kendall finds out
Arguably, pickups will be the most difficult LCVs to electrify. Around the world, many work in remote locations where access to charging facilities is going to be a challenge. So as with most things EV at the moment the problem is one of charging infrastructure, rather than the product itself.
We know there is a new Electric Ford Ranger on the way, but first to market is Chinese manufacturer SAIC, sold here wearing Maxus badges, with an electric version of the T90 pickup. We have not had any variant of the T90 officially imported to the UK before, so it’s something of a double first for the Maxus.
Maxus UK importer is the Dublin-based Harris Group, which has imported many vehicle brands to the Irish Republic and the UK over many years and we tested the T90 in some suitably challenging weather in the west of Ireland. It’s a part of Ireland where snow is rare, unlike rain, but we just happened to be there on one of the rare occasions when the roads turned white. Perfect conditions for testing a pickup, you might think. We would agree, but perhaps more testing than you might think.
The first versions of the T90 electric to arrive are rear wheel drive and it was an RWD variant we were driving. Of course, one of the attractions of an EV is that regenerative braking is usually standard, as it is on the T90. This means it’s possible to slow down in slippery conditions with minimal use of the brakes and it made driving in snow very straightforward, even with a RWD vehicle. It’s worth adding that there will be four-wheel-drive T90 electrics next year.
Traction control played its part too, so even though we would have preferred front-wheel-drive in those conditions, we felt quite confident in the T90 in snow. One of our frustrations was the set up for the steering column stalks. Indicators are on the right and wipers to the left and we spent some time turning the wipers on and off when we were trying to use the signals.
Otherwise, the T90 is like many other double-cab pickups. The driving position is elevated and comfortable. SatNav is not on the standard kit list, but Android Auto and Apple Car Play connectivity easily offers an alternative.
There’s no chugging Diesel engine which makes progress far more peaceful than you would normally expect in a pickup – a welcome bonus. Standard equipment includes automatic halogen headlights, Bluetooth Connectivity, cruise control, Android Auto and Apple Car Play, 17-inch alloys, side steps, a reversing camera, rear parking sensor, rain sensing wipers, air conditioning and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. There will only be one trim level for the T90 electric but as you can see, the equipment list is fairly comprehensive.
Is there a market for it? Yes. Lifestyle buyers may be satisfied with RWD, although working pickup fleet managers might be more drawn to the four-wheel-drive variant to come.
ON THE ROAD
The lack of engine noise is, not surprisingly, what was most noticeable as we took to the roads, making the T90EV a peaceful and pleasant way to travel. There’s plenty of acceleration if you want it, but obviously that would have an impact on range if you kept your foot down.
We were travelling unladen, but in our experience with EVs, performance is not likely to be blunted much by a load because EVs have so much torque when pulling away. Major instruments are grouped ahead of the driver with the large central screen providing information on infotainment functions such as navigation, audio etc. As we’ve mentioned, the right hand indicator stalk is a bit of a frustration and let’s hope that that gets switched around to the conventional European position in time.
We were taking it gently on the snow covered roads but the T90 seemed sure-footed enough and where we were able to speed up, the pickup would sweep up to maximum legal speeds quite swiftly. The lack of engine noise means you need to pay a bit more attention the speedometer than usual. There’s plenty of room in the cabin for taller drivers and it’s a comfortable place to spend a working day.
