The electric van is slowly but steadily becoming more popular but the next big step change for light commercial vehicles will be electric pickup trucks.
The idea has become reality elsewhere in the world, with the US leading the way. The Tesla Cybertruck is most famous electric pickup, but there are plenty of other brands that are tapping into America’s love for a truck. It’s not all new start-ups taking the leap, either, with the Ford F-150 Lightning on sale, meaning there is an all-electric version of the country’s best-selling vehicle. It boasts some truly exciting technology, too.
The problem is that the UK we are still some way behind our American friends, with very few of their models planned to make it over here. The likes of the Lightning are simply too big for our roads if nothing else. However, there is every chance that we will see some of that truck’s tech make it down to the Ford Ranger and the closely related Volkswagen Amarok.
Ford is launching a Ford Ranger plug-in hybrid while VW has confirmed that it is possible to make an electric version of the Amarok, even if nothing has been announced.
The list of electric pickup trucks on sale in the UK is only very short, with Maxus leading the way but others set to follow.
The best electric pickup trucks in the UK and the ones coming soon
Maxus T90 EV
The Maxus T90 EV is the best electric pickup truck you can buy in the UK as of the start of 2025 by dint of being the only electric pickup truck you can buy in the UK. Were there any others then the story would be different, given the Maxus doesn’t really shine as either a pickup truck or an electric vehicle.
It ticks some of the necessary boxes, as it boasts the 1,000kg payload that enables it to qualify as a commercial vehicle, but the official range is only 205 miles from an 88.5kWh battery. Reality suggests that something closer to 170 miles is more likely.
However, it is only rear-wheel drive, which is an unwelcome rarity for a class of vehicle that usually offers go-anywhere ability as one of its attributes. Add in that it’s underpowered, has a poorly laid out and old-fashioned cabin and has a complicated infotainment system. All this comes at a cost, too, with prices starting around £50,000.
Maxus eTerron 9
Not content with launching the first electric truck in the UK, Maxus is also launching the second with the Maxus eTerron 9 following on from the T90 EV’s lead. On paper things look more promising in some areas, as this truck offers four-wheel drive, 3,500kg of towing capacity and a maximum electric range of 267 miles.
There are factors to be wary of, though. This truck is much more lifestyle oriented than most pickups, and only boasts a payload of 620kg, which leaves it nowhere near the 1,000kg necessary to qualify as a commercial vehicle.
Maxus says that it aims to boost this payload, but that might test the settings of the independent suspension that is designed for comfort rather than work.
Isuzu D-Max BEV (2025)
Isuzu’s D-Max might feel like an unusual model to be making an early move to electric, given the diesel version is more geared towards rugged functionality than modern tech. However, the company confirmed that there will be an Isuzu D-Max BEV on sale as soon as 2025, and it will be coming to the UK.
It promises a one-tonne payload, 3,500kg towing ability, a 66.9kWh battery, full-time 4WD and a total power output of 174hp. One thing that Isuzu hasn’t given an indication on is the electric range, which might be a limiting factor given that battery is smaller than the one in the Maxus T90 EV.
The other element that remains a mystery is the price, with more details expected closer to the launch.
Ford Ranger hybrid electric pickup truck (2025)
Full disclosure, the Ford Ranger PHEV is not a fully electric pickup truck, but it is set to be the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to go on sale in the UK when it arrives in 2025.
It combines a 2.3-litre petrol engine and a 101hp motor with an 11.8kWh battery. The latter provides an electric-only range of 27 miles, and can also act as a power source for tools when out and about.
Ford maintains that it will be able to offer many of the same attributes of its diesel Rangers, with a 1,000kg payload and a 3,500kg towing ability.
What other electric pickups are on sale?
Tesla Cybertruck
If electric pickups have a posterchild it’s this, the Tesla Cybertruck. Crazy name, even crazier looks, it’s made by probably the most famous electric car company in the world and has gone on sale in the US.
The exterior is made from paint-free stainless steel, it claims to feature shatter-resistant glass and it promises a 340-mile electric range. It also claims some ludicrous-sounding performance figures, with 0-60mph taking just 2.6 seconds.
That slightly unusual looking rear loading bay does have some practicality to offer, though, with an official maximum payload of 1,134kg. It can tow just shy of 5,000kg too.
Will it come to the UK? It’s looking increasingly unlikely, although there is still a space on the UK website for the Cybertruck so never say never.
Ford F-150 Lightning
The Ford F-150 Lightning is the electric version of the US’s biggest selling vehicle. That’s right, the US loves a truck and this is its favourite one of all. It’s also a vehicle we are unlikely to ever see on sale here, as it is simply too big for the UK roads.
This is a shame, as the Lightning is a fantastic truck, with some clever tech, a huge battery that offers up to 320 miles of electric range and a burst of acceleration that belies its size. All we can do is hope that some of the clever kit, such as the tailgate that doubles as a work bench, make it to the electric Ranger, if/when that arrives in the UK
Will it come to the UK? No, sadly not
Rivian R1T
Rivian may not be a household name but this Californian electric vehicle firm has major backers – including Amazon, Ford and VW. Its all-electric pickup, the Rivian R1T, has been used as support vehicle in the ‘Long Way Up’ television show alongside the electric motorbikes ridden by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. It is the real deal.
It’s on sale in the USA, with the second generation having been launched in summer 2024, with prices starting from $69,900 (around £55,500). The R1T range includes models that offer between 270 and 420 miles of driving range per charge. The headline spec uses Quad Motor technology – four motors, one for each wheel – providing 1,0240hp and 1,120Nm, and 0-60mph in less than 2.5 seconds.
Will it come to the UK? This was the hope, but nothing has materialised as yet. However, the company still says it is coming to Europe, so it might still make it here as part of that
Radar RD6
You might not have heard of Radar but you may well have heard of Geely. The Chinese giant owns many brands including Volvo and Radar is one that will focus on electric pickup trucks.
This RD6 launched the brand and went on sale in China in early 2023 and comes with a choice of three battery packs, with 63 kWh, 86 kWh and 100 kWh versions. The latter of these offers an impressive 632km (393 mile) range.
Don’t get too excited about the prospect of this precise vehicle coming to the UK any time soon – Geely doesn’t have a presence of its own here yet, so the likelihood of it bringing a new brand with a standalone electric truck are not particularly high. However, it could inform other brands in the Geely group if they choose to start making pickups.
Will it come to the UK? Not much chance of that.
Chevrolet Silverado EV electric pickup truck
The Silverado is Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford F-150, so no surprise that a Chevy electric pickup truck based on this is coming. Especially as Chevrolet is part of the same General Motors family of companies as the GMC Hummer – the electric Silverado will be built in the same factory.
It first launched in 2024, with more versions being added as time passes. The stats are all pretty eye catching, with a claimed official range of up to 460 miles, a towing ability of over 5,600kg and fast charging at up to 350kW on a DC charger, meaning you should be able to get 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes.
It’s quick, too, with 0-60mph taking just 4.5 seconds. This is despite it being a big beast – too big for UK roads sadly.
Will it come to the UK? No way.
GMC Sierra Denali electric pickup truck
The electric version of the GMC Sierra is another variant of General Motors’ electric truck, based on the same technology as the GMC Hummer and Chevy Silverado EV. It will be sold exclusively in the high-spec Denali trim level to start off with, although other specs will be added
As you would expect, the stats match those of the Chevy, with a big electric range of 460 miles, blistering acceleration and a huge amount of towing power. It’s not cheap, though, with prices starting at just under $90,000 (£72,000).
Will it come to the UK? Even less likely than the Silverado EV
Alpha Wolf and Oryx electric pickup truck
Alpha is – yes, you guessed it – another one of these American electric vehicle start-ups. The difference is that it seems to get its kicks out of a kind of retro aesthetic, and the Wolf pickup is no exception. Rather than look like a futuristic version of an ordinary modern truck it’s got a much more classic-looking style, helping it to win plenty of early friends.
The company is continuing to reveal different versions: the single-cab Wolf and the extended-cab Wolf Plus have since been joined by the lightweight Oryx. All are based around the same modular electric vehicle tech concept, promising single or dual motor drive systems and a range of 250-325+ miles per charge.
There’s no payload info, but Alpha says the Wolf will tow up to 3,050kg and the Oryx 3,039kg. Unlike most listed here, these are small electric pickups, similar in size to UK and European models, so it wouldn’t feel too big over here. Pricing is set to start at $46,000 (around £37,000) for the Wolf.
Will it come to the UK? Nothing has been announced, but at least it’s not too oversized to be over here.
Canoo electric pickup truck
Canoo is another start-up company that has been promising vehicles, announcing deals and sending trucks out for testing, but has yet to hit the big time with any actual pickups on the road.
The promised technical details include a 746Nm of torque, limited 200-mile range and an actually quite pathetic 816kg payload capacity. But perhaps that’s the price you pay for style. The initial models are set to be rear-wheel drive but all-wheel drive models are planned, and there’s space onboard for just four people.
Still, at least when you look at Canoo’s website you can see actual prototypes of their other vehicles in testing. So it does at least feel as if there’s a real engineering team behind this one. Given the initial aim was to get vehicles out on sale 2023, things aren’t going completely to plan at the moment.
Will it come to the UK? It needs to go the US first, but the company says it has been getting vehicle approval for the UK, so that would appear to be the goal.
Ram 1500 EV electric pickup truck
Joining the ranks of important American trucks that have committed to electric variants is the Ram 1500. Ram is the Stellantis truck and van brand in the USA, and the 1500 model is a rival to the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado.
Ram is a little later than some of its rivals, but it is promising some decent numbers. Up to 500 miles of maximum range, 1,190kg payload and fast charging up to 350kW are all impressive-sounding figures for example. You can add a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and 654hp to that list too.
We originally ruled the electric truck out when it came to a UK launch, but Ram popped up on the big launch of all the facelifted Stellantis vans in October 2023.
The quote that stood out to us in that event was from Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis, who said: ‘From the US we will expand to the rest of the world and our trucks will complement the Stellantis van ranges in all regions.’
Is the UK part of that? We don’t yet know. The 1500 might be too big for our shores, but Kuniskis did say ‘all’ regions.
Will it come to the UK? Maybe, but we’d be surprised.
Toyota electric pickup
Toyota has not yet officially joined the electric pickup party, despite revealing a concept model in December 2021 simply called the Toyota Pickup EV. It was one of many new all-electric Toyotas unveiled at the same time but the UK has gone down a slightly different route with the development of a hydrogen fuel cell Hilux instead.
There’s not a great deal more information at this stage – we don’t even know exactly what size of pickup it most closely matches up to, though the thinking is it’s a variant of the American market Tacoma or Tundra, rather than the Toyota Hilux we’re familiar with in the UK.
Any electric Toyota pickup is likely to play second fiddle to the fuel cell Hilux, but that doesn’t mean that other markets won’t have a battery-powered truck in the meantime.
Will it come to the UK? Not yet
SPI Energy Edison Future EF1-T electric pickup truck
SPI Energy is a Chinese energy firm, and it unveiled a prototype version of this Edison Future EF1-T electric truck at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2021, where it also began taking customer reservations.
We’re not sure how many people took them up on the opportunity, and there are still quite a few crucial ‘TBCs’ on the company website. The plan still seems to be to sell the EF1-T in Standard single-motor, Premium two-motor and Super three-motor versions. Claimed power output is 400hp, 690hp and 816hp, respectively, with 0-60mph in 6.5, 4.5 and 3.9 seconds. Driving range is reckoned to be up to 450 miles per charge.
The Edison Future has another trick feature, though – a folding load cover packed with solar panels that can help keep the batteries topped up. This ‘solar mosaic’ technology will provide a ‘stunning visual signature’ apparently, and 25-35 miles of extra range. In addition to the pickup, there’s also an EF1-V off-road van based on the same platform.
Will it come to the UK? We suspect not
Volkswagen Scout electric pickup truck
The Scout brand is back. You’re forgiven if this means little to you – the name was more famous in the US than in the UK, but it is part of the VW Group, so it is a notable move nonetheless.
The reborn Scout is launching with the Terra truck and the Traveler SUV and both will be 100% electric. Both are designed for the US market only, but it’s the technology underneath that is relevant as it is likely to feature in other VW Group vehicles in the future. Probably not pickups though.
Will it come to the UK? No – the Scout brand will be designed and built in and for the American market only
Why aren’t there more electric pickups on sale in the UK?
Electric pickups are taking longer to go on sale because building them is a trickier task than electrifying a van. Existing four-wheel drive (4x4) systems are usually in the way, and the weight of the batteries may be a cause for payload concerns here in the UK.
As a result, there are lots of new brands entering the electric pickup market, using revolutionary ‘skateboard’ style chassis designs which put all of the components into a platform that can have different bodies on top – including a pickup body.
Almost all of these are focused on the USA – and though there are some Chinese electric pickup trucks as well, many of them won’t make it to the UK any time soon. Or ever.
What are the advantages of an electric pickup?
As well as producing zero emissions when driving – which is great for air quality – electric vehicles have plenty of torque, the muscle that gets loads moving. Most of the electric pickups above take advantage of this to deliver huge performance and capability.
Electric motors are also much quieter than conventional diesel and petrol engines, improving refinement. They also typically cost less to run and are cheaper to service.
More than this though, electric power gives pickup makers the opportunity to rethink conventional design ideas – and you’ll see some examples of this above.
What are the disadvantages of an electric pickup?
Weight is likely to be a problem – though there’s a special EV licence exemption for alternatively fuelled light commercial vehicles in the UK that increases the allowed maximum gross vehicle weight to 4,250kg (4.25 tonnes) for exactly this reason.
Besides, meeting the 1,000kg (1.0-tonne) payload rating required of pickups by UK light commercial vehicle tax rules may still be tricky for the size of pickup we’re used to seeing here. Batteries are heavy so will take up that vital weight allowance,
In addition to this there are the usual driving range and charging issues that face all electric vehicles. The other factor is electric pickup prices – all things point to them being higher than for diesel models.
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