The first electric pickup to go on sale in the UK, the Maxus T90EV, is available to buy now with prices starting from £49,950.
The T90EV will be the only electric pickup on sale in the UK and launches with some figures that look impressive on paper, not least a claimed combined range of 220 miles and a 1,000kg payload.
What’s the technical spec of the Maxus electric pickup?
Maxus has now confirmed that the UK-bound T90EV will indeed have an all-important 1,000kg payload, which will allow it to qualify for commercial vehicle status and the associated tax breaks. This means that the price can be quoted without VAT, which is crucial for the firm’s hopes when it comes to attracting buyers from businesses small and large.
The range also looks more promising than first thought, as Maxus says the T90EV has an official claimed WLTP range of 220 miles – more than the 198-mile range initially announced back when the vehicle was first revealed at the CV Show in May 2022. That 198-mile range was only based on city driving, too, which Maxus says still applies, oddly.
The battery providing this range is an 88.5kWh unit, which powers a 150kW electric motor (equivalent to 204hp). Maxus hasn’t revealed many more performance details of the truck but has said that it will be able to support 11kW charging on a Type 2 plug and 80kW on a CCS plug. It should be able to get from 20-80% charge in 45 minutes on a DC charger at temperatures down to -25 degrees.
The motor itself is positioned at the back axle and hangs down under the truck. So ground clearance is more limited than in a conventional pickup, further reducing the T90EV’s usefulness over more rugged terrain. It has a 27-degree approach angle and a 24-degree departure angle.
What’s the payload of the Maxus T90EV electric pickup?
There were real concerns for the T90EV’s practicality when it was first announced, as the payload was limited to just 740kg. However, Maxus has managed to tweak a few settings to get the payload up to 1,000kg for the UK, which brings a real boost to its viability in this country.
This means that it can qualify as a commercial vehicle under current UK pickup tax rules. This means you can claim back the VAT on the purchase.
As an added bonus, the T90EV can tow, with a maximum permitted towing weight of 1,500kg. This isn’t vast amounts compared to the best pickups for towing, which can take up to 3.5 tonnes in some cases, but it is a decent amount considering that some electric commercial vehicles, such as the Citroen e-Relay and Peugeot e-Boxer, can’t tow at all.
What are the advantages?
As the first full-size electric pickup sold in the UK, the T90EV gives buyers the option of a rugged vehicle zero emissions vehicle for the first time.
It’s likely to appeal to councils and utility firms, and should serve a purpose in the grounds-keeping sector as well. Basically, those who have a predicted daily routine will find the idea of an electric truck easier to live with – more so than those who head out into the fields and up into the wilderness on a daily basis.
Near silent operation will also be a plus, as this may allow firms to carry out work using these in unsocial hours where a traditional diesel vehicle would be considered a noisy nuisance.
What are the dimensions of the Maxus T90 EV electric pickup?
The double-cab T90EV comes with the following dimensions:
Exterior body dimensions: 5,365 / 1,900 / 1,809mm
Load space dimensions: 1,485 / 1,510 / 530mm
At nearly 5.4m long, this is a substantially sized pickup. It is a decent weight, too, as it has a gross vehicle weight of 3,300kg. It only has a gross train weight of 4,050kg though, so if you make the most of that 1,500kg towing ability then you have to hold back on what you put in the load bay
Any info on specification?
Maxus tends to take a simple approach to the models it offers – there is just the one trim available and a few options to add on should you wish.
This means that you get the following as standard:
- > Reversing camera with rear parking sensors
- > Front and side airbags for driver and passenger and front to rear curtain airbags
- > Auto lights and wipers
- > Artificial leather upholstery
- > Manual air conditioning
- > 10.25-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and Bluetooth
- > Body coloured bumpers and door handles
- > 17-inch alloys
Maxus is also offering options including a stainless steel sports bar, a roll-lock cover, all terrain tyres, a roller top, a tow bar and necessary electrics a hard top box with a rear-window wash wipe and a front winch pack.
It is available to order now, and Maxus says it has taken around 1,000 orders already. Customers will get their vehicles from early 2023. We’ll be driving the T90EV later this year so will bring you our impressions as soon as we do.
