Workhorse W 15 4WD Plug In Electric Work Truck First Drive Review
Workhorse W-15 revealed PHEV pickup with 80-mile range
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Not even a year after releasing renderings of its new range-extended electric truck Workhorse has unveiled the real thing. As promised the new Workhorse W-15 uses a pair of electric motors one in the front and one in the back for propulsion along with a BMW gas engine and Panasonic batteries to supply power. Impressively the truck is rated to go 80 miles on a full charge and it will manage 32 mpg highway and 28 mpg city with the gas engine in use.
While delivering these environmentally friendly numbers the W-15 won't be lacking in performance and usability. The dual motors produce 460 horsepower and deliver that power to all four wheels. As a result Workhorse says it will go 0-60 mph in just 5.5 seconds. The W-15 can also carry up to 2200 pounds of cargo in its bed and it has a 7.2kW 30-amp power outlet on the side suitable for running power tools. The only weak point in the truck's capability is towing which is rated at 5000 pounds. For comparison a base V6-powered Chevrolet Silverado will tow 7600 pounds and a Ford F-150 with the smallest EcoBoost V6 can tow up to 8500 pounds. Of course neither is as economical nor as powerful.
The W-15's performance isn't let down by the exterior either. The exterior is chiseled and chunky with no shortage of flat planes and sharp angles. It screams tough commercial truck. The look is carried inside to the custom dashboard too with lots of tough plastic in gray white and orange. The interior is quite spartan with hardly any controls except a simple dial for shifting in the center. Instruments and infotainment are displayed on two LCD screens with the infotainment one controlled via touch. Even though the truck is fairly barebones Workhorse has included dual airbags automatic emergency braking and lane-departure warning.
The Workhorse W-15 is aimed primarily at the commercial market and demand appears to be high. The company says it currently has 4650 pre-orders. Pricing hasn't been announced but Workhorse intends to deliver trucks next year. We think this truck could have some strong appeal to private consumers as well however the company hasn't announced plans for personal-use sales.
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Backsound Credit: Bensound.com
Image Credit: Autoblog.com
