Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/757428
EquipmentWorld.com | December 2016 77 W orkhorse Group has an- nounced that it is develop- ing an electric pickup with a range extender for fl eet use. Expected to be in production by 2018, the new Workhorse W-15 light duty platform design is an extension of the E-Gen electric technology used in Work- horse medium-duty delivery trucks. An anticipated 80-mile range from Panasonic 18650 Li-ion batteries is expected to handle most of the daily driving covered by companies using locally-driven trucks. If needed, a gasoline generator will power the pickup after the batteries have been depleted. Since many modern fl eet operators are committed to the green- ing of their fl eet, and the Workhorse W-15 electric truck will be designed to dramatically lower emissions. The combination of lower fueling and maintenance costs are expected to deliver lower total cost of owner- ship (TCO). Workhorse has already received non-binding letters of inter- est from Duke Energy, as well as the City of Orlando municipal fl eet. Workhorse reports that Duke En- ergy and other electric utilities across the country have been asking OEMs to build plug-in electric vehicles to replace high volume fl eet vehicles. According to Workhorse, the electric powered W-15 repre- sents an opportunity to bring tremendous fuel savings and emis- sions reduction, without sacrifi cing functionality. Ad- ditionally, the W-15 's goal is to be the safest pickup on the market, with a large front crumble zone and low center of gravity. "We believe this will be the fi rst plug-in range-extended electric pickup truck built from the ground up by an OEM in America. It's not a conversion vehicle," said Steve Burns, Workhorse CEO. "The extended range capability, from the combination of Panasonic bat- teries and an on-board generator, will deliver the performance that fl eet managers expect from a work truck." pro pickup | continued OPEN THE ROAD LIKE A BOSS. VariTech Industries is a leader of automatic salt-brine production, liquid storage, transfer and mobile application systems. Our automated brine production and blending systems provide an efficient, cost-effective solution allowing you total road control. Long-term savings include reduced operating & labor costs, time efficiencies and increased production. Contact us today! 1-888-208-0686 www.varitech-industries.com/ROADS A SUBSIDIARY OF Untitled-3 1 11/21/16 8:33 AM Workhorse Group designing electric pickup for fl eet use