MotorTrend’s 2022 Truck of the Year Is An EV
MotorTrend has chosen their “2022 Truck of the Year” … and it is an EV (Electric Vehicle). The award goes to Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck. The shipments began on September 2021 for the consumer model market. This is huge for a startup like Rivian, since it was not the established EV manufacturer. Many would have expected Tesla to be the leader in EV, but not eletric pickup trucks. Even though Tesla has the Cybertruck, it is the R1T that takes the accolades.
The R1T is engineering excellence in motion. Instead of a cab and box design, Rivian built the R1T using a unitized cab and pickup box. This allows the incorporation of more storage and giving up less space. The designers were able to figure this out while maintaining a classic pickup truck style and look.
Another remarkable thing about the R1T is its load capability of 1,760 pounds. It is an EV, but it has the muscle as well. This puts the R1T at the same level between a midsize truck and entry-level full-size truck. It also has an 11,000 pound towing capacity. All that powered by batteries, without consuming any form of fossil fuel.
The power comes from a 135-kWh battery (133 usable) that also provides 314 miles of range. This is more than enough for a road trip before recharging. The battery charges at 190 kW capacity at charging facilities which will be available at trailheads, campsites, and parks in the US in order to reduce range anxiety for drivers.
The R1T is looking good. It is an EV that provides the functionality that users are familiar with in a pickup truck. What remains to be seen is whether this will be a grassroots market. Traditional pickup truck owners are not the active-lifestyle users that EV tend to attract. While most pickup truck owners will not likely switch, there is a demand from a new market of non-traditional pickup users.
The choice for 2022 truck of the year shows that they can be an EV. Doubters will want to think twice or just check out the performance for themselves. People who may have never wanted to buy a pickup, may now even consider buying one. This opens up the market to a new class of consumers. What is good to know is that it no longer requires the maintenance of traditional pickups and can be used to support a modern lifestyle.
