Rumors Spread About the Possibility of Nissan’s Electric Pickup Truck
Photo Source: NISSAN
Nissan is in the ideal place to seize the light-duty pickup truck market and recall some strong legacy. After all, Nissan has already built electric trucks: the EV4 prototypes and the Rich EV 6. However, a production-ready trim for the United States market remains mere speculation. In February 2022, the Japanese automaker announced a plan to invest $500 million in its Canton, Mississippi factory.
This led some to speculate that one of the promised two all-new, all-electric vehicles (EVs) could be a pickup truck. Indeed, Canton is the assembly site of the Titan, Frontier, and Titan XD. There is no word yet on whether the rumors are true. Still, they strongly suggest that buyers are elated to take an electric vehicle onto more rugged terrain. What many individuals are not aware of is that there are already a couple of all-electric Nissan pickup trucks.
The Little-Known All-Electric Nissan Pickup Trucks
As mentioned, the brand created two all-electric EV4 prototypes and the Rich 6 pickup electric vehicle – neither of which can be bought in the United States. The company has yet to announce an electric pickup for Western markets. The most recent pickup truck, the Rich 6 electric vehicle, was produced with the collaboration of the Dongfeng Motor Company.
Even though each and every truck is constructed at Nissan’s Zhengzhou factory, it bears a Dongfeng badge. This is not the first time a well-known automotive manufacturer has made an experimental foray into markets overseas. Released in response to China’s aggressive zero-emissions strategy, it is unlikely this particular truck will ever carry the Nissan name.
Detailing the 2020 Dongfeng Rich 6 Electric Vehicle
Debuting for the 2020 model year, the Dongfeng Rich 6 electric vehicle had a price tag of roughly $43,567 MSRP (Plus destination fee). In China, blue is a popular color, so unsurprisingly, the Rich 6 carries blue accents through its light wells and grille. A rear-mounted parking camera, central display, and leather seating share the small interior.
If a customer ever receives the opportunity to look under the hood, they will find a 385-volt, 68-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and a driving range of 250 miles. In addition, the automobile accelerates up to 163 horsepower and produces 310 pound-feet of torque. The pickup truck’s interior design, small stature, and lack of infotainment point to other reasons the Rich 6 electric vehicle will not ship overseas: It runs counter to American tastes. Should they build a pickup electric vehicle, Nissan is likely to design it from the ground up with a Western market in mind.
The Future of Nissan’s Electric Pickup Truck
That said, building an electric pickup poses numerous challenges. For example, the batteries are exceedingly heavy, but the truck needs to be able to tow and haul thousands of pounds of cargo. Moreover, electric motors are not as robust as their internal combustion engine counterparts, which is troublesome for off-roading. Not to mention, a large range is necessary to reach remote work sites.
Interestingly, Nissan already answered many of these questions with the EV4 (Experimental Electric Vehicles) it created in 1971. The two prototypes–the EV4-P and EV4-H–were both pickup trucks, housing motors and batteries enveloped in fiberglass-reinforced, lightweight plastic bodies. The P could cover 188 miles, while the H could reach a maximum range of 308 miles.
Nissan clearly has the innovation, research, and technical expertise to create a rugged EV. As the futuristic “Surf-Out” concept showcased in 2021, they also have some savvy design notions, and company management is clearly onboard, bent on adding 19 new EVs by 2030. For reasons unknown as of the 2023 model year, Nissan has yet to take the plunge on an electric pickup truck.
If you encourage the idea of Nissan taking the initiative of making an electric pickup, please visit Southern Team Nissan of New River Valley, where we have a bevy of vehicles to choose from. Remember, we are here to assist with any financial help, needs, or suggestions you may have to help make paying for an automobile easier.