Dongfeng-Nissan first to bring an e-pickup to market

The Dongfeng-Nissan joint venture is launching a fully electric pickup truck onto the Chinese market this month. The new model is part of the two companies’ strategy to bring more than 20 new electric models to China by 2022.

The Dongfeng Rich 6 EV is a 119 kW electric version of the Dongfeng Rich 6, which is already available as a petrol-powered vehicle. The all-electric vehicle is equipped with a 68 kWh rechargeable battery, offering an impressive NEDC range of around 400 kilometres. A quick charge should fill the battery to 80 per cent in 45 minutes.

Even if the pickup truck is a little smaller than US pickup standards, the Rich 6 EV is still one of the larger pickups in China. The battery-electric flatbed private utility vehicle is 5.29 metres long, 1.85 metres wide and 1.79 metres high. The flatbed measures 1.51×1.56×0.47 metres. The electric pickup is only offered with a double cabin and five seats. The optical changes between the combustion version and the new electric vehicle are minor: The radiator grille is slightly modified, otherwise, the Rich 6 EV stands out with blue accents on the front and rims. While in many countries green has become a more common colour for electric vehicles, blue has become an established choice for private electric vehicles in China.

Although the price of the BEV has not been released yet, according to Car News China, it should cost around 130,000 yuan (just under 19,000 dollars) after subsidies. So far, it seems that Rich 6 EV is not intended for export. There could be an opening though. in theory. US companies Tesla and Rivian have been talking about their electric pickups for a while now, but have so far not been able to bring these to market. General Motors has also been eyeing the prospect with no concrete plans. Also blessed with wide-open spaces, but no concrete production plans, Australian EV startup Ace EV has prototyped its Yewt. So, Nissan-Dongfeng beat everyone to market, but only in China.

Last year, the joint venture Nissan Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (DFL), in which Nissan and Dongfeng each hold a 50 per cent stake, introduced a green” roadmap and in this context announced the launch of 20 electrified vehicles by 2022.

facebook.com (Car News China), insideevs.com