Electric cars have much lower towing capacity than petrol and diesels but the launch of the first battery-powered pick-ups shows that’s about to change. The New Isuzu D-Max EV is the first fully electric pick-up in Europe to offer a 1-tonne payload, 3.5- tonne towing capacity, and full-time 4WD.
Prices start from £59,995, excluding VAT, with pre-sales starting later this year and first deliveries in February. The D-Max EV features a pair of electric motors, one mounted on each axle, giving combined outputs of 188bhp and 240lb ft of torque for a 0-62mph time of 10.1 seconds and a top speed north of 80mph. Power is supplied by a 66.9kWh battery under the floor, which gives an official range of 163 miles and can be charged at speeds of up to 50kW for a 20-80% top-up time of one hour.
The electric version retains the D-Max’s excellent off-roading credentials, 210mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 600mm. In addition to permanent four-wheel drive, the D-Max EV has a dedicated Rough Terrain Mode for “extreme off-road capability”.
The EV is rated to carry more than 1000kg in its loadbed and can tow up to 3500kg though bigger loads will likely impact range. Otherwise, the D-Max EV is largely identical to the diesel D-Max, inside and out, which includes a touchscreen infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring, a digital driver’s display, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors front and rear and heated front seats.