Anybody who drives along the Naas Road from the Red Cow roundabout towards Bluebell cannot miss the massive Harris group headquarters on the left-hand side. There you will see a range of trucks and vans all lined up in perfect formation as if they were getting ready for an Army Guard of Honour inspection.
Among the impressive array of vans and trucks you will find in Harris’ is the first-ever fully electric pick-up truck introduced to Ireland, the Maxus T90EV.
My test model came in a very attractive orange colour and if you opt for that colour it will definitely stand out from the crowd in the builder’s providers yard or the Mart.
Whether we like it or not the push towards electric is on the way, but thankfully the EU has now agreed to push the date back for full electrification from 2030 to 2035. We could be world champions by then, in Rugby.
The T90 EV is currently only available in one size and one trim level, Elite. The standard specification includes a reversing camera, rear parking sensor, 10.25-inch touch screen and a running board.
The pick-up offers a 1,000kg payload. Right now, it’s only available in rear-wheel drive, with a 4WD option due in Ireland later this year.
This model is derived from an existing combustion engine version that Maxus sells in its home country of China. However, there are some compromises in equipping it with an electric powertrain. The battery is located under the body of the pick-up which limits both ground clearance.
So, it might be advisable not to drive the truck over very rough terrain where you might damage the battery.
Externally, it looks similar to other pick-ups that you will see on Irish roads. There was no retractable cover on the model I drove, but you probably need one in Ireland. Pick-up trucks with uncovered cabins are fine in the United States or Australia where you are guaranteed sunny weather, but here in Ireland we need to keep our bags of cement dry, otherwise they would be washed away.
My wife, who is troubled with arthritis sometimes finds it difficult to climb into cars and jeeps that are set high off the road, but the neat running-board on the T90 was very useful for her.
The cabin is tidy and well laid out, with all the controls you need. And thankfully you get a good old-fashioned style handbrake. It was a double cab and the back seat has room for three adults.
The battery is 88.5kWh and the range when fully charged is approximately 350km. The T90 is not as quiet as most of the electric cars I have driven as there is a slight whining noise as you drive along. The bonnet is massive and the ride is naturally smoother if you have some heavy item in the cargo area.
I love these pick-up trucks and they remind me of the halcyon days when I used to watch the Dukes of Hazzard television programme on Saturday evenings with my children. Bo, Luke and Daisy Duke all drove cars, but there were a lot of pick-up trucks to be seen in that series.
You can watch highlights of the Dukes of Hazard programme on YouTube, but there are no re-runs on television due to the use of the Confederate flag on the General Lee, the car that was driven by the Duke brothers.
Prices start at €58,117. It’s a decent effort as I never thought we would see electric cars being made available for small or indeed large builders or farmers. So hopefully for Maxus’ sake there are green farmers and green builders out there who want to make the switch to electric.
