The Maxus T90EV is the first fully electric pickup truck in the United Kingdom. The T90EV from Maxus, the commercial sibling brand of MG, has shown promise, despite the difficulties of being the first on the market.
Yet, getting to a fully functional electric pickup truck was no picnic. For a big pickup truck, the problem of battery weight versus curb weight is a significant obstacle. Pickups are four-wheel-drive vehicles, thus, they have two engines, which inevitably increases their overall mass. It's difficult to fit batteries into a compact ladder-frame chassis. Because of these problems, electric pickup trucks were only available in the UK after the Maxus T90EV came up.
The T90EV is a compromised off-roader at best due to its rear-wheel-drive layout, low ground clearance (187mm vs. at least 220mm for diesel competitors), and shallow approach and departure angles (27 degrees and 24 degrees, respectively).
Despite these obstacles, the T90EV is equipped with a powerful electric motor connected to the rear axle, capable of producing 201 horsepower (the limit of diesel performance in this segment). The Maxus T90EV has a 78-mph top speed and a 220-mile range.
Although the T90EV's lower center of gravity theoretically helps to handle it, this is not always the case. It has a solid feel on the road and precise body control through turns, but it wouldn't shine on a winding rural road. The T90EV has a stiff ride, is light in the front, and is erratic in the back. If you bury the throttle pedal, more weight is moved to the rear, thus, even if the batteries are distributed more evenly throughout the chassis length, the handling won't improve.
There is no neutral point in the steering for going in a straight line, so at highway speeds, the T90EV's rear wags like the tail of an enthusiastic dog, and you have to twist the wheel to fix this constantly.
The Maxus T90EV is a true pickup truck with a payload capacity of 1000kg. The interior is standard for a modern pickup truck, with a 10 touchscreen (with smartphone mirroring capabilities via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) as the primary focus point. The plastics are dated compared to what Volkswagen currently offers, and the steering wheel might benefit from being reach adjustable as well as height.
The Maxus T90EV is a pleasant taxi because of its spacious backseat, climate control, faux leather upholstery, and ample storage. A minor adjustment or two are all that's required. You would expect a pickup that costs over $61,000 to come equipped with features like automatic wipers and headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, and a reversing camera.
The Maxus T90EV is a promising offering from the company, despite the fact that being the first on the market has its drawbacks. The T90EV's promised 4x4 variant before the end of next year is a promising sign of things to come.
But the issue remains: should companies or individuals searching for a dependable electric pickup truck spend their money on a Maxus T90EV?
