Update: ‘Maxus T90 Electric specifications’ and ‘Price & Release Date’ sections updated with new specs and information, respectively, and ‘TopElectricSUV says’ section added.
While America received the Ford F-150 Lightning in May 2022 and is waiting for the Tesla Cybertruck and the Chevrolet Silverado Electric, a Maxus T90EV electric pickup truck has been launched in the UK. It’s the pure electric variant of the Maxus T90 pickup, and here’s everything you need to know.
Origins
The Maxus T90EV electric pickup truck is the road-going version of the Maxus NEW EV electric pickup truck concept from the 2020 Guangzhou Auto Show.
The production version of the Maxus New EV concept has a less dramatic design, but it’s also typically Chinese. The front end has bigger headlamps, redesigned grille, bumpers, and tail lamps. The concept’s large brand lettering in chrome at the back and the roof box haven’t made it to production. A small EV badge, with the letter ‘E’ painted metallic blue, denotes the powertrain. The electric version has the same design as the ICE variant. This is in the interest of cost of ease of manufacturing with changes only to the styling and badges.
Design & Interior
The Maxus T90EV electric pickup truck features a noticeably aggressive front, typical of Chinese utility vehicles. A gigantic grille covering almost the entire face, weirdly designed split headlights, a large brand logo, and loads of reflective applications form the key design elements of the exterior.
From the sides, the new Maxus electric pickup truck looks traditional thanks to conventional proportions. 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on the electric truck. A high ground clearance makes it look sporty, and that, paired with the rugged squarish fenders, the outside rope hooks, and the chunky sport bar, gives it the adventure-readiness. At the rear, the design is mostly traditional. A gigantic brand logo on the tailgate ensures unmissable road presence wherever the vehicle goes.
The Maxus T90EV’s interior is comparatively simple and lacks several premium features of the thermal-engined T90. The dashboard carries a traditional design and lacks the dual-cockpit setup for the instrument cluster and central display. The center console is also not as attractive, which applies to even the buttons and AC vents.
Video Source: YouTube/Planetauto
Maxus T90 Electric specifications
The Maxus T90EV is available in the UK with a standard 201 horsepower motor that drives the rear wheels. An 88.5 kWh battery pack is standard, and it delivers a WLTP range of 330 km (205 miles). The electric pickup offers a maximum payload capacity of 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs.) and a maximum towing capacity of 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs.).
| Maxus Electric Pickup Truck aspect | Specifications |
| Length | 5,365 mm (211.2 in.) |
| Width | 1,900 mm (74.8 in.) |
| Height | 1,809 mm (71.2 in.) |
| Wheelbase | 3,155 mm (124.2 in.) |
| Approach Angle | 27° |
| Departure Angle | 24° |
| Ground Clearance | 187 mm |
| Wading Depth | 550 mm |
| Bed Length | 1,485 mm (58.5 in.) |
| Bed Width | 1,510 mm (59.4 in.) |
| Bed Height | 530 mm (20.9 in.) |
| Payload Capacity | 1,000 kg (2,205 lbs.) |
| Towing Capacity (unbraked) | 750 kg (1,653 lbs.) |
| Towing Capacity (braked) | 1,500 kg (3,307 lbs.) |
| Tire Size | 245/65 R17 |
| Curb Weight | 2,300 kg (5,071 lbs.) |
| Gross Weight | 3,300 kg (7,275 lbs.) |
| Gross Train Weight | 4,050 kg (8,929 lbs.) |
| Drivetrain Layout | RWD |
| Motor Type | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) |
| Motor Power | 150 kW (201 hp) |
| Battery Pack Capacity | 88.5 kWh |
| Max. AC Charging Power | 11 kW |
| Max. DC Charging Power | 80 kW |
| DC Charging Time (20-80% SoC) | 45 minutes |
| Combined Range (WLTP) | 330 km (205 miles) |
Features
Automatic halogen headlights with LED DRL, 17-inch alloy wheels, side steps, and LED tail lights are some of the main standard exterior features of the Maxus T90EV. Optionally, customers can specify their T90EV with a stainless steel sports bar, roll lock cover, all-terrain tires, a hard top box, a winch, and more parts.
On the inside, the new electric pickup features a 10.25″ touchscreen infotainment system, a manual AC with a pollen filter, 6-way power front seats, and faux leather seat covers as standard. Standard safety equipment includes a backup camera, rear parking sensor, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, rear defogger, and ESP+EBA (HAS, RMI, HDC).
Price & Release Date
The Maxus T90EV costs GBP 49,950 (approx. USD 56,000) excluding VAT in the UK. Order books are open, and customer deliveries will start in Q1 2023 (January-March 2023). Ahead of deliveries, SAIC is showcasing the T90EV at various regional events for promotion. The company displayed it at the CV Show 2022 that took place in Birmingham from May 24 to 26, 2022. The T90EV was present at IAA Transportation as well, held in Hannover, Germany, between September 19 and 25, 2022.
In an interview with Autohome in August 2022, Hua Jin, the Deputy General Manager of Maxus in China, said that the company received more than 1,000 orders for the T90EV in a week in the UK. Maxus has become the first Chinese brand to be present in all the electric light commercial vehicle segments in Europe, she added. The Chinese brand is present in 20 European countries, and in the UK, specifically, it has 56 dealers.
TopElectricSUV says
The Maxus T90 Electric is not in the same league as the Chevrolet Silverado EV or the Ford F-150 Lightning. It’s nearly not as exciting to look at and use, technologically advanced, or capable as its American contemporaries. However, for customers in the UK and many other European countries, this is the first and only option for a pickup truck that is more eco-friendly and offers lower running costs compared to a traditional gas- or diesel-powered model.
Featured Image Source: SAIC Maxus UK
With a Master’s Degree in Business Management & Administration, I’ve been working as an International Automotive News Editor since 2014, and have gained a wealth of knowledge and insight into hybrid and electric vehicles.
