Does the World Need an Electric Nissan Pickup Truck?
Nissan is one of the industry leaders in the electric vehicle space. The Japanese automaker was one of the first companies to mass-produce an electric vehicle with the Nissan Leaf. The compact EV was introduced in 2010 and is still a popular electric car today. Now that Nissan has experienced success with electric cars, is it time for the automaker to try its hand at an electric truck?
Is Nissan building an electric truck?
From the Ford F-150 Lighting to the Tesla Cybertruck, electric trucks are slowly emerging in the automotive industry. Electric cars are still a reach for most consumers, so the idea of a pickup truck that runs on electricity is mind-boggling for many. What makes these new electric trucks even more exciting are their unique designs.
The Ford F-150 Lighting features a frunk, an electric powertrain that is housed under the vehicle, and a typical modern F-150 truck bed. The Tesla Cybertruck uses cold-rolled stainless steel and is much more durable than the average truck. Even the Rivian R1T electric truck includes some innovative accessories and off-road capabilities. Electric trucks are flamboyant. So what can Nissan bring to the table with an electric truck?
Nissan has been developing and perfecting electric powertrains for over a decade. The Nissan Leaf has been championed as an affordable, great electric car to travel short distances with. According to MotorTrend, Nissan appears to be looking to produce a compact EV pickup truck because of the success of its competitors.
What would a Nissan electric truck look like?
Nissan’s biggest advantage in the electric powertrain space is affordability. Its recent price reduction for the 2022 Nissan Leaf makes the Leaf the cheapest mass-produced EV in the U.S. It is one of the weaker electric powertrains in both horsepower and range. As a result, an electric Nissan that uses this powertrain would likely be a variation of the compact Nissan Frontier.
We could see a hybrid compact truck similar to the 2022 Ford Maverick from Nissan. The 2021 Nissan Frontier starts at $27,190. If Nissan electrified its powertrain and found a way to reduce its price, it could make a major impact. However, a better option would be to take the same approach that the company did with the Nissan Leaf.
Does the world even want an electric Nissan pickup truck?
Electric trucks are the latest and greatest new facet of electric vehicles. Many popular automakers are capitalizing on the emerging trend and developing electric pickup trucks to satisfy the sudden demand. Electric trucks from popular truck makers like Ford are expected. Does the world really want an electric truck from Nissan?
If Nissan were to create an electric truck under a brand new nameplate, it could make a much bigger splash. The race to create the best electric pickup truck is already underway, and the automaker is falling behind despite the success of its Nissan Leaf. To compete in the electric truck space, the company will have to shock consumers with something new and exciting. None of its current models are truly up to the task of competing against Ford and Tesla electric trucks.
It’s time for Nissan to expand its electric vehicle expertise into the realm of pickup trucks. The success of the Nissan Leaf is enough reason for consumers to be interested in what the company would do with an EV truck. To really satisfy consumers, the brand’s electric truck better have some serious range and horsepower.
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