For the last several months, the overlanding world has been a buzz about the Rivian R1T and Hummer EV all-electric pickup trucks. These mid-size, whisper-quiet trail tamers may be leading the off-road, pure-electric charge, but they’re not the only players in the space.
The latest entrant to underscore that point is Los Angeles-based EV upstart brand Canoo. This month it revealed its latest vehicle, the “pickup truck.”
Does it not have a real nameplate? It’s not clear. Nevertheless, the twee truck is pretty impressive.
Why is it impressive? It packs a lot of utility into a small package. For example, without its bed extender, the Canoo pickup truck is just 184 inches long. That’s 28 inches shorter than the shortest Tacoma and six inches shorter than the 4Runner. It’s not by any means tiny, but it’s not gargantuan either.
It has a 112.2-inch wheelbase, just slightly more than two inches more than a 4Runner. But despite its compact stature, the Canoo pickup truck boasts a full-size bed at 64 inches wide and 72 inches long. And it’s finished with barn doors.
Canoo designers were able to still find room in the packaging of this mid-size truck for four seats. This, of course, is due to its cabover design.
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Because it’s all electric, storage is abundant. There’s a frunk-type cubby space in the front of the vehicle below the windshield. And the side of the bed can flip down to create a table. Beneath that is a drawer. The roof has been fitted with a rack. If you get the camper top, the whole roof can be festooned with a full-length roof rack.
And lets not forget the abundant three-prong power outlets in both the front cubby and in the bed. Canoo brags that utilizing these outlets will only zap about 10% of range. So, you don’t have to be afraid to fully utilize your gadgets.
Is this the ultimate overlanding EV? Maybe. But it’s not without its drawbacks. Range is only around 200 miles, which would be fine if there were a larger charging infrastructure. There will be some day as many fast chargers as gas stations. Until then, though, 200 isn’t a lot to get in and out of the backcountry reliably.
Plus, both the brakes and steering are controlled by wire. That means those controls aren’t physically hooked to the systems they control. Carmakers like Chevrolet and Acura have proved brake by wire is fine. But I am skeptical of steer-by-wire systems for a whole host of reasons.
I guess it’s all moot until the thing goes on sale. If and when that happens, we can have a more serious discussion. In the meantime, let’s relish in a pretty neat-o little electric truck.
Header image: Canoo
