Automotive

Canoo reveals compact but capable electric pickup truck

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The Canoo electric pickup truck is designed for work and play
Canoo
The Canoo electric pickup truck is designed for work and play
Canoo
The side panels lower to provide table or workbench space, with power points nearby, and the bed can be organized using modular space dividers
Canoo
Canoo reports that the electric pickup has been designed with campers in mind
Canoo
Canoo's electric skateboard platform allows for the cabin to be moved forward
Canoo
An optional roof rack increases vehicle height to 82 inches
Canoo
The front folds down to offer an expandable workbench with storage
Canoo
Canoo has detailed the interior, but it looks fairly basic and appears to lack the now familiar large infotainment display
Canoo
The pickup bed can be extended for hauling large items
Canoo
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LA-based electric mobility company Canoo has pulled back the curtain on its third vehicle, following the launch of a subscription-based people mover and a delivery van. The company has now joined the likes of Tesla, Bollinger, Rivian and others to add an all-electric pickup truck to its vehicle fleet.

"Our pickup truck is as strong as the toughest trucks out there and is designed to be exponentially more productive," said Canoo's Tony Aquila. "This truck works for you. We made accessories for people who use trucks – on the job, weekends, adventure. You name it, we did it because it’s your platform and she’s bad to the bone."

The vehicle certainly has a different look to it than other electric pickup trucks that have been announced, which tend to be very much like their ICE brethren. Gone is the long hood, and instead the cabin has been pushed way forward for maximum visibility.

There's seating in front for two, and a customizable rear compartment as well, which can be used for additional seating or to "support additional purpose-built use-case configurability." Meanwhile, the front and rear bumpers incorporate tow hooks and metal skid plates, while also hosting the vehicle's fog lights.

Canoo's electric skateboard platform allows for the cabin to be moved forward
Canoo

The pickup will be built on Canoo's proprietary battery electric platform, which incorporates the battery pack, electric drive componentry, a steer-by-wire system, brake-by wire and more in a skateboard chassis that the company demonstrated very effectively when pro driver Sara Price took the stripped-down skatekart for a spin last year.

The full vehicle specs will be released closer to the 2023 production window, but Canoo has shared that both dual and rear motor options will be offered, with the former producing 600 hp and 550 lb.ft (745.6 Nm) of torque. Drivers can look forward to more than 200 miles (320 km) of per charge range, too.

The pickup has a 112.2-inch (2,850-mm) wheelbase, and a total length of 184 in (4,674 mm), though users can pull out an extension to form a fully enclosed 213-in (5,410 mm) bed, making hauling lengthy material that much easier. Payload capacity is reported to be 1,800 lb (816 kg), and there's a tow hitch receiver for hauling extra cargo.

The pickup bed can be extended for hauling large items
Canoo

The bed comes in at 64 in wide and 72 in long (1,625 x 1,828 mm) – or 102 in (2,590 mm) in length with the extension – and is 21 in (533 mm) deep. There's perimeter lighting on all sides of the bed, and the third brake light does double duty as an overhead lamp. Both side panels are home to a flip-down table that can serve as a workbench with power sources close by, or be used for meal prep at camp. And around front, Canoo has included a fold-down worktable with a built-in cargo storage space.

For organized types, modular space dividers are available to separate sections of the bed, gear can be secured using configurable tie downs, and bikes can be locked down with the help of modular wheel chocks. A hidden step pulls out from the side too, for ease of access to the contents of the truck bed. This features its own storage area for stowing away things like a first-aid kit or a business laptop.

There are power points available on all sides of the vehicle for plugging in tools, with the company saying that workers can look forward to all day usage with "as little as 10 percent impact on vehicle range."

Canoo reports that the electric pickup has been designed with campers in mind
Canoo

In all, the pickup will be 87 in (2,209 mm) wide with mirrors and will stand 76 in (1,930 mm) high, though adding a 48 x 54-inch (1,219 x 1,371-mm) roof rack will increase the vehicle's height by six inches. And in what will be good news to campers, the Canoo electric pickup will be able to accommodate numerous camper shells and outdoor adventure gear.

Pre-orders for the Canoo electric pickup truck are set to open in Q2 of this year ahead of estimated deliveries to customers in 2023.

Source: Canoo

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10 comments
*Joe*
Not sure which is uglier, this or Tesla's pickup. Can you add a poll to select a winner?
EJ222
I would like these hoodless designs, but it basically eliminates the front crumple zone. Which is not great.
christopher
Your kneecaps where the bullbar belongs? No thanks.
DavidB
How can anyone who likes the classic VW bus—especially in the pickup body style—not also love this? I think it looks terrific, and the logic of moving the “cab” forward to make more room for cargo without increasing length is rock solid.

I’d be happy to have one of these! Too bad it’ll probably cost as much as an EV-converted ACTUAL classic VW bus.
Raygris
In any tool form should follow function. There hasn't been a pretty truck since the streamline era. Do you want a truck or a piece of costume jewelry? This truck seems to be a great tool, unmatched by the the big 3.
Nelson Hyde Chick
If this thing is affordable I'm buying one. I especially like how they make an extended bed. I would like a crew cab truck that I can also put a sheet of plywood in the bad instead of hanging over the tailgate.
*Joe*
Didn't know anyone considered the looks of a modern pickups to be like costume jewelry. Whereas this appears to specifically be designed to be odd looking to attract attention.
SibylTheHeretic
I like the design. Where are the interior views? Make it a four seater, get rid of the roof rack, increase the range to 400 miles, offer an emergency solar recharging unit and get the price down to $35K and I would buy one.
Spud Murphy
For those worried about crash safety, if you look at the interior, the driver sits well back from the front, there is quite a bit of crumple zone room.

I quite like this unit, the multiple power outlets and inbuilt workbench and extendable tray are great features that a lot of tradies would find useful.
Signguy
christopher...yup, just like the old V.W. buses.