Electric vehicles now come in all shapes and sizes, from small city cars right up to articulated lorries. A segment that has been slow to grow in Europe however, is the electric pickup. Maxus, the Chinese van maker, did launch the T90 electric pickup a while back, but it never really left its mark and you would be forgiven to have never heard of it.
Maxus has had a second throw of dice with its new eTerron 9, which lays claim to being the first fully-electric pick-up with standard all-wheel drive in Europe. At 5.5 metres long and weighing 3.5 tonnes, I was skeptical of the eTerron 9’s credentials and whether it is suited to this side of the Atlantic. However, a week with the vehicle proved it feels right at home in the west of Ireland.
The Maxus eTerron 9 is powered by two electric motors – 125 kW/170 hp at the front and 200 kW/272 hp at the rear axle, resulting in a system output of 325 kW/442 hp. You certainly do not feel as though you are shifting 3.5tonnes. The all-wheel drive system also impressed on wet off-road terrain.
Maxus claims the eTerron 9’s 102 kWh battery has a maximum DC fast charging speed of 115kW. Although, in what was a first for me, I saw returns of over 120kW from an ESB fast charger. Whether Maxus has understated the vehicle’s charging speeds or the ESB unit was inaccurate is unclear, but I’m not complaining. And the eTerron 9 does need to charge as fast as it can. While its claimed range is 429km, a real-world return of around 390km can be expected. AC charging is limited to 11kW.
The Maxus eTerron 9 also has a vehicle to load (V2L) function, meaning energy stored in the battery supplies external devices with power. In addition to several 2.2 kW sockets in the 236-litre ‘frunk’ and on the pick-up bed, there is also an external 6.6 kW connection, which can be used, for example, to connect power tools.
A payload of 620kg is offered, and if longer objects need to be transported, the rear wall of the driver’s cab can be lowered at the touch of a button. This creates a loading area up to 2.4 metres. There is multi-link rear suspension with air suspension, which adjusts the vehicle level depending on the speed. Vehicle height can be adjusted using the air suspension. This has an effect on air resistance and therefore on range. In ‘Easy Load’ mode, the loading area can be lowered by 60mm, which makes loading and unloading easier.
Inside, the eTerron 9 features soft leather and has an eight-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with ventilation and a massage function. There are 20 storage compartments throughout the vehicle, while the two front seats can also be put down to create an almost flat sleeping area 170 cm long. The bonnet and tailgate can be opened electronically. A point of criticism is the lay-out of the central touchscreen, which requires numerous (i.e. distracting) clicks for the most basic vehicle functions.
Priced from €86,086, the Maxus eTerron 9 is an imposing double-cab electric pickup and is certainly worth a look for those is the market for a luxury workhorse.
