Yet another electric ute busts out

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be any more electric utes on the way, the Lordstown Endurance dual-cab 4x4 pick-up emerges.

The full-size battery-powered US pick-up truck couldn't have been revealed at a worse time -- just hours before the replacement for the world's top-selling ute, the new Ford F-150, made its global debut.

And if the timing of its reveal was intended as an F-150 spoiler it didn't work, and nor did the presence of US vice-president Mike Pence, who was on hand to add a little razzle-dazzle to the launch.

Built in a former GM factory in Ohio, where the Chevrolet Cruze was made, the Lordstown Endurance is powered by four hub motors delivering a supercar-rivalling power output of 447kW.

Despite the mega output, the Endurance has a top speed of 80mph or just under 130km/h and, although its battery pack density is unknown, Lordstown Motors Corporation has previously said a range of around 250 miles or 400km is likely.

The 0-97km/h (0-60mph) sprint takes about 5.5 seconds, which suggests the truck is very heavy. Towing capacity is said to be around 3400kg or 7500 pounds.

The launch of the Lordstown Endurance was mainly to show off the design but if you want to buy one you could be out of luck – unless you own a large company.

The Ohio start-up has not confirmed whether it will even sell the electric pick-up to the public yet, with the company so far targeting only fleet and commercial buyers.

Lordstown CEO Steve Burns has talked up the ute’s sports car-like handling which seems at odds with a commercial/fleet audience. Nevertheless, Burns says the company plans to built 20,000 units in 2021, starting in January.

The cabin of the Endurance EV dual-cab is expected to be fairly spartan but will offer high levels of tech and connectivity, along with a large horizontal touch-screen display that mimics the Tesla Model 3’s cabin concept of one screen for everything.

According to the fledgling US car-maker, charging the car’s unknown battery pack will take 10 hours to reach a 95 per cent fill from a 7kW charge point, but as little 30 minutes with a fast-charger.

The Lordstown Endurance will join upcoming EV utes like the Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Nikola Badger, GMC Hummer EV and Ford’s 2022 F-150 EV in what is set to be a hotly-contested electric pick-up truck segment.

Many of the above vehicles are planned for Australia but Lordstown is yet to respond to questions around export markets.

In North America, the Lordstown Endurance has a base price of $US52,500, or about $A75,000.