The Condor electric ute/light truck promises fuel costs of around 1c per kilometre.
Weighing just over 1.25 tonnes (tray configuration), the Condor has a top speed just shy of 140 km/h. At an average speed of 88 km/h, it has a range of up to 185 kilometres.
The makers, EV Fleet Inc., state built in solar panels can add up to 32 km of driving without charging from external sources. The solar power station package (pictured) adds up to 160 km of driving without external sources. How that has been calculated is unclear – it seems rather optimistic.
Recharge time via 240 VAC outlet @ 20 amps is 8 hours.
As with most electric vehicles, full stop to flat out can be pretty brisk. The Condor can go from 0 to 100 kmh in as little as 5 seconds.
Two battery packs are available for the Condor – 32kWh or 50kWh – both of which have an expected service life of 3,000 cycles. The Condor can reportedly carry 453 kilograms, has a maximum towing weight of the same (maximum speed of 72kmh) and the tray version has a bed measurement of 1.2 metres by 2.4 metres.
Built from the ground up as an electric truck rather than a petrol/diesel conversion, the Condor’s rather toy-ish look comes from its aerodynamic design.
As all the drive and energy storage components are between the frame rails under the truck bed, under the bonnet is just a secure storage space – and quite a bit of it.
It’s not without some creature comforts either – it offers air conditioning. This feature is a major energy drain, so the Condor has been heavily insulated to stay warm or cool much longer than a conventional vehicle.
The Condor will be commercially available this month in the USA and the price starts at around USD $50,000 before rebates and incentives – approximately $54,300 in Australian dollars at current exchange rates. No word yet on when and if the truck will be available in Australia.
