LA Video: 2014 VIA Motors electric plug-in Pickup truck

2014 via motors electric truck video la

It might seem that the word “pickup” and “electric” don’t go together, but VIA Motors is trying to prove that green trucks are viable in North America. This 2014 VIA Motors electric plug-in pickup truck makes a debut at the 2013 LA Auto Show.

Think of the VIA Electric truck as a Chevy Volt of the pickup world. It’s based on a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado.  It uses a 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V6 engine as range-exetender generator.  Instead of powering the wheels, the engine generates electricity, which in turn is stored in a battery, which ultimately powers the wheels.  The VIA truck has an electric only range of 40 miles, generator powered range of over 400 miles, and it can out-accelerate a regular Silverado even when towing.

The other news, it has an industrial solar panel as the tonneau cover, which can provide up to 10 additional electric miles after a full day in the sun.

Check out this informative insider TFLtruck video of the 2014 VIA Motors electric plug-in pickup truck.   Watch as Nathan learns about payload capacity, towing, and off-roadability of this electric truck.