Atlis Motor Vehicles first unveiled the XT in the fall of 2019, and this upcoming electric pickup truck is expected to enter the flourishing pickup truck market by early 2022. The Atlis XT is an ambitious vehicle, and the carmaker had claimed that this EV shall have a driving range like never-seen-before and will charge as fast as a diesel vehicle can refuel. The inspiration behind building this car was that the CEO of Atlis, Mark Hanchett, who owns a diesel pickup and Tesla Model 3 but has admitted to liking the pickup more.
So, to find a middle ground, he revised the design, and this efficient and eco-friendly pickup was born. Hanchett claims that his goal is to exceed what his diesel truck can do today, but with a whole line of vehicles offering a ‘seamless, clean ownership experience.’
Atlis Motors started as a crowdfunded product, aiming to provide the same level of towing and storage capacity as a high-performing pickup truck while offering a fast and consistent charging experience. So, here’s a look into this ingenious automobile that seems almost otherworldly.
A Hunky And Gorgeous Build
With its launch in the industry, the XT may face tough competition from the Tesla Cybertruck and the Rivian R1T. To counter this, Atlis hopes to deliver a product that surpasses the competition in almost all aspects. The 4-seater EV has a stunning design with some bold lines and intimidating curves, making it look as robust as possible. The XT has a higher towing and payload capacity than both the Cybertruck and the R1T. In addition, the XT has a maximum capacity of 5,000 lbs which is 1,500 lbs more than the Cybertruck. The hitch tow limit ranges from 10,000lb with the lowest trim to 17,000lb for the 500-mile variant.
All of this mass rides on reinforced 8-spoke alloy wheels, and the tires are as wide as ergonomically possible to increase traction and stability. Moreover, the buyers can opt for an 8-foot bed as standard with the XT's top model or add-on for the lower variants. The truck’s chassis is wide to accommodate maximum storage and is expected for the wheelbases to be in a range of 144 to 176 inches across different trims.
This heavy and hunky machinery does not deter the XT from its core motive of having a reasonably high range and a low charging time.
The Ingenious Powertrain
There will be four variants for the XT. The standard model would have a normal 300-mile range, the trim above this would drive for 100 miles more, and the two highest variants would have a range of an astonishing 500 miles. This would allow the XT to ride comfortably for a longer time and duration than the Cybertruck and R1T. However, this fantastic efficiency does not take away from the high-octane performance that this truck is built for.
Atlis Motor Vehicles claims that the XT will have a top speed of 120 MPH. On top of this, the cargo carrier would achieve acceleration from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5 seconds. This feat will place the truck in the top half of the fastest trucks list for acceleration. The XT would offer an AWD and independent traction motors for each wheel, which would equip the EV with torque vectoring. Depending on the chosen variant, the possible choices of the battery capacity would be 125 kWh or 250 kWh.
The cells in this EV’s battery pack would be in separate high-voltage battery packs using a new kind of battery management algorithm to balance themselves. Through an intelligent switching system, the 400V packs would have the ability to change the effective voltage of the entire pack to 800V or 1,600V based on the demand. This feature would allow back-compatibility for 400V CCS charging and make the process faster and more efficient.
Some more features in the drivetrain design that shall maximize the range of the XT are regenerative braking and dynamic load control. The latter is a newer addition and would allow the quad-motor setup to work more efficiently.
A Hearty Space and Modern Tech Deck
Several other hi-tech features in the truck’s interior offer the complete Atlis experience for the driver and passengers alike. The XT comes with a gorgeous carpet and leather interior, which is generously spacious. Plus, the absence of a gearbox allows for more storage capacity at the center console. Several autonomous features can be built into the vehicle for apparently no additional charges.
There are seven color options for the pickup, including black, silver, white, cardinal, and navy. These shades complement the interior’s colors well. The car also features a wide touch-controlled infotainment display with inbuilt AppleCarPlay and AndroidAuto.
The XT is everything that encapsulates the complete Atlis experience, guaranteeing power, efficiency, safety, and comfort. At a base price of just $45,000, the 2022 Atlis XT seems like the perfect deal for someone looking for an intelligent pickup truck.