The company isn't offering many details about the truck yet.
It's probably not a coincidence that Karma introduces a teaser for an upcoming plug-in hybrid electric pickup on the same day as the unveiling of Tesla's Cybertruck. The company isn't saying when this model might arrive but refers to building “proof of concept” project, which suggests this machine isn't very close to a market launch.
"Extended-range powertrains represent a smart alternative to full battery systems, especially in larger vehicles used by businesses and fleets," Karma CEO Dr. Lance Zhou said in the project's announcement.
The truck's design features a high beltline and steeply raked windshield. The windows have an odd design with a notch in the bottom of them. Judging by this image, the cargo bed looks tiny.
In the teaser for the truck, Karma refers to this work as an Extended Range Electric Vehicle conversion project. This seems to suggest the company also intends to take existing models and install this tech into them.
Karma is working on a modular platform that it calls Skateboard that be able to support electric and plug-in hybrids. While the company doesn't specify whether the truck would use these underpinnings, the firm is heavily implying it.
The electrified pickup segment has the chance to become a booming market in the years to come. The Tesla Cybertruck has the opportunity to establish mainstream interest in EV trucks. Rivian's R1T should arrive in late 2020 offering over 400 miles of range and an impressive towing capacity. Ford also seems serious about entering this fight, and rumors suggest that the electric F-150 could arrive as soon as 2021. General Motors has an electric truck in the planning stages, too.
COMMENTS