Monica GondermanAuthor
More details are emerging on the redesigned Atlis XT prototype pickup, Atlis Motor Vehicles' fully electric truck. It's not a small thing like the Pickman, and it's not even a fullsize thing like the Rivian R1T or the Ford Lightning. It's a rather large electric thing, more akin to consumer HD trucks, quite angular with absolutely no bubble-like softness to be found anywhere. Its abrupt, cardboard-simplistic angles and almost post-apocalyptic presence remind us of the Bollinger, another fully electric truck that may or may not ever hit the streets.
In terms of trucks that have existed, the Atlis XT looks like a medium-duty mashup, with the window shape of, say, a mid-2000s Chevy Kodiak (GMC Topkick) and the front end of, say, a 2015 Ford F-550 Super Duty—as rendered in 8-bit graphics.
Basically, the Atlis XT is tailored to the work truck crowd, and therefore it doesn't claim to be small, smooth, or docile. The simple, boxy lines and masculine stance will polarize potential clientele into two groups—those who love the look of this draft, and those who hate what they hope is a very, very rough draft. The XT prototype looks way less like the initial Atlis mules and more like a cousin of the wedge-shaped Tesla Cybertruck, but on steroids.
Electrify Anything with the XP Platform
The Atlis XT is built on the Atlis XP platform, which has no association with the Windows operating system of the same name. Atlis will also sell as a plug-and-play stand-alone modular electric chassis (or "skateboard") for builders looking for medium- to heavy-duty Class 2B to Class 6 platforms for box trucks, dump trucks, delivery vehicles, RVs, and other heavy duty applications.
The XT's minimum wheelbase is 144 inches, and the truck is available with single or dual rear wheels. Many of the XT truck's statistics are attributed to the XP platform, so that the XT is Atlis's vehicular application of the XP platform.
A 600-HP Work Truck?
Atlis claims the XT produces over 600 hp and 12,000 lb-ft of (funny business) torque. It touts a top speed of 120 mph and a zero-to-60 time of 5.0 seconds. The rig has 12.0 inches of ground clearance, 10.0 inches of wheel travel, and a track width of 70.75 inches. It can be configured with a 6.5- or 8-foot-long bed—although it's totally adaptable to service bodies and flatbeds. The shortest wheelbase is 144 inches, with the longest being 176 inches, right on par with the Ford Super Duty, which ranges between 142 and 176 inches. The trucks can seat between three and six passengers.
Charge in 15 Minutes, 500-Mile Range
Atlis is all about developing battery technology designed for the automotive industry. The Atlis XT is all-wheel-drive with four independent traction motors, meaning there's a motor at each wheel, as in the Rivian R1T. The automaker claims a 1-million-mile life span on its 250-kWh battery and that it can be fully charged (from no charge at all) in 15 minutes using its own 1.5 MW charger—but it also has conventional CCS 2.0 charging capability (pictured).
Depending on the version, the XT has a 300-, 400-, or 500-mile driving range per charge. Four-wheel independent steering and braking come courtesy of the electrical propulsion wizardry.
Towing and Hauling: 35,000 Pounds and 5,000 Pounds
The Atlix XT can tow up to 35,000 pounds using a gooseneck or 5th wheel, and it claims a 5,000-pound payload capacity. Those numbers are right up there with the Big 3's conventional heavy-duty rigs, so we'll have to see how that plays out in real-world situations. We are skeptical, to say the least.
Both front and rear ends of the XT utilize independent suspension and active air springs that adjust depending on load, providing comfort during towing and hauling. Four-wheel independent regenerative braking helps replenish some juice during the downhill slopes of big grades.
Cameras Replace Mirrors
Setting aside the look of the XT, it promises a sleek and modern interior: There are heated and ventilated seats, lane-keep assist, a 360-degree camera, a bed camera for monitoring cargo, customizable front and rear light bars, extendable side camera mirrors for towing (there actually aren't any traditional exterior side mirrors), standard Apple Carplay, Android Auto, customizable soft buttons, over the air updates, and haptic technologies (feedback when you press buttons). As with the Mercedes-Benz EQS luxury EV sedan, the XT's windshield wiper fluid is filled via an external filling port under a locked flap on the front fender.
The front and rear seats are identical, allowing maximum comfort for rear passengers. The floor is completely flat, providing a solid base for tool boxes or other supplies if the rear seats are removed.The bed, meanwhile, features independent power outlets: 120V AC outlets, an 240V AC outlet, two USB A ports, and two USB C ports. It also has a pneumatic (compressed air) hookup, as you can get in the Rivian R1T.
A Frunk-tastic Statistic
With 18.5 cubic feet of room, the Atlis XT's frunk (front trunk) purports to be the largest you can get in any electric vehicle pickup truck. For comparison, the Rivian has 11.1 cubic feet, and the F-150 Lightning has about 14.1 cubic feet. The frunk has independent power (that includes a 240V outlet) as well as another air fitting and dedicated lighting. Loading and unloading the frunk are made easier by the air suspension, which can lower the nose so you needn't lift items as high as if the pickup sat at normal height.
Of Course, a Subscription Model
Atlis XT owners will have the opportunity to purchase an all-inclusive subscription starting at $700 per month that includes the following: insurance, registration, routine maintenance, inspections, unlimited free charging at Atlis advanced chargers, and a new vehicle every 3, 5, or 7 years (however that works).
Reservations are now open for the Atlis XT electric truck. The configurations and unofficial prices are as follows:
- 300-mile range / 6.5 ft. bed / 10,000 lbs. hitch tow rating: $45,000
- 400-mile range / 6.5 ft. bed / 14,000 lbs. hitch tow rating: $58,000
- 500-mile range / 6.5 ft. bed / 14,000 lbs. hitch tow rating: $69,000
- 500-mile range / 8 ft. bed / 17,000 lbs. hitch tow rating/35,000 lbs. gooseneck/5th wheel tow rating: $78,000
Add-ons include the 8.0-foot bed ($3,000) and carpet/leather interior ($3.000).
Mesa, Arizona-based Atlis Motor Vehicles—currently a private company—has hopes that its XP electric work truck will go into production in 2022, but remains focused on the battery technology that Atlis hopes will differentiate the XP from other electric trucks.
