National Grid puts Isuzu D-Max EV to the test before 2026 debut
National Grid has begun trialling the new Isuzu D-Max EV ahead of the all-electric pick-up’s UK launch next year.
Before the truck goes on sale in February, a team of eight engineers from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) are putting the D-Max EV through its paces as part of an evaluation partnership between the energy operator and the Japanese 4×4 specialist.
The team will be testing the all-electric pick-up in a variety of conditions across its Midlands, South Wales, and South West regions. The programme is the latest collaboration between Isuzu and NGED, the first of which took place four years ago.
The testing schedule is led by Jane Nicholson, NGED’s fleet technical specialist. Nicholson and her team met Isuzu’s design groups in Japan and Europe, feeding in operational requirements and converter input to integrate storage and equipment solutions tailored for utility field work.
“Isuzu has been very keen to have our input from the start and we’ve provided them with detailed information on the business’ requirements,” she said. “This led to us having the opportunity to design and build a D-Max EV alongside specialist vehicle converters, Strongs, with our engineers providing input into the features and storage solutions that will make the biggest difference to their work carrying out upgrades and repairs to the electricity network.
“We’ve always trialled EV vehicles before deploying them into the business, but never to the extent that we are doing with the Isuzu D-Max EV.”
According to NGED, the D-Max EV “feels impressively like our current diesel models”, and the absence of difference between the two power sources will make fleet decarbonisation easier over the coming years. At present, NGED boasts a 1,200-strong fleet of EVs, 400 of which are commercial vehicles, and 800 are cars.
Priced from £59,995 excluding VAT, the Isuzu D-Max EV is Europe’s first fully-electric pickup to offer a one-tonne payload and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity. Underneath, the D-Max EV gets a dual-motor setup paired with a permanent full-time system, while a 66.9kWh battery returns a range of 164 miles.
Upon arrival, the Isuzu D-Max EV’s rivals will include the KGM Musso EV, and the recently-introduced all-electric Toyota Hilux. The made in Scotland Munro M-Series is also a competitor, albeit more of a hardcore one.
Could we be witnessing the start of electric pickups as a serious force?
