Can It Be Both Cheap And Cheerful?

What seems to be an EV Hyundai Porter has been noticed testing on a wet day in Europe. The Porter, often known as the H-100, is a small cabover utility truck that may be configured with a single or quad cab, in addition to considered one of a number of mattress choices. It’s not a very thrilling automobile, however it’s very helpful nonetheless. 

An electrical model might make it much more handy, no less than for business or fleet utilization. It would excel as a neighborhood supply automobile, the place long-distance charging will not be a difficulty. A cleaner EV drivetrain would even be a significantly better alternative than the diesel engines at the moment obtainable within the Porter and certain less expensive to maintain going, given current diesel prices. We know little past the brand new drivetrain, although, because the camouflage and tarp over many of the automobile do not inform us a lot.

The present Porter is primarily obtainable in Asia, Africa, and South America, and it is unclear whether or not the testing location implies that it’s going to ultimately debut in Western Europe. Either method, this EV Porter in all probability will not make its method Stateside, though weirder issues have occurred within the automotive globe.

One factor the check automobile does inform us, nonetheless, is that this upcoming Porter appears to be abandoning the cabover design, with Hyundai choosing a entrance cab profile extra akin to a Ford Transit. It’s an EV, so it has no engine to account for, however the brand new profile ought to enhance crash check outcomes. We are additionally advised that Europe’s extra stringent crash-testing requirements have necessitated the change. This lends extra credence to a doable European launch, however nothing has been set in stone to this point.

Either method, an affordable electrical utility truck has a number of potential in a globe the place gasoline and diesel costs have climbed considerably and present no signal of dropping anytime quickly. It possible will not be a luxurious truck, both, so it needs to be comparatively reasonably priced — maybe even cheaper than Ford’s oft-teased $30,000 EV pickup. Whether Hyundai’s new EV Porter could have sufficient about it to be a compelling buy for European, Asian, or African consumers is one other query solely.