According to CarNewsChina, Geely will officially launch the 4WD version of the Radar RD6 electric pickup truck in the second quarter of this year. In November 2022, the vehicle was initially launched with only the rear-wheel drive version.
Currently, the electric pickup truck market still has plenty of room for development as there are not many competing products and most of the vehicles being sold are converted versions from internal combustion engine trucks like the Maxus T90 EV or the case of the Ford F150 Lightning.
The Radar is unique as it is the first designer electric pickup truck in China, and unlike the Tesla Cybertruck, it has been widely sold.
He claimed that the acceleration capability of the RD6 is similar to that of the Tesla Cybertruck and can achieve a 0-100 km/h speed in about four seconds while carrying hundreds of kilograms of cargo (without specifying the exact weight). In addition, Ling said that the Radar RD6 4WD also has superior water fording capability compared to the Hummer EV off-road vehicle (813 mm).
Currently, the RD6 has a 200 kW motor that provides power to the rear axle and has multiple options with capacities of 63 kWh, 86 kWh, and 100 kWh, which can travel distances of approximately 410 km, 550 km, and 632 km respectively.
Although there is currently no detailed information about the 4WD configuration, the battery packs are likely to be reused. According to some sources, the vehicle’s platform can accommodate battery packs with capacities of up to 140 kWh, so it is very likely that the 4WD version will be supplemented with larger battery pack options.
Furthermore, an important improvement compared to the current 2WD version is the increased cargo carrying capacity, which has increased to 865 kg compared to the previous 430 kg (400 kg in the 100 kWh version).
The vehicle will also increase its towing capacity from 2.5 tons to 3 tons, while being able to provide power to devices up to 6 kW and having 12V, 220V, and 380V outlets in the cargo bed. In particular, the 4WD version has the capability to directly charge other electric vehicles.
In 2023, Radar captured 61.5% of the electric pickup truck market share in China. In August, the first RD6 pickup trucks were exported, most likely to the Laos market. Geely also announced that exports to South America have begun at the end of 2023.
