EdisonFuture unveils solar panel-clad EV ute and van

A new competitor in the burgeoning electric utility market has been revealed, with EdisonFuture showing off its ute and van designs at the LA Auto Show.

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The EF1-T takes the form of a twin-cab ute, which EdisonFuture says will be available with either a 6.5ft(2m) or 8ft(2.4m) bed. Visually, the ute seems to occupy a middle-ground between Rivian’s R1T and the more radical Tesla Cybertruck.

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Perhaps the most striking exterior feature of the ute is the optional retractable solar cover, which extends over the bed as an on-the-go battery charging solution.

Three powertrain options are slated for the ute. The base-model Standard will use a single electric motor for a 0-60mph (95km/h) time below 6.5 seconds, 480 kilometres of driving range, and 3.5 ton towing capacity.

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The Premium will use two motors for a sub-4.5-second 0-60 time, 610km of driving range, and bolstered 4-ton towing.

Topping the range is the tri-motor Super, which EdisonFuture says will offer a 3.9-second sprint to 60mph, 725km, and a hefty 5-ton towing capability.

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The EF1-V delivery van will be offered in Standard and dual-motor Long Range guises, with cargo capacities ranging from 7360L to 11,325L. The van uses a fixed solar roof panel, and is described by EdisonFuture as suitable for “work, travel, family or personal use.”

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Each model seats six, and features a 17.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system inside, alongside ambient lighting and dash-mounted solar panels. Each door card holds a removable aluminium-clad toolbox for storage, and power-retractable side steps allow easy entry without compromising clearance on both ute and van models.

EdisonFuture was founded in 2020 as a subsidy of SPI Energy, a Hong Kong-based specialising in solar power technology.

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As of now, neither a production date nor pricing have been announced for the EdisonFuture range, let alone any plans for an Australian release.

The first mass-produced EV ute hit American roads back in September, as the US-built Rivian R1T reached customers.