A new EV from Lordstown Motors called the Endurance has just been unveiled in the US. In case you were unsure how the world markets are taking Electric Vehicle (EV) four-wheel drives, another contender has arrived: the Lordstown Motors Endurance…
In case you were unsure how the world markets are taking Electric Vehicle (EV) four-wheel drives, another contender has arrived: the Lordstown Motors Endurance dual-cab ute. The new Lordstown EV joins the ranks of other dedicated EVs such as the Rivian R1T, Tesla CyberTruck, Bollinger B1 and B2 plus a bunch of conversions including Voltra and Zero for Toyota 70 Series LandCruisers.
Where the new Lordstown Endurance differs is that it will have four motors mounted at hub level, whereas most others currently under development or on the market replace the standard internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors while still retaining a conventional drivetrain. Where this gets exciting in the case of the Endurance is that, for the entire powertrain, the only moving parts are the four motors themselves – so no more transfer cases, driveshafts, CVs or differentials.
The hub-mounted motors also greatly reduce the centre of gravity for the new Lordstown EV, with the main mass now being at the corners of the vehicle instead of centralised at the front, at or above chassis height. Furthermore, this also frees up the entire under-bonnet area for battery storage, as well as dedicated under-cab and tray space.
Specification details are still somewhat sketchy at this stage but we do know that total power output is expected to be at or around 447kW (600hp for the dinosaurs) with a continuous torque output of 2711Nm (2000lb-ft). For initial torque output, and for peak acceleration bursts, Lordstown claims a stonking 5965Nm – enough to pull the skin off all the custard, we’d wager. Range at this stage is set at about 400km on a single charge, however this has not yet been specifically outlined.
There seem to be many low-run, almost-boutique EV manufacturers entering the market, of which Lordstown is one. And for those who reckon EVs are no more than a bit of a small-volume fad, we’re sorry to say that doesn’t seem to be the case, with Ford saying its F-150 EV will be available by mid-2022. Get ready… the EV revolution is on way.
