Via’s Plug-In Hybrid Trucks Will Sell 50,000 A Year By 2018, Company SaysVia’s Plug-In Hybrid Trucks Will Sell 50,000 A Year By 2018, Company Says

Via Motors may have only recently begun delivering its first extended-range electric vehicles to fleets, but it expects the business to grow dramatically over the next few years.
The company expects to sell 50,000 plug-in trucks and vans a year by 2018.
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That’s ramping up from a 2015 sales goal of 12,000 units, Via chairman and former General Motors product chief Bob Lutz told Bloomberg (via Charged EVs) in a recent interview.
Via delivered its first batch of electrified vans last November. It will begin delivering pickup trucks to fleets in February, and to individual buyers before the end of the year.
Via Motors extended-range electric pickup truck
Lutz said FedEx, Pacific Gas & Electric, Duke Energy, and Verizon have already placed orders.
Sun Country Highway–which operates a network of electric-car charging stations along Canadian highways–also reportedly agreed to buy 1,000 pickups and vans for use across its network.
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The Via vehicles are based on the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup truck and Chevrolet Express van, with Via’s own plug-in powertrains installed.
The company claims average fuel economy of 100 mpg combined for both vehicles, with 40 miles of electric range for the pickup, and 35 miles for the van.
Note that this “blended” figure assumes relatively low daily mileage, with maximum time spent on electric power. The more time spent driving on gasoline, the lower the overall fuel efficiency.
Via Motors extended-range electric vanBoth vehicles also feature onboard power take-offs for powering tools and other electrical devices.
Pricing starts at around $65,000 for a crew-cab pickup truck, or $79,000 for a van.
Via also previously discussed selling a plug-in SUV based on the Chevrolet Suburban, but a recent perusal of its website showed no mention of this third model.
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