Electric VW Amarok ute confirmed for second half of decade

An electric version of the Volkswagen Amarok is set to go into production in the second half of this decade, with a plug-in hybrid variant also possible.

Volkswagen confirmed its electrification plans at this week’s global launch of its second-generation Amarok, which was co-developed with the Ford Ranger.

Ford Australia is understood to be leading the development of the electrified version of the T6.2 platform shared by the Ranger and Amarok utes, as it did for the petrol and diesel models already released.

December 7: NEW AMAROK DRIVEN! Words & Video

We've finally driven the new-gen 2023 Volkswagen Amarok, with Jez jetting (Jet jezzing?) to South Africa for a world's-first spin in the new ute. Get our full story below.

Story continues

Volkswagen Amarok: “Premium ute” set to cost $80,000+ in flagship form

7

Ford insiders have already confirmed a hybrid Ranger is due by 2024.

Volkswagen said an electric Amarok is possible because the T6.2 platform was future-proofed with the ability for a skateboard battery to be installed between the ladderframe chassis and floor.

Petr Sulc, a senior member of VW’s global product management team, admitted the first electrified versions of the Amarok would be a development challenge and likely to impose compromises on owners.

“You have two possibilities to do the PHEV [plug-in hybrid] and the [pure] electric vehicle, but of course you have some different kind of problems [to improving combustion engines for Euro 7],” said Sulc. “Because you need to think about the payload, think about the towing capacity, and think about the electric driving range – how many kilometres you would like to achieve [from the size of the battery].

7

“If you put in the big, big battery, you can achieve the [desirable] towing capacity but are losing 300 or 400 kilograms of the payload [capacity]. We really need to find the compromise between the electrical range and the payload.”

Sulc says his preference would be to sacrifice driving range, but agrees Ford’s decision to adopt a low-payload-high-towing approach for its F-150 Lightning electric ute is the right way to go – especially for markets such as Australia (the Amarok’s biggest volume market).

To achieve an ideal driving range of 500 kilometres for the electric Amarok, Sulc says a 100-110kWh battery (useable) would be necessary. He also confirmed this size of battery will feature in VW’s ID.Buzz, the electric people-mover that currently comes with a 77kWh battery delivering a WLTP driving range of 425km.

7

The recently launched LDV eT60, the first electric ute to be sold in Australia, has also given an indication of the compromises involved. Featuring an 88.5kWh battery, the eT60 offers a slightly higher payload than a diesel T60, but has a driving range of only 330km, its towing capacity of 1000 kilograms is less than a third of the segment average, and it’s rear-wheel drive.

Volkswagen says four-wheel drive is a must for an electric Amarok.

Sulc also said his personal view was that a petrol rather than diesel engine would be the more effective engine to team with an electric motor for a plug-in hybrid Amarok. Petrol offered obvious benefits for consumption and the balance of NOx and CO2.

7

The second-generation Amarok’s drivetrain lineup includes a twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel not being used by the Ranger in Australia. A 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol features in the Ranger Raptor.

The timing of an electrified Amarok depends on the official introduction of Euro 7. Sulc said the industry remains hopeful the European Commission will see its timeframe isn’t realistic for manufacturers and delay the introduction of the ultra-strict regulations.

If the EU refuses, Sulc said VW would have to find a relatively quick solution and work with its commercial-vehicles partner Ford.

“At that point of time [July 2025], we really have find this [trade-off]… what can be delivered at that point of time. But we are willing to make the Amarok for the next 10 years, so we have to [meet the regulations with an electrified version].”

7

Sulc said buyers may find an electrified/electric Amarok preferable once diesel engines are forced to be heavily detuned to meet emissions regulations.

Unlike Europe, Australia wouldn’t be affected by Euro 7 regulations for many years. The country has historically lagged well behind Europe and won’t even introduce the Euro 6 standard until November 2024 – nine years after Europe.

Volkswagen says the production location for any electrified Amarok would need to worked out with Ford.

The Amarok is being produced in South Africa while the Ranger is built in Thailand.

Sulc said hydrogen is a logical technology for commercial vehicles, but that it was at least 10 years away – with potential the fourth-generation Amarok.

🚨 MORE 2023 AMAROK

Get all of our latest stories in one handy place, with our Everything You Need to Know article at the link below.