Happy New Year, talk about technology, I wish you all the best in the New Year, good health! Geely will officially launch the radar RD6 electric four-wheel drive pickup truck in the second quarter of this year. Originally launched in November 2022, the RD6 is a rear-wheel drive model only, making it a rare variety.
There are few electric pickup trucks on the market today, and most of the electric pickups available for purchase are retrofits from traditional combustion vehicles, such as the Maxus T90 EV in China, or a significant modification of traditional combustion engine vehicles, as in the case of the Ford F150 Lightning. The Radar RD6 is different, it is the first pickup truck in China to be designed from the ground up as an electric car, and unlike the Tesla Cybertruck, it is actually being delivered to consumers.
Geely owns almost as many brands as models, while the Rado brand has only launched the RD6 pickup truck so far, positioning itself as a fashion and lifestyle brand. The RD6 is powered by a dedicated electric vehicle platform called the Multiplex Attached Platform (MAP). The platform itself is derived from Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, which is also used in the Zeekr family of models, as well as new electric smart cars and Lotus vehicles.
While there were initial rumors that the 4WD version would be launched in the first half of last year, it now seems that it will finally be confirmed in the second quarter of 2024. Radar CEO Ling Shiquan said at Geely's annual media conference that the performance details of the new version have been announced.
He claims that the acceleration performance of the RD6 all-wheel drive version is comparable to that of the Tesla Cybertruck and is capable of achieving about four seconds of acceleration (0-100 km/h, 0-62 mph) while carrying hundreds of kilograms of cargo, although he did not give an exact weight. Similarly, Ling Shiquan said that the RD6 all-wheel drive version has a wading depth that exceeds that of the Hummer EV (813mm).
Currently, the RD6 rear axle is driven by a 200 kW electric motor with a choice of 63 kWh, 86 kWh and 100 kWh battery packs, providing a range of 410 km, 550 km and 632 km respectively. Details about the 4WD configuration have yet to be released, but the battery pack is likely to remain the same, most likely similar to the all-wheel-drive Zeekr 001 model, with a permanent magnet motor simply replicating a copy on the front axle. The platform is reported to be capable of accommodating up to 140 kWh of battery packs, so the 4WD version is likely to come with a larger battery pack.
The most important improvement over the existing 2WD version is the increased load capacity, which will be increased from 430 kg to 865 kg (400 kg for the 100 kWh version). The trailer carrying capacity has also been increased, from 2.5 tons to 3 tons. The pickup truck can power up to 6 kilowatts of electrical appliances and is equipped with 12V, 220V and 380V power outlets in the cabin. New features in the 4WD version also include direct charging of other electric vehicles.
In 2023, radar accounted for 61.5% of China's electric pickup truck market. In August, the first RD6 pickup trucks were exported, most likely to Laos. Geely reported that exports to the South American market began in late 2023 and will expand the brand's overseas expansion in 2023.