By the power of Roman gods, Herculean strength is being provided to the Nissan Titan. Alright, so the gods may only be from mythology, but the Nissan Titan EV is actually gaining power from the Hercules, an EV startup. 

The Nissan Titan EV is coming 

Wow, the Nissan Titan might be the last full-size truck that’s coming to the EV party. The 2020 Ford F-150 EV is coming next year, the Ram 1500 is working on something, the Rivian R1T is already sold out, and much more. 

But, better late than never, right? According to AutoBlog, Nissan and Hercules may form a new partnership to help each other out. If Hercules, the Detroit-based electric pickup manufacturer, supplies electric powertrains for Nissan, then Nissan will provide unmentioned truck components for the Hercules Alpha truck. 

Despite being a slow-selling truck, Nissan doesn’t want to drop the Titan. That’s why unpopular trims such as the crew cab diesel model are being cut to save costs. With the Nissan Titan going electric, they could regain a little popularity. 

What is the Hercules Alpha? 

Hercules hasn’t been the most popular EV startup compared to rivals, but the company was founded in 2018 by James Breyer, Greg Weber, and Julie Trolley. These three each have experience with other automakers/suppliers. 

The 2022 Hercules Alpha should have 1,000 hp from a four-motor AWD drivetrain and the ability to tow up to 12,500 lb. This is less than the 2021 Ford F-150’s ability to tow up to 14,000 lb, so we hope the Hercules isn’t too expensive. It’s expected to carry of a payload of up to 2,500 lb too. 

Also, the truck should have over a 300-mile range. We hope this is the case because rivals like the Tesla Cybertruck offer a 500-mile range. The Alpha is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds, which isn’t as fast as the GMC Hummer EV.

Hercules plans to build this truck on an existing platform, so this is where the Nissan Titan comes in. Construction will also take place at an existing facility. Also, even though this truck has only shown one exterior image so far, Hercules is already accepting $1,500 reservations for the Founders Edition launch model. The Hercules Alpha is expected to reach buyers by 2022. 

Is the 2021 Nissan Titan underpowered? 

Does the Nissan Titan need more power? Actually, yes. It really does. Car and Driver mentions that the Titan is less capable than rivals. It has a single engine option, which is the 5.6-liter V8 that pumps out 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. 

The Titan can only tow up to 9,600 lb. This is a fair amount of power that’s more than enough for most drivers, but rivals are leaving it behind. With its starting price of $38,145, the Titan needs to provide more muscle or luxury. 

However, it fails to hit the mark. The interior is noted for having a lower ride quality than rivals. It feels stiffer and only has subpar steering and handling. Car and Driver pointed out that the cab is full of plastics and other cheap materials. Plus, the storage feels limited. Maybe Hercules can help address these issues.