The Toyota Tacoma EV Could Be the Truck We’ve Been Waiting For
The current Toyota Tacoma has been around for some time. And as other manufacturers like Chevy and Nissan update their midsize trucks, the Taco can feel a bit dated. However, it is still the top seller in this segment. The 2024 Tacoma is expected to be the next-gen version of this pickup. And Toyota might have plans to offer a Tacoma EV.
Is there an electric Toyota Tacoma?
Toyota has been a little slow on the draw with its EVs, and there is no Tacoma EV truck on the market. But, back in 2022, the Japanese automaker did reveal what appears to be an electric Tacoma concept.
If you are familiar with Toyota, you know that the brand tends to rely on last-generation technology. By using tried and tested components, Toyota is able to offer products that are generally seen as reliable. And that might be why this manufacturer has been reliant on hybrid technology rather than offering fully-electric cars.
The Tacoma EV could be the electric truck
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma will be the first actually new Tacoma in almost 20 years. And while there will certainly still be a four-cylinder engine and a V6 offered to this midsize truck, we could also see an EV variant.
The new Tacoma will ride on the TNGA-F platform, which is shared with other vehicles like the Toyota Tundra and Lexus LX. And that will enable this pickup truck to have an electric powertrain.
According to MotorTrend, the electric Tacoma will likely be available with the crew cab and short-bed configuration. It will also mark another mainstream manufacturer entering the EV truck game. Ford has the F-150 Lightning, Chevy is electrifying the Silverado, and during the Super Bowl, Ram pitched its electric truck to the public.
Do we need EV trucks?
Now, I’m a truck guy. I grew up around trucks and currently live in a part of the United States where pickups reign supreme. When I had the opportunity to test the 2022 Toyota Tundra with the hybrid V6, I was a little skeptical, but I came away pleasantly surprised.
The gas engines on the Tacoma aren’t broken, so you might wonder what’s the point of bothering with a battery-powered option. But the answer is kind of simple. If Toyota sees a market for an electric Tacoma, why wouldn’t it offer one?
Most brands that offer or have reservations open for an electric truck are already struggling to keep up with demand. While you might think an electric powertrain should be reserved for an economy car, folks are clearly open to the efficiency of an EV mixed with the utility of a pickup truck bed.
Details about the electric Tacoma are still far and between. In fact, details about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma are limited in general. But one thing is certain; the hype is starting to build about this midsize truck. Toyota’s small pickup hasn’t been updated in some time, and despite being brought into the modern era, hopefully, it remains the rugged Taco we have come to love and appreciate.
