Here’s What This New Electric Truck Promises

• REE Automotive reveals third variant of its P7 battery-electric chassis, with the P7-C meant to be a chassis cab.
• The truck offers a range of 150 miles, which should be enough for last-mile delivery businesses, and offers steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology.
• The EV startup plans to begin deliveries to customers in the fourth quarter of 2023, with the truck undergoing testing and certification at the moment.

The past 12 months have seen a lot of movement in the field of electric trucks of all sizes, from smaller last-mile delivery models to long range models meant for overland transport, and everything in between.

REE Automotive’s new Class 4 chassis cab based on the P7 modular platform, unveiled this week, fits into that in between category, promising a maximum range of 150 miles and a payload of up to 7000 pounds.

The P7-C chassis cab will join REE’s P7 lineup consisting of the P7-B box truck and the P7-S stripped chassis, with all three using the company’s proprietary skateboard platform. All three are designed for urban environments, with a platform height of just 24 inches.

As its name suggests, the skateboard platform is suitable for different bodies with REE using a steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire technology. This means specialist companies will be able to request different bodies to the platform, from a simple cargo bed to a refrigerated truck, with minimal alterations needed.

The interior of the new cab offers a driver-centric environment with plenty of visibility, a low floor for easy ingress and egress, and a 13-inch infotainment screen.

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“The P7-B box truck has a common cab design with the P7-C and targets the large and highly popular class 3 last-mile segment popular with commercial fleets and rental companies,” the company points out.

REE says that the P7 platform is currently undergoing certification, expected to be wrapped up in the second half of 2023, with the company planning initial deliveries to customers in the fourth quarter of this year.

Speaking of deliveries, once they begin REE will face a few competitors in this field including BrightDrop, Rivian, and Volta, with the latter having started production just days ago. More competitors are in the wings awaiting the start of production including Arrival, which has recently refocused its business plan on US assembly in response to the incentives of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Speaking of that piece of legislation, REE is mindful of it as well.

“The P7-C is a Class 4 chassis cab designed to meet the requirements for the Inflation Reduction Act incentives, which are more substantial for EVs Class 4 and above and meets market demand for the ability to simplify vocational upfits,” the company notes.

Will we see one brand capture a large slice of the electric last-mile delivery truck market in a few years, or will this category see a lot of players? Let us know what you think.