Trucks gone wild! VinFast launches VF Wild EREV pickup

VinFast, the Vietnamese automaker, has unveiled a production version of its VF Wild pickup, an EREV (extended-range electric vehicle). Unlike a regular hybrid, the truck runs entirely on its electric motor, with a small gas engine on board only to recharge the battery once it runs low, not to drive the wheels directly. VinFast says the battery alone (46.4 kWh) gives about 155 miles of range, and with the gas engine kicking in, total range stretches past 620 miles. The truck is sized to compete with trucks like the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux, and starts at roughly $33,000 in Vietnam, where it's currently being sold.

This truck has no confirmed plans to come to North America, and VinFast's U.S. manufacturing plans have faced setbacks, so it's not something American homeowners can buy right now. Still, it's a sign of where truck technology is heading: automakers are experimenting with EREVs as a middle ground between gas trucks and fully electric ones, offering long range without needing a huge, expensive battery pack.

For homeowners thinking about electrifying their own transportation, this isn't yet a real option, but it's worth watching. If EREV trucks eventually reach the U.S. market, they could offer another path to cutting gas use for people who need serious range and towing capacity but aren't ready to commit to a pure electric truck with a large battery.