Photo credit: arstechnica.com

Harbinger: A New Player in the Electric Truck Market

The interior of the Harbinger truck may not be the most aesthetically pleasing on the market, but its performance offers valuable insights into its design and functionality.

While in operation, the Harbinger delivers an experience reminiscent of traditional trucks. Drivers sit elevated, experiencing significant noise from the vehicle’s robust, boxy frame. This auditory feedback can be intense, often making it challenging to gauge the overall ride comfort. However, even in its most uncompromising state, where the vehicle is unladen, the Harbinger provides a more comfortable ride compared to some competitors like Ford.

The vehicle’s steering responsiveness is another point of distinction. Boasting a generous 50-degree steering angle at the front, the Harbinger allows for nimble maneuvering, making executing tight turns in congested areas possible without inciting frustration from other road users.

Harbinger CEO John Harris emphasizes that the company’s focus is not necessarily on delivering the quiet luxury one might expect from a typical electric sedan. Instead, the aim is to keep the vehicle’s familiarity while maintaining cost competitiveness with traditional diesel trucks. Although specific pricing details were not disclosed, Harris indicated that federal incentives play a crucial role in making these electric vehicles financially viable.

Currently, medium-duty vehicles like the Harbinger can benefit from the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit 45W, which offers substantial tax incentives that can reach up to $40,000, depending on various factors including vehicle size and type of propulsion.

Harris noted, “Where we’re pricing the vehicles, we need that 45 W if we want to undercut diesel, and that’s what we’re doing. With 45 W, we can undercut the typical diesel vehicle by a few thousand dollars.”

Even in the event that such incentives diminish under shifting political landscapes, Harris remains optimistic about the company’s ability to maintain competitive pricing, owing to the inherent flexibility in their business model. This outlook is buoyed further when considering the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

According to Harris, the operating costs for medium-duty vehicles typically hover around $0.50 per mile for fuel, or $0.85 when accounting for all associated expenses. However, Harbinger has set an ambitious goal to bring that figure down to approximately $0.40 per mile. This projection suggests a lower total cost of ownership, but Harris stresses that achieving that number isn’t the sole strategy for success.

Source
arstechnica.com