Fisker Alaska electric ute unveiled

US electric-car start-up Fisker has taken the covers off the Alaska ute, ahead of an overseas launch due in early 2025 – but an Australian introduction for the Fisker brand has not been locked in.

The first ute from Fisker – founded by former Aston Martin and BMW designer Henrik Fisker – is based on the company’s Ocean mid-size electric SUV, which commenced customer deliveries earlier this year.

The California-based company claims up to 547km (340 miles) of driving range in ideal conditions – and a targeted base price of $US45,400 ($AU68,000) before government rebates.

For comparison, it is cheaper than a mid-trim Tesla Model 3 Long Range – which costs $US47,240 ($AU71,400) in the US, or $70,400 plus on-road costs in Australia.

MORE: Fisker Alaska electric ute shown online

Fisker is yet to outline plans for an Australian launch for any of its vehicles, including the Alaska and Ocean.

However it is set to produce its vehicles in right-hand drive, and has announced plans to launch in the UK in the coming months.

The Alaska is underpinned by an “extended adaptation” of the Fisker Ocean SUV’s ‘monocoque’ car-like underpinnings, which Henrik Fisker told an investor and media presentation today will allow the company to “bring it to market quickly”.

Mr Fisker said the vehicle straddles the ‘compact’ and ‘mid-size’ pick-up segments in the US – which makes it half a size smaller than a Toyota HiLux or Ford Ranger, which use heavy-duty, body-on-frame foundations.

The design is derived from the Ocean, but – at least in show-car form – gains more futuristic headlights and daytime-running lights and wide wheel arches with larger tyres.

Similar to the larger Chevrolet Silverado EV electric pick-up sold in the US, the sheetmetal and window dividing the cabin from the tray can be lowered down into the floor to extend the load area.

Dubbed the “Houdini bed divider”, it can extend the normal 4.5-foot (1.37 metres) tray to 7.5 feet (2.29m) with the rear seats folded and the tailgate up – or 9.2 feet (2.8m) with the tailgate down and items secured appropriately.

Fisker claims it is the “world’s lightest EV [electric] pick-up truck”, though it has not published a final kerb weight for the vehicle.

Most electric pick-ups built today are full-size models – such as the Ford F-150 Lightning – which weigh close to or in excess of 3000kg, while the GMC Hummer EV weighs more than four tonnes.

The interior appears to be shared with the Fisker Ocean, meaning a small digital instrument display ahead of the driver, a 17-inch infotainment touchscreen, and “sustainable” materials throughout the cabin.

Fisker has published few specifications for the Alaska beyond the claim of a “projected” driving range between 230 miles (370km) and 340 miles (547km) in lab testing.

For reference, the top-of-the-range Fisker Ocean is powered by dual electric motors developing 420kW, good for a claimed 0-60mph (97km/h) time of 3.7 seconds.

Henrik Fisker told media and investors first deliveries of the Fisker Alaska are scheduled for “the first quarter of 2025” (January to March), but he is hoping to bring the date forward to “December 2024”.

Buyers can now place a $US250 pre-order on Fisker’s website to reserve a spot in the queue, with the claim that the targeted price of $US45,400 is “subject to change”.

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