Hercules Electric Vehicles in Detroit Partners with Pininfarina SpA for New Pickup Truck

Detroit-based Hercules Electric Vehicles has signed a strategic agreement with Italian automobile design firm Pininfarina SpA for the design of its upcoming Alpha battery electric pickup truck and other products under development. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
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A current rendering of the Hercules Alpha battery-electric pickup truck. // Courtesy of Hercules EV
A current rendering of the Hercules Alpha battery-electric pickup truck. // Courtesy of Hercules EV

Detroit-based Hercules Electric Vehicles has signed a strategic agreement with Italian automobile design firm Pininfarina SpA for the design of its upcoming Alpha battery electric pickup truck and other products under development. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Pininfarina is the world’s foremost designer of performance and luxury automotive products with over 90 years of experience designing vehicles for Ferrari, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo,” says James Breyer, founder and CEO of Hercules EV. “We wanted to engage the best to create a truly unique and differentiated product in our Alpha.”

The Alpha, expected to start production in late 2022, will have multiple motor and battery configurations depending on a customer’s driving preference and range that provide up to 1,000 horsepower and up to 800 ft-lb of torque.

The interior of the truck will contain a digital entertainment hub with the ability to run connections independent of the main infotainment system, allowing for customizability not only under the hood, but behind the screen as well.

The high-strength carbon-composite material throughout the hood, body panels, and wheels makes the vehicle light, and the solar tonneau cover will harness enough power from the sun to power most daily commutes.

“We are excited to work with Hercules on the design of a new electric vehicle,” says Giuseppe Bonollo, senior vice president of sales and marketing of Pininfarina. “Pininfarina has always been at the forefront of electric mobility. We bring to this new venture with a North American partner our ability to develop a new design language having in mind both our client’s brand identity and our shared commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Founded in 2018 by James Breyer, Hercules Electric Vehicles aims to deliver customized, eco-friendly vehicles tailored to the exact tastes of the customer.

Pininfarina was founded in 1930 and has evolved from an artisan firm to a full service automotive group that employs 600 people and has offices in Italy, Germany, China, and the U.S.