Lordstown Motors wants to prove that his Endurance electric truck is ready for the wilderness by means of a well-known strategy: he is engaged in a prominent race. Autoblog reports that Lordstown has released a race-ready version of its Endurance Beta truck that will take part in the SCORE World Desert Championship’s San Felipe 250 on April 17. The revamped EV is ready for the Mexican race with larger off-road wheels (complete with wider mudguard flames), four strong drive lights and the removal of ‘fringe’ such as mirrors, windows and many of the luxuries of the cabin.
The race would ideally prove that the Endurance is the “toughest, strongest” truck on the planet, even if it reduces emissions, said Steve Burns, chief operating officer.
If all goes well, the Lordstown racer can provide further proof that electric trucks are ready for extreme conditions. If you can handle the bumps and bruises of off-roading, you will be more likely to buy endurance for your own off-road excursions.
However, the competition may underline the current limitations of EVs. The race covers a 290-mile track, but Endurance Street is only 250 miles. Even with weight loss, there is a good chance that the race car will have to reload the middle race as its competitors pass. So it is unlikely that Lordstown will win – until it improves the range of vehicles, it’s more a proof of competence than a realistic bid for motorsport glory.