2023 Foton Tornado 3.6 EV: PH's first fully-electric light-duty truck unveiled with ₱3.6M price tag

Foton Philippines is having a field day with its Foton Big Show as it showcases its latest lineup of commercial and passenger vehicle products.

One of its products to debut was the Foton Tornado 3.6 EV, the brand’s first fully electric light-duty truck in the Philippines. The arrival of this EV truck could be a game changer for the brand as it will be one the first few to pioneer this technology in the country.

EV exterior styling

The Foton Tornado 3.6 EV retains the same design as the standard Tornado 6-wheeler but sports a different bumper and grille and comes with projector-type halogen headlights. 

Aside from this, the light-duty truck receives a blue Foton logo at the front and EV badges on the sides. Signal light repeaters are also found with the vehicle but are mounted on the lower part of the doors.

The Tornado 3.6 EV also has fairings on the sides to create a more aerodynamic shape for the vehicle; this is also where its batteries are located. 

The light-duty truck has a gross vehicle weight of 6,000 kg, a curb weight of 2,400 kg, and a load mass of 3,600 kg. 

Battery power and performance

The Tornado 3.6 EV comes with side-mounted batteries made from lithium iron phosphate, and it has a capacity of around 81.14 kWh and weighs about 554 kg. The batteries also come with liquid cooling to ensure they do not overheat. 

The light-duty truck can reach a maximum speed of 90 km/h and handle a 20% grade. It goes zero to 50 km/h in 9 seconds and has an estimated range of about 208 kilometers (WLTP). 

Powering the Tornado EV is a permanent magnet synchronous motor that produces 156 PS and 300 Nm of torque that is mated to a single reduction automatic transmission. No diesel engine to maintain here.

The truck rides on non-independent suspension with vertical leaf springs for both the front and rear. The former uses three-leaf springs, while the latte uses a 5+2 combination. It rides on 205/75R16 series tubeless tires. 

Stopping power comes from front hydraulic brakes and drum brakes at the rear.

Modern interior for a commercial vehicle

The Foton Tornado 3.6 EV has a digital instrument cluster. The gauge cluster shows the driver what he needs to know about the vehicle, including its battery percentage and range.

Other truck features include an AC system, adjustable steering wheel, ABS, EBD, power steering, power windows, central lock remote, reverse sensor, and brake clearance with auto-adjusting. 
 
One thing to note is that when you buy the Foton Tornado 3.6 EV cab and chassis, it does not come with a charger as part of the SRP of ₱3,600,000, and you will need to purchase it separately. Add a closed van setup at the back and it will cost you an additional ₱275,000.

Will the Foton Tornado 3.6 EV be a game changer in the short-range cargo hauling segment in the Philippines?