It's been over 18 months since Atlis Motor Vehicles announced the XT, an American-built electric pickup with up to 500 miles of range. Since then, the electric pickup market has become increasingly crowded, with the likes of the Rivian R1T, Tesla Cybertruck, and Ford F-150 Lightning fighting for supremacy. Undeterred by the competition, Atlis has revealed the first working prototype of the XT. Whereas the original render design looked like a traditional full-size- pickup akin to the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, the prototype adopts an angular design reminiscent of the Tesla Cybertruck.

Thanks to its in-house skateboard platform, the XT is highly customizable and can be configured with a service body or flatbed upfit to meet the requirements of fleet owners, small businesses, and tradespeople.

"We are out to change the work truck market. The goal is to create an electric pickup with the performance characteristics of a ¾-ton diesel that can quickly be recharged," said Mark Hanchett, founder and CEO of Atlis. "We've focused on the design features our target market cares most about - maximizing functionality, storage, capability, and passenger comfort to create the best possible ownership experience."

Since no engine bay is required, the XT prototype features a sloping hood that improves the aerodynamics and visibility. With a spray-on bed liner, the frunk offers up to 18.5 cubic feet of storage, which Atlis claims is "the largest volume of any electric vehicle on the market today or projected to launch in the next two years." The bed will be available in 6.5 and 8-ft sizes with a spray-in bed liner as standard.

For improved visibility, each headlight has four daytime running lights that also serve as a turn signal and can flash in different colors. Front and rear lightbars are also integrated into the front and rear windshields and cameras replace traditional side mirrors, which extend when the truck is switched on. For easier access, the XT's step is integrated into the structure of the platform and extends along both sides.

Inside, the XT offers room for up to three or six passengers depending on the configuration. An instrument cluster display is attached to the steering column for better viewing angles and the production version will be equipped with a 12.8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Two screens are located around the steering wheel displaying video from the side cameras.

Intriguingly, Atlis promises the production version will offer a "new concept of cluster and steering wheel control" that will "redefine driver user interface and bring a lot of convenience for the workers."

Technical specifications have not changed since the XT was announced in 2019. Powered by four electric motors with one mounted to each wheel, the XT's battery will offer between 300 and 500 miles of range and recharge in less than 15 minutes using the company's proprietary high-speed charging network. It will also offer a payload of between 1,000 and 5,000 pounds, a towing capacity up to 35,000 pounds with a gooseneck, and up to 12 inches of ground clearance. Atlis plans to start producing the XT in late 2022. When it goes on sale, this could be a formidable rival to heavy-duty electric trucks like the Tesla Cybertruck, GMC Hummer EV, and Bollinger B2.